Safer cities for women: perceived risks and planning measures

Fear and safety in transit environments from the women’s perspective

“…Some of the aforementioned studies incorporate an analysis of gender differences in perceptions of safety on transit; however, the focus is not specifically on women and safety. A subset of studies has focused on women's concerns about personal safety in transit environments (Lynch and Atkins, 1988;Trench et al, 1992;LoukaitouSideris, 2005;Smith, 2008;Loukaitou-Sideris and Fink, 2009). But our increased knowledge about the causes of fear has not necessarily translated into nuanced policy responses tailored to the particularities of different groups and physical settings (Polk, 2008).…”

“…The limited information we have on this topic comes primarily from surveys and safety audits undertaken by women in the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia and a few other countries. 2 From such surveys and audits, we know that women generally prefer staffing to technological solutions and are sceptical of transit agencies' tendency to replace staff with automated machines (Trench et al, 1992;Koskela, 2000). Discussing the findings of a 2002 survey by the Department of Transport in the United Kingdom, Carter (2005, p. 100) explained that when travelling by bus, women prefer an additional staff member and the refusal by the driver to board those influenced by alcohol or drugs, whereas men prefer CCTV and in-vehicle radio contact for the driver.…”

Division of labour and gender differences in metropolitan car use

“…Scholars from different social sciences rejected the assumption of a 'neuter commuter' and began to examine gendered patterns of mobility, unequal access to resources, and differences in modal choice. Soon the new research split into two separate strands, both starting from the viewpoint of female transport disadvantage (see Law, 1999, 569ff), but with one concentrating on the constraints of female mobility by 'women's fear' of male sexual violence (for examples, see Pain, 1991;Valentine, 1989;Trench and Tiesdel, 1992), and the other analysing gender differences in the journey to work (see Madden, 1981;Hanson and Johnston, 1985;Pickup, 1989). While this emphasis on two important aspects of gendered transport behaviour facilitated fruitful and efficient research, it also narrowed the researchers' view and overshadowed other mobility issues (see for example Kunert, 1994a,b andBuhr, 1999 for the national travel survey KONTIV in Germany or Hamilton andJenkins, 2000 andDETR, 1998 for the National Travel Survey in Great Britain).…”

Gender in Planning and Urban Development

“…Trench and Tiesdell (1992) argue that different options may be appropriate depending on the context. Women are also often concerned about the safety of environments for children, such as busy roads, lack of safe places to play, polluted areas and so on.…”

“…Women are more likely to be dependent on public transport, particularly in lowincome communities (Little 1994). Where systems locate public transport on the edges of residential areas, rather than within them, women have to walk long distances, and may be vulnerable to crime (Trench and Tiesdell 1992). Case Study 5 provides an example of good practice in making public transport safer for women.…”