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Public space

Safe Public Space

CONTEXT

The safer people feel in the public space, the more they use it, and the more they use it, the more they enjoy it. The elderly, young children and, more specifically, women are the most vulnerable groups; if safe spaces are designed and created with them in mind, they will be safe for everyone. The sensation of insecurity may be so intense that some people are unwilling to venture outside, resulting in social isolation and not enjoying the beneficial effects of physical exercise.

The lack of a safe space may cause an increase in physical and mental health problems. If the public space is perceived to be unsafe (due to traffic, crime or deficient maintenance), people stop using it, resulting in less physical activity and an increase in chronic illnesses (e.g. cardiovascular diseases). Moreover, a perception of insecurity causes an increase in stress levels and adversely affects mental health (e.g. depression, anxiety, isolation, emotional discomfort) (Cozens 2007, Foster et al. 2008, 2012, Aytur et al. 2015, Cristian et al. 2017).

OBJECTIVE

• Favour the use of the public space to increase social cohesion and reduce the isolation of certain groups.
• Create high-quality, safe and well-maintained public spaces to foster an active, cohesive and inclusive community.
• Increase the perception of road safety and reduce the risk of accidents.

PROPOSALS AND RECOMMENDATIONS

Create safe public spaces that:

• Give priority to pedestrians and cyclists. Limit the speed of motor vehicles and design spaces that prioritise the most vulnerable users.
• Remove culs-de-sac, corners and architectural barriers, include emergency exits on all routes, and create networks based on people’s everyday routes.
• Design lighting in accordance with the type of use of each space, its environment and its usage times in accordance with the provisions of applicable regulations.
• Pay attention to aesthetics, both in new designs and in the restoration of existing public spaces. The removal of antisocial elements from the environment (broken urban furniture, abandoned areas, graffiti, debris, rubbish, etc.) is essential to increase the perception of safety in the neighbourhoods.
• Ensure that all the elements of a public space are designed and arranged as part of a whole (lighting, urban furniture, signage, bins, plants, games, public transport stops, etc.) and that the various materials that make them up facilitate the movement and orientation of the people in the local environment.
• Take into account the needs and requirements of the people who live or work in the environment where they are located, striking a balance between the spaces assigned for different uses (traffic, gathering, urban games, rest, urban layout, green space, etc.).
• Are developed through joint participation mechanisms that involve both the public and council employees. Use tools to identify all the people who may be users of a space, such as sociograms.
• Take into account the uses of the ground-floor premises of the buildings that make them up, offering local public facilities, shops and services. In municipalities with steep slopes, consider the dual functionality of a facility, where use can be made of vertical communication elements, in relation to both the building and its exterior space.
• Ensure that facilities in the public space (fountains, picnic areas, barbecues, urban furniture, etc.) are maintained in good condition.

REFERENCE EXPERIENCES

LEGISLATION

• ORDEN VIV/561/2010, de 1 de febrero, por la que se desarrolla el documento técnico de condiciones básicas de accesibilidad y no discriminación para el acceso y utilización de los espacios públicos.
• Decret 135/1995, de desplegament de la Llei 20/1991, de 25 de novembre de promoció de l'accessibilitat i de supressió de barreres arquitectòniques, i d'aprovació del Codi d'accessibilitat.
• Llei 3/2012, del 22 de febrer, de modificació del text refós de la Llei d'urbanisme, aprovat pel Decret legislatiu 1/2010, del 3 d'agost.
• Llei 2/2004, de 4 de juny, de millora de barris, àrees urbanes i viles que requereixen una atenció especial.
• Llei 4/2003, de 7 d'abril, d'ordenació del sistema de seguretat pública de Catalunya.
• Real Decreto 1627/1997, de 24 d'octubre, por el que se establecen disposiciones mínimas de seguridad y salud en las obras de construcción.

STUDIES AND TECHNICAL DOCUMENTATION

• Pluma Vilanova, Ania, 2019. Plec de prescripcions tècniques dels projectes d'urbanització d'espai públic urbà. Diputació de Barcelona.
• Diputació de Barcelona, 2016. Guia "on line" Entorn urbà i salut. Espai públic. Fitxa "L'espai públic per gestionar la cohesió social".
• Diputació de Barcelona, 2016. Guia "on line" Entorn urbà i salut. Informació i participació. Fitxa "Urbanisme i participació". 
• Naredo Molero, M. and Praxágora Cooperativa, 2010. Guia per a l'elaboració de diagnòstics de seguretat amb visió de gènere a l'àmbit rural i urbà. Generalitat de Catalunya.
• Freixanet, Maria, et al., 2011. "No surtis sola, Espais públics segurs amb perspectiva de gènere". Institut de Ciències Polítiques i Socials.

Scientific papers:

• Aytur, S., et al., 2015. Measuring physical activity in outdoor community recreational environments: Implications for research, policy, and practice. Current Cardiovascular Risk Reports, 9(1).
• Cozens, P., 2007. Public health and the potential benefits of Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design. New South Wales Public Health Bulletin, 18(11-12).
• Cristian, H., 2017. A longitudinal analysis of the influence of the neighborhood environment on recreational walking within the neighborhood: Results from RESIDE. Environmental Health Perspectives, 125(7).
• Crowhurst Lennard, S., 2018. Livable Cities: Concepts and Role in Improving Health. In M. J. Nieuwenhuijsen & H. Khreis, eds. Integrating Human Health into Urban and Transport Planning. Springer, pp. 51–71.
• Foster, S. & Giles-Corti, B., 2008. The built environment, neighborhood crime and constrained physical activity: an exploration of inconsistent findings. Preventive Medicine, 47(3).
• Foster, S., Giles-Corti, B. & Knuiman, M., 2012. Does Fear of Crime Discourage Walkers? A Social-Ecological Exploration of Fear As a Deterrent to Walking. Environment and Behavior, 46(6).

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