Johanna Elvidge from Marshalls explores new findings that reveal how users’ perceptions of safety in public spaces change depending on the time of day, and how specifiers need to take this into account
During winter months, streets and public spaces can be plunged into darkness in late afternoon, meaning that many people find themselves doing everyday activities such as commuting and exercising in the dark. But new research Marshalls has undertaken highlights the significant difference between how the public view spaces at different times of the day. It reveals that four out of five people feel more unsafe when it’s dark in public spaces, and are on average 12 times more likely to avoid such areas than in daylight hours.
Areas of concern
As part of the ‘Creating Safer Spaces’ white paper we produced, we found that parks and gardens were considered the least safe spaces when it’s dark, with 80% of people avoiding them during this part of the day – 40 times higher than in daylight. Waterways, such as canals, were seen as the least safe public spaces when it’s light; 11% stated they actively avoided such places during this time, however, when it’s dark, this figure increased almost seven times to 76%.
Residential streets were considered the safest of all public spaces, yet nearly a quarter (24%) said they still avoided them when it’s dark. Beaches, transport hubs and town centres were also named as places people would avoid when it’s dark.
On the back of this survey, the industry is being urged to consider how to approach ‘designing for the dark,’ so that people feel – and are – as safe accessing spaces in the dark, as when it’s light. To achieve this, it has outlined a set of key design principles for architects, designers and planners, focused on wayfinding, lighting, acoustics and more, which – if put to use – would improve perceptions, and use, of public spaces during darker hours.
Perceptions of safety
To help craft design principles on designing for dark hours, the survey also explored the reasons behind the public’s heightened awareness of safety when it’s dark, and any actions they take when they feel unsafe.
Respondents cited poor visibility as an issue, whereby potential dangers or hazards are concealed or out of sight. A lack of ‘social presence’ from reduced use of spaces by people when it’s dark was also raised as a reason for safety concern. The research also uncovered that people feel most at risk on a night out (31%), with waiting for public transport (22%), exercising outdoors (16%), walking the dog (12%) and commuting (10%) also creating
feelings of a lack of safety.
The results also showed that people commonly change their behaviour to improve their perceived levels of safety when out in public. The most frequent modification was walking a longer route that is busier and/or better lit (64%), followed by crossing the street to avoid others (58%). Further changes included only wearing one earphone or listening at a lower volume (32%) and carrying a personal alarm (11%).
Designing for the dark
To support the industry in creating safer spaces from day through to night, and to provoke fresh thinking and debate on how to approach designing for the dark, seven best practice design ‘pillars’ have been outlined within the white paper. The pillars – eyes on the street, vision and wayfinding, acoustics, accessibility, familiarity, technology and maintenance – should be considered during feasibility and concept stages of any public realm design as they can be seamlessly integrated, and even enhance other key principles – such as biodiversity and accessibility – with compelling results.
For example, designing wayfinding and acoustics for dark hours can often be overlooked when new schemes are in the planning phase. However, simple design choices such as the height of a hedge or the use of materials that better absorb echoes and rogue sounds can have a big impact on the perceptions of safety and therefore how much people use them throughout the day, and year.
Further findings within the survey showed that good security technology, in the form of CCTV cameras and other deterrents – like dynamic lighting – was considered very important by almost 60% of participants. As such, security experts should be engaged in the early design stages of a public space so that safety is ‘designed in.’ Research showed that more than half of people will call or text a friend or family member on their journey home as the remote presence of a familiar person improves their feeling of safety. With this in mind, offering free public Wi-Fi, boosting local networks or providing areas like BT’s ‘StreetHubs’ should be a given in developing public realm spaces.
Finally, many survey respondents said that familiarity makes a difference to their overall feeling of security when interacting with a space. The use of recognisable design features – for example, using locally sourced building materials in heritage areas, helps to develop more of a connection with place and support users’ psychology. Plus, where ‘feature repetition’ is successfully integrated into the urban realm, users no longer need to be concerned with what ‘lies around the corner’ as a certain level of comfortable predictability takes effect.
The issue of public safety is a multifaceted one that requires multifaceted solutions, and making spaces feel safe in the dark won’t be achieved by thinking tactically. It requires a strategic approach that results in creating open, accessible spaces where people feel ‘seen.’ It’s about making spaces attractive and welcoming, thereby attracting more users, and fostering a sense of civic pride. This requires the industry to take a holistic, innovative approach to how we plan and create spaces. Our research demonstrates the time is now to begin working towards that goal, and the potential results could change the way we all live, work and interact forever.
For access to the full ‘Creating Safer Spaces’ white paper, please visit marshalls.co.uk/saferspaces
Johanna Elvidge is head of design at Marshalls