In this blog post, we will look at how urban environments and street structures affect our safety.
One of the major issues in South Korean society recently is the increase in crimes against unspecified individuals, such as indiscriminate assaults and child sexual abuse, which can occur in ordinary neighbourhoods. These incidents do not simply mean an increase in statistics, but are a reflection of structural problems in our society and changes in our living environment. With such stories making headlines almost every day, people seem to be falling into a state of neurosis that goes beyond mere anger. In particular, the media is amplifying the public’s anxiety by reporting these incidents in detail. To address these issues, the government and various sectors of society are proposing various solutions, such as electronic ankle bracelets and chemical castration. Among these efforts, our urban planners are also conducting research related to urban planning from a more fundamental perspective to solve the problem. They are studying what kind of street structure and urban environment are safe and, conversely, what kind of streets are dangerous, in order to create safer and more livable cities.
In modern society, most people live without knowing who their neighbours are. This is a phenomenon caused by urbanisation and the spread of individualism, which has led to a decline in communication and interaction between neighbours. On the other hand, in ordinary neighbourhoods and rural villages in the latter half of the 20th century, most people knew their neighbours, which made life relatively safe. At that time, there was a strong sense of community among neighbours, and there was a culture of taking an interest in each other’s affairs and solving problems together. Even in modern society, there are still neighbourhoods with this kind of atmosphere. Urban planners believe that the difference lies in the urban environment. There are many factors that make up the urban environment, but we will look at the differences that can be brought about by the sense of ownership of the members, the contact between the members, and the neighbourhood environment.
First, the biggest difference between safe and unsafe neighbourhoods is whether or not the residents have a sense of ownership. The requirements for fostering a sense of ownership include clear boundaries between public and private spaces, the presence of people with a sense of ownership, and uninterrupted sidewalks. First, there must be a clear boundary between public and private spaces. In suburban environments and housing complexes, when spaces for ourselves and spaces for everyone are not properly separated and are mixed together, we feel that our privacy is being invaded. This makes it difficult to develop a sense of ownership of the neighbourhood in which we live. Second, there must be eyes watching over the streets. This means that there must be people who can be considered the natural owners of the streets. Public buildings and small shops that are designed to accommodate strangers and ensure the safety of both residents and strangers must face the streets. If such places turn their backs on the streets or leave the sides facing the streets empty, there will be no eyes watching over the streets, and the streets will become unsafe. Finally, there must be a constant flow of people on the pavement. Streets should be designed to serve at least two purposes, and facilities and public buildings built for those purposes should face the pavement so that ordinary people can enjoy watching the street, making it a safer place.
In addition, what is necessary on sidewalks is appropriate contact. Appropriate contact, such as exchanging light greetings and asking how neighbours are doing, can greatly increase the safety of the street. The people who lead such contact can be called ‘public figures,’ and typical examples are the owners of small shops on the street. They are people we often encounter on the street, such as the lady at the supermarket and the man at the dry cleaner’s. They share a lot with residents without invading their privacy. By maintaining a constant presence in public places, they prevent streets from becoming desolate and unsafe. However, with the disappearance of these public figures and their replacement by large supermarkets and online shopping malls, the vitality and safety of streets are declining.
So far, we have looked at the factors that ensure the safety of sidewalks in cities. In order to create such a safe urban environment, urban planners believe that it is necessary to create lively and interesting streets, a continuous network of street structures, and to utilise public buildings such as parks and squares as part of the streets. Urban planners are studying successful examples from the past and striving to reinterpret and apply them in a modern context in order to create safe streets. Of course, among the examples mentioned above, those related to community members may be difficult for urban planners to implement directly. However, the idea of creating safe streets to reduce crime rates and neighbourhoods where people do not fear their neighbours, ultimately creating livable cities, serves as a paradigm for urban planners. These efforts will ultimately contribute to strengthening the social safety net and providing an environment where all citizens can live with peace of mind.
Therefore, we must approach urban planning not only from a technical perspective, but also from a social and cultural perspective. In order to ensure urban safety, a culture must be created in which all members of society have a sense of ownership and live in consideration of one another. This is not a problem that can be solved by simple regulations and policies, but rather a task that requires the participation and cooperation of all citizens. Therefore, the government, local communities, and individuals must work together to create a safer and happier society.
