An Analysis of Factors Affecting Fear of Crime in Public Space

This chapter describes the use of GPS in a multi-method approach to explore environmental factors affecting walking patterns in South Africa. Quantitative measures of walking activity are derived from multiday GPS tracks of a sample of people in three case study areas in Pretoria, South Africa. The data suggests that a significant amount of walking takes place across a range of neighbourhood types. The authors then describe a methodology that marries the strengths of GPS data—notably its detail and its suitability for visualisation—with the benefits of more open-ended qualitative research methods to obtain richer insights into the motivations behind the observed behaviours, and the extent to which these are related to built environment factors. A key finding is that personal security and fear of crime is a critically important factor driving both the perceptions and behaviour of pedestrians, especially women. Specific adaptive behaviours are observed that warrant further research.

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Freedom and control: a state of balance in public space

Facilities ◽

10.1108/f-08-2012-0064 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 32 (11/12) ◽

pp. 606-623 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Tianjiao Zhao ◽

Kin Wai Michael Siu

Keyword(s):

Public Space ◽

Urban Space ◽

Open Space ◽

Policy Design ◽

Urban Life ◽

Systematic Analysis ◽

Content Type ◽

Factors Affecting ◽

And Control

Purpose – The purpose of this study is to determine how to achieve a balance between freedom and control in public space. It analyses the relationship between freedom and control to identify phenomena and offer users and policymakers instructions for achieving that balance. Public space, including privately owned public space, is important to urban living. People have both the right to use public space and the responsibility to protect it. Both freedom and control should exist in public space in an appropriate combination. It is impossible and inappropriate for us to ask for absolute freedom or endure unreasonable control. Design/methodology/approach – A case study of Hong Kong’s Mass Transit Railway (MTR) reveals typical freedom/control relationships. Quantitative descriptions are given based on field observations. Findings – Freedom and control are primary factors affecting the quality of urban life and management of city space. They depend on and conflict with each other. The balance between freedom and control is a balance between diverse spaces. The “freedom space” belonging to both citizens and authorities determines whether freedom and control are balanced. Ethics and strategies constitute control. Only when each authority and user obtains a proper freedom space can freedom and control achieve balance in public space. Research limitations/implications – Freedom and control differ across cities because they are both affected by culture, history and tradition. As each city has its own characteristics, the freedom and control in each open space are distinctive. Balancing freedom and control requires an understanding of a city’s background and the era. While this paper does not attempt to achieve this understanding, further studies could devote more attention to dimensions of time and location. Practical implications – The findings provide recommendations for users, policymakers and construction and management companies that will allow the management of harmonious and high-quality open spaces. Social implications – Freedom and control are two main factors affecting quality of life. The balance between freedom and control may bring a harmony and stable society environment. It would benefit both the authority and the people a lot. Originality/value – This study provides a systematic analysis of freedom and control in public space and makes a valuable contribution to quality urban space policy, design and management.

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Cultural factors affecting urban planners’ intentions to regulate public space in Prishtina, Kosovo

Urbani izziv ◽

10.5379/urbani-izziv-2014-25-02-001 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 25 (2) ◽

pp. 5-18

Author(s):

Visar Hoxha ◽

Kaliopa Dimitrovska Andrews ◽

Alenka Temeljotov Salaj

Keyword(s):

Public Space ◽

Cultural Factors ◽

Factors Affecting

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What can urban design learn from changing winds? A case study of public space in Nanjing (1990s-2010s)

The Journal of Public Space ◽

10.32891/jps.v5i2.1278 ◽

2020 ◽

pp. 7-22

Author(s):

Qiuxia Xu ◽

Zhen Xu

Keyword(s):

Public Space ◽

Urban Design ◽

Cfd Simulation ◽

Global Changes ◽

Human Society ◽

Factors Affecting ◽

Pattern Complexity ◽

The Public ◽

Human Habitat ◽

Planning Decision

Climate is one of the prominent and persistent factors affecting the human habitat. During the recent urbanization, human society has left remarkable environment footprints including the macro- and micro- climates related to human settlement. It’s essential for urban planning decision-maker to contextualize people’s wellbeing in the public space and micro-climate changes. The adverse changes of micro-climate are usually related more to local developments than to global changes, with the causality relatively feasible to detect. Characteristic of openness, the open spaces play an important role as outdoor relaxation and wind corridor, which is precious yet vulnerable assets for the citizens’ wellbeing. Agglomerated and unintentional developments inevitably change the wind patterns which potentially affect public life. A longitudinal study of such circumstance will provide knowledge and lessons for sustainable and salutary urban design. Based on CFD simulation, this paper compared the static winter and summer airflows patterns of the Drum Tower area in downtown Nanjing during the period of 1990s-2010s. The results indicated that the wind pattern complexity increased gradually, the outdoor comfortability degraded dramatically in some areas, the environment inequity might be deteriorated too. The researcher suggests putting micro-climate issues firmly on the agenda of public wellbeing policy, involving various stakeholders in the assessment and urban design code with technical and social supports.

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Factors affecting fear of crime: a study of elderly in a district of Uttar Pradesh

Working with Older People ◽

10.1108/wwop-05-2019-0009 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 23 (4) ◽

pp. 217-227

Author(s):

Avanish Bhai Patel

Keyword(s):

Urban Areas ◽

Fear Of Crime ◽

Uttar Pradesh ◽

The Elderly ◽

Indian Society ◽

Urban Context ◽

Content Type ◽

Factors Affecting ◽

Rural And Urban Areas ◽

Rural And Urban

Purpose Fear of crime is an emerging social problem in Indian society that has a significant impact on the quality of life of the elderly. In the view of this fact, the purpose of this paper is to examine the factors such as (prior victimisation, vulnerability and incivility) which contribute their role in bringing fear of crime among the elderly. Design/methodology/approach Mixed method approach has been applied in this paper. This study has been designed as an exploratory lead-in to a planned wider study into rural–urban context as possible factors in shaping the victimisation experience. The study has been conducted from October 2012 to January 2013 on a sample of 220 elderly living in both rural and urban areas of Lucknow in the state of Uttar Pradesh, India. Findings The study found that elderly have been victimised by known persons as compared to unknown persons. Further, the study found that immediate neighbourhood was swarming with loiters, unruly teenagers, gangs, beggars and alcoholic people walk in the society which have significantly impact on the elderly and give threat in neighbourhood. Originality/value This is an original work of researcher.

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