Urban Design for Women: Addressing Gender, Safety, and Walkability in Modern Cities

Cities shape our experiences, but not all experiences are created equal. Women, in their daily lives, often navigate urban spaces with an acute sense of awareness tied to concerns about aggression and harassment. These concerns are not just intangible fears; they manifest in real behaviours - precautionary steps or outright avoidance of certain areas, particularly during nighttime hours. This significantly impacts their mobility and the way they interact with urban environments. In today's episode, we delve deep into this urban gender divide. With insights from the **[STEP UP project](https://transformtransport.org/research/inclusive-mobility/step-up/)**, we discuss how security concerns stemming from perceptions of risk, vulnerability, and the fear of violence become major mobility barriers for women.As Design to Connect, we had the opportunity to delve into issues surrounding gender equality in mobility and urban spaces with two experts: Lamia Abdelfattah and Lily Scarponi. Lamia is an urban planner with a background in issues of spatial equity in cities and a particular interest in gender equality. Since 2019 she has collaborated with Systematica as an urban planning consultant focusing on contemporary urban mobility trends. She is also currently a member of the Advisory Board on Public Space at City Space Architecture, a non-profit promoting public space research and education.Lily is an engineer and architect with a background in urban planning. Her thesis focused on the urban regeneration of a green area in the city of Rome, a project carried out through a process of participatory planning and public space design. Since 2023, Lily has been active as a Junior Researcher at Transform Transport, with a focus on spatial equity analyzed through the lens of intersectional feminism. She is currently a student at the Master's Degree Course Città di Genere - Methods and techniques for urban and territorial planning and design at the University of Florence. 🔗 **Relevant Links**: - **[STEP UP Project - Inclusive Mobility](https://transformtransport.org/research/inclusive-mobility/step-up/)**. - Participate in our **[Survey in English](https://forms.gle/vnZwdr7w7NRXHqHz5)**. - Partecipa al nostro **[Sondaggio in Italiano](https://forms.gle/T1rBrM2pVD6ggvC76)**. 🔗 **Connect on LinkedIn**: - **[Fondazione Transform Transport ETS](https://www.linkedin.com/company/transform-transport/)**. - **[Lamia Abdelfattah](https://www.linkedin.com/in/lamia-afattah)**. - **[Lily Scarponi](https://www.linkedin.com/in/lilyscarponi)**. If this topic resonates with you, please like, share, and subscribe to support the discussion and raise awareness on this vital issue. .#UrbanGenderDivide #InclusiveCities #UrbanMobility #WomenInUrbanSpaces #PublicSpaceEquity #GenderSafety #InclusiveMobility #STEPUPProject #SpatialEquity #FeministUrbanism #SafeCitiesForWomen #UrbanPlanning #IntersectionalFeminism #TransformTransport #CitySpaceArchitecture #ParticipatoryPlanning #PublicSpaceDesign. Music from #Uppbeat (free for Creators!): https://uppbeat.io/t/ak/love-and-sorrow License code: SLURIZUWMKHAFFW2 Music from #Uppbeat (free for Creators!): https://uppbeat.io/t/prigida/burble License code: O3TPVXLKGVNQKCQI