Inclusive Urban Neighborhood Streets; Safety and Accessibility for Pedestrian Mobility of Elderly citizens and related gender issues

 

Ar. Dakshayini R. Patil and Dr. Mamatha P. Raj

 

¹Assistant Professor, Doctoral Research Scholar, Department of Architecture, B M S College of Engineering, Bangalore

²Professor, Department of Architecture, B M S College of Engineering, Bangalore

 

ABSTRACT:

Elderly comprise an important and integral part of our society and empowering them to access and navigate our public spaces becomes an imperative necessity of designing such spaces.  Gender issues also take forefront.  Women’s lack of claim to public space is a cause of concern when we boast about achieving a gender- forward community and ideology. Urban public spaces mainly streets are a cumulative gendered and sexualized arena. The elderly encounter numerous significant odds because of inhospitable environments on the streets and on account of being fragile and unconfident; sometimes being solitary they fear to tread onto streets and tend to confine themselves to their homes. Curbing the right of access to necessary amenities, public spaces or entertainment indicates a failed urban design and social rights.  An inclusive approach towards pedestrianization of our streets to encompass the elderly citizens is needed to ensure an uncontested claim to the space that one inhabits.

 

The paper will look into urban design aspects that influence the experience of the elderly in general and women in particular (60 years and above) as pedestrians treading upon urban streets in their neighborhoods for various reasons.

 

 

INTRODUCTION:

Urban areas are a conglomeration of families residing in neighborhoods. Families need to access many amenities and services for various requirements of basic needs, work, business, socializing and entertainment. When so is the requirement, it becomes pertinent to have a network of these spaces within an accessible range.

 

To achieve this objective, a strong street pattern connecting public spaces needs to be in place. Not only so, but such a street pattern has to be designed with a public realm that is conducive to its users from all walks of life. Streets become crucial linear public spaces in themselves which connect many other urban nodes hosting functions such as shopping, transit stops, plazas, community centers etc.

 

 

 

Neighborhoods in urban areas involve diverse user group in terms of age, gender, economic and cultural backgrounds. There are children, teenagers, middle-aged and elderly as well, each with their own demands of perceiving their spaces, private or public.

 

As much as a child would want to explore his neighborhood at a scale he can relate to, so does an elderly but with a different objective of experiencing space to access needs and socialize with peers. Age has its own manifestation, men and women to some extent their specific own too.

 

Why focus on mainly neighborhood streets? In that stage of life, the world revolves or rather shrinks to within the neighborhood realm of their homes. Study shows be it necessity or given an option, elderly prefer and feel confident within that zone. And elders like walking as a favorite activity to shop or as a routine past time. Public realm of neighborhood streets aiding in creation of safe and conducive environment becomes imperative to allow the users towards freedom of movement. While mobility patterns of elderly are dictated due to reasons ranging from natural aging, psychological status, health concerns to gender issues, various outcomes of such issues normally are reflected in the speed of walking, distance of walking, falls and injuries etc. Design of neighborhood streets keeping in mind these attributes, creating barrier- free public spaces with an ambience of enhancing public realm along such streets not only aids this user group but in general different user groups such as children or physically challenged as well.

 

The first part of the Paper begins with a look at what ageing means to elderly and looks at some of the prominent theoretical over-views on ageing. The second part explores the urban realm of neighborhood streets, the qualities of safe inclusive streets and urban public spaces. The last part explores best practices as ‘lessons from parallels’, looks at how urban design can aid as an essential tool in achieving elderly-friendly neighborhoods! 

 

AGEING AND ELDERLY

Childhood, youth, adult and elderly are the stages in the life circle of a human. Elderly are the last stage in the circle of a lifetime. In this stage meaning of life and peculiarities of life change and people become more vulnerable towards environment; social and physical.¹ They have specific psychological and physical attributions that come with age. The World Health Organization (WHO) states that aging has different stages: they define 45-59 age group as middle-Senior citizens, 60-74 age group as old, and 75-89 age group as very old (URL-3,2005). Changes in the family and social structures, urbanization, and the advances in science and technology have affected the Senior citizens in an adverse way as well. They were cared and respected by the society and families in the traditional social structure of the past but now they are deprived of enough support in the society. The drastic increase in motorized streets coupled with undisciplined traffic has almost barred them into venturing the streets and public spaces for fear of unsafe public realm. This is a huge psychological setback for their well being.

 

These are some of the questions we need to ponder upon to evaluate where our cities stand as a place for all- the elderly in particular. While the western countries have attempted to accommodate them into their society, Indian cities have yet to start thinking in that perspective. Traditional towns which were walkable made life easier for the elderly but now with increased motorized roads and traffic, they find it hard to be mobile.

 

Drawing on the proposition that emerging ‘cultures of ageing’ (Gilleard and Higgs, 2000) are redefining people’s aspirations in later life, it will be suggested that strategies for ‘active ageing’ will be accompanied by a more positive attitude towards urban living.² As Urban designers, Architects or Planners, we can intervene in introducing elderly-friendly urban precincts keeping the gender issues in mind while some may be subjective to the unique problems presented by dementia. Elements of design: streetscapes, legibility, good pedestrian movements, safety etc which not only serve the elderly women but maybe good for the overall urban design of the city specially the children group and physically challenged as well.

 

THEORETICAL OVER VIEW ON AGEING

Ageing is an inevitable stage of life regardless of society, culture, social class and status. Normal ageing (considered over 65 years) is a gradual natural process that ushers in some physical decline, such as decreased sensory abilities (e.g., vision and hearing) and decreased pulmonary and immune function (Miller, 1996; Carman, 1997). With aging come certain changes in mental functioning, but very few of these changes match commonly held negative stereotypes about aging (Cohen, 1988; Rowe and Kahn, 1997).

 

In his classic developmental model called the psychosocial development theory, Erik Erikson (1950) characterized the final stage of human development as a tension between “ego integrity and despair”. That is to say the elderly are at a stage where wisdom becomes the virtue; there is a critical crisis between the self- expression and an anxiety of looking over the horizon. Hence keeping the physical and psychological well- being becomes crucial, that is keeping the elderly engaged within the social circle, being independent to a greater extent, instilling confidence by means of amicable exposure to the outside to access amenities and socialize. Failure to achieve a satisfying degree of ego integrity can be accompanied by despair in this stage.

 

Cohen points out that in the Retirement/Liberation phase, new feelings of freedom, courage, and confidence are experienced. And the city should be able to assist the elderly to achieve this. There are two schools of thoughts- age segregated and age integrated communities. Lewis Mumford was one of the many who argued early against the whole idea of age segregation i.e., concentration of retired community at one place. Age integrated approaches reduce ageism and improves service delivery. But there is a fear of elderly being neglected in the course. At some point of time the elderly do need the company of their peers and hence need social interaction places which caters to such gatherings. Mumford also suggested that first thing to be determined is the number of elderly population to be accommodated in the neighborhood for providing the required space for them.  Christopher Alexander stated that old people need old people, but they also need the young and young people need contact with the old. But society shunts away old people deepening the rift and imbalance in the society. Getting outdoors offers physical, sociological and psychological benefits for older people.  Physical inactivity is a major underlying cause of disease and disability (WHO, 2003). The social benefits of getting outdoors include practical considerations such as being able to get to the shops or the post office, as well as being able to visit friends and have informal contact with neighbors. Activities in open spaces are associated with stronger social networks among neighbors and reduced fear of crime (Kweon, Sullivan, and Wiley, 1998).

 

 

Successful Ageing-Factors³

 

STREETS: The backbone of neighborhoods:

By definition, street is a public way or thoroughfare in a city or town, usually with a sidewalk or sidewalks, typically with buildings on one or both sides. Streets are host to vehicular and pedestrian movements, in addition to an array of other activities. Both streets and roads are basically connecting elements in a city, forming a network of nerves leading from one place to another, connecting different nodes, destinations etc. In the process they become linear zones of activities. When at a neighborhood level, streets form an important aspect of planning and design, as they form the backbone for circulation of people and families residing in the area. Streets are the most basic and important public spaces in an urban context, a fact which cannot be denied!

Though vehicles claim an untold ownership over streets, what make streets ‘Place’ are the people. Hence people- centric design of streets takes forefront in urban design. The ambience of the street in addition to the activities it hosts contributes towards making streets livable. Streets have taken various forms over times, be it for animal carts, carriages, push carts or vehicles of various scales.

 

Qualities of a Safe Neighborhood Street⁵

1.       Buildings must be facing the street. They should not turn their backs on the street. Active building fronts (porches, shops, restaurants) are best.

 

2.       There should be eyes upon the street from the buildings lining the street. Good building design provides windows and porches that allow a clear view of the street and the neighborhood.

 

3.       The sidewalk should be used continuously, at nearly all hours, to not only add a sense of community but also encourage neighbors to watch the street.

 

4.       Children are able to play on sidewalks and streets. Well-used streets and public spaces are the best defense against potential crimes.

 

5.       Neighborhood streets should be narrow and accommodate only slow moving traffic. Not only are they easier to cross, narrow streets are much more pleasant for all activities, such as walking along the sidewalk or sitting in an outdoor café.

 

6.       A large number of shops and public places, particularly those that are bustling at night, should be sprinkled throughout a neighborhood. Such attractions give people a reason to use sidewalks, and also help to populate places. Shopkeepers also have a vested interest in neighborhood safety, and serve as street guardians.

 

7.       Good lighting offers reassurance to people who wish to use the sidewalk at night, who then become street watchers simply by their presence. While lighting helps to increase the range of view, it alone cannot guarantee safety: “Without effective eyes to see, does a light cast light? Not for practical purposes”. A sufficient number of street users is key.

 

The elderly specially like to walk! It is the mildest form of exercise they can afford at no cost, in addition to which they get exposed to outdoor fresh air and environment, get to meet people- children, teens, peers and friends. Walking is a favorite activity amongst the elderly women as well. It could be for going to buy vegetables, medicine, paying bills or just for recreation to a park to be peers, members of a club or so. If our streets assist them in easily carrying out this activity of theirs with no fear and barriers, it becomes a successful design. The accessibility to the amenities when within the walking range of quarter of a mile, it becomes a compact urban setting, which is sustainable solution in the process.

 

 

URBAN PUBLIC SPACES- As a place for all!

Public spaces in an urban setting are the soul of the neighborhood, while its streets are the nerves. Urban spaces host all the essential functions that are required by its people either as basic amenities or added elements of enhancing livability by provisions of places of entertainment. It could range from a simple next door grocery stall to a municipal bill counter or a neighborhood park to a supermarket or mall. Transit nodes, telephone booths, shopping zone, vegetable market, religious center, community centre, cinema hall, plazas etc and so forth all are constituents of the urban space. These have to be accessed easily by its people preferably within walkable range and also must be legible to its users.

 

Accessibility and mobility are not only dependent on the material conditions and the physical layout of the public spaces, but also on the mobility skills of citizens. An ecological perspective on public spaces should guide the design of these spaces meaning accessibility is a combination of individual abilities with an environment's spatial organization. Some scholars equate urban public space with a "Right to the city." This expression was originally circulated by French philosopher Henry Lefebvre (1968) who was advocating for a better control of inhabitants over the production of their own daily spaces.⁶ Recently the right to the city has taken a more prosaic dimension focused on the sheer physical possibility of accessing and remaining in certain spaces by specific categories of the population. Urban public Spaces are the face of our cities. Good streets and other public spaces reflect the general public health, well being, image of the city, motility, conviviality, economic incentives and so on. Success of publicness is reflected by its usage and its openness to citizens from all walks of life. It is before anything else predetermined by its ability to bring together two main and necessary qualities upon which all the rest depends: Accessibility and Communication. Hence social inclusion of people from all walks of life leads to a democratic design of the neighborhood spaces.

 

ELDERLY WOMEN AND EXPERIENCE IN THE PUBLIC SPHERE

The way women perceive the public realm is different from the way men do. Women in general, elderly women in particular are more conscious on streets and public spaces, prime reason being the fear of crime and violence against them. This induces craving for safer public realms on streets which can be achieved by way of sensible urban design techniques and tools. The urban setting and its design directly affect the levels of fear amongst elderly women, which is dictated by parameters such as location, mode of connectivity, legibility, time of day, pedestrian experience, nature of functions and users. Women tend to sense the ‘place’ with respect to these aspects and create cognitive identification of a space and decide to tread on what is felt as safe and avoid what seems unsafe. Every citizen’s right to public space and streets should not be hampered by such parameters which induce fear. This indirectly affects the lifestyle and routines of the elderly women and the degree to which they experience the public sphere. Thus the need arises for them to venture out only during day time, avoid late evenings or nights, to be accompanied by a male partner, to avail only public transport and various other specific restraints.

 

A look at the streets in Indian context demands an understanding and analysis of streets in neighborhood and how elderly women relate to it per se.

 

An observation of elderly women and the way they navigate through streets in Bangalore reveals a very controlled and anxious gait, a low speed walk often broken because of difficult or absence of walkways and speeding irate vehicles, unwelcoming shop fronts, low lit parks, no pedestrian refuge spaces or over crowded bus stops. (Personal reflection)

 

Status of most of the streets in Indian urban neighborhoods which negatively impact the elderly population:

·         Overcrowded and congested

·         Highly motorized 

·         Undisciplined Traffic and Parking

·         Inaccessible amenities and provisions

·         Bad or poorly maintained pavements. Difficult  for wheel chairs

·         Poorly lit and dark streets

·         Lack of surveillance

·         Lack of proper and accessible public toilets

·         Lack of seating or resting places

·         Unfriendly parks

·         Lack of proper social gathering spaces

 

Main challenges faced by elderly citizens on neighborhood streets would be:

·         Barriers to mobility

·         Threats to physical safety

·         Lack of elderly-  friendly public spaces

·         Lack of and inaccessibility to required services and amenities

·         Poor public realm of streets and open spaces

·         Poor way finding or legibility

·         Inefficient transit nodes and networks

·         Poor street signage and street furniture.

 

LESSONS FROM PARALLELS

One example that comes to mind is the Rue Montorgueil neighborhood, which is a vibrant pedestrian area in the heart of Paris. This district shows how even the busy center of Paris reserves village-like nooks. It also gives a picture of how Paris manages to be resolutely modern while preserving a rich heritage. The following excerpt says it all, about how inclusive this street is and the realm it hosts

 

“We once witnessed a small elderly woman with two canes tottering carefully down this wonderful street. Her face was full of determination. It was clearly not easy, but she was comfortable in her surroundings nonetheless. Most streets aren't good for the elderly, but Rue Montorgueil was good for this woman. Without the constant threat of vehicles to deter her, she felt at ease venturing onto this public thoroughfare by herself. Few other urban streets provide the elderly with such security.”⁷

 

But Rue Montorgueil is a lot more than just a pedestrian street. Over time, it has accreted uses that complement each other, forming an urban ecosystem of commerce, social gatherings, and street performances. The place has a network of pedestrian only streets and motorized streets. The street uses traffic calming devices by way of different material finish for crossings, for exclusively pedestrian streets, street furniture, plants and light posts. 

 

Seoul also has taken initiatives in creating elderly- friendly streets by converting two neighborhoods as pilot projects by introducing elder- oriented activities and amenities. The city has plans to adopt a "service design" method, taking into consideration the ideas of elderly citizens, as well as creating more jobs and amenities. These friendly streets have shown results by way of tremendous increase in elderly men and women frequenting and availing the amenities.⁸

 

URBAN DESIGN AS A TOOL

Urban design solutions of streets will ensure that elderly women are included as integral user group in the neighborhood by way of enhancing the public realm, creating barrier- free circulation and spaces, improving accessibility, legibility and livability of the streets. Graeme Evans in his ‘Accessibility, Urban Design and the Whole Journey Environment’ mentions that extensive study have revealed that good urban design can contribute to an inclusive design of streets and include three key aspects by helping to:

 

1. Enhance the quality of the public realm – including transport interchanges and the pedestrian environment – creating a sense of identity/community by animating the edges of the routes and creating vibrant public spaces.

 

2. Minimize the psychological barriers to accessibility, e.g. fear of crime, by reducing opportunities for physical and social incivilities and risk.

 

3. Reduce physical barriers to accessibility by providing permeable public spaces, pedestrian friendly landscaping and useful, well-designed street furniture and amenities, e.g. seating, lighting, public toilets, cycle parking/routes.

 

 

 

 

Livable streets strike a balance between the vehicles they serve and the adjacent community. They establish great neighborhoods and the possibility for true community building. Goods and services are readily accessible while adequate open space is provided for the local community. Unlike other streets that primarily serve the needs of traffic, they cater to the needs of everyone using them.¹¹ There has to be dedicated pedestrian streets or lanes in public spaces such as shopping districts or community spaces, dedicated bicycle lanes, wide foot paths in business districts, on street parking in residential zones etc. The elderly frequent shopping streets, community spaces, parks, amenities such as clinics, banks, ATM’s, bill counters. Design features and characteristics of safe Streets for Life addressing the elderly men and women as proposed in ‘Inclusive urban design- streets for life’ by Elizabeth Burton and Lynne Mitchell are likely to have: ¹²

·         A mix of uses

·         Buildings, doors and windows facing the street

·         Clearly marked bicycle lanes separate from footways

·         Pedestrians separated from traffic by trees, on-road parking or bicycle lanes

·         Signal- controlled pedestrian crossings with visual signals on both sides of the crossing and audible cues at a pitch and timing suitable for frail older people

·         Traffic calming measures in clear colour and textural contrast to footways and pedestrian crossings

·         Wide, well- maintained, clean footways

·         Plain, non- reflective paving in clear colour and textural contrast to walls, bicycle lanes and traffic calming measures. Flat, smooth, non- slip paving

·         Grates and drains flush with paving with openings smaller than walking stick or shoe heel size

·         Trees with narrow leaves that do not stick to paving when wet

·         Spaces and buildings designed and oriented to avoid areas of dark shadow or bright light

 

CONCLUSION:

Elderly have their perceptions of the public realm in their neighborhoods, owing to the concerns that come with age more so gender issues, makes the this group susceptible to various oddities when outdoors. Elderly are troubled by feeling of fear, anxiety and safety concerns in these urban spaces, on account of being targeted to abuse, assault and crime. Instilling a sense of safety reassures that the streets welcome the elderly and become democratic in their usage. As much as streets without or with  narrow walkways, unkempt conditions, poorly lit, gloomy and gray, buildings with their backs to streets, lack of signage or street furniture, unshaded walkways, lack of pedestrian refuges or such conditions create poor public realm at a micro level, there is a necessity to address macro level issues in neighborhoods and its street design. Land use pattern, mixed use functionality, building openings and façade guidelines, traffic pattern, transit nodes, street network and crossings, open space matrix and building regulations have to be streamlined to achieve a wholesome addressal of the issue. Hence improving the pedestrian experience along neighborhood streets and locating the required amenities or facilities within walkable range will give the elderly citizens a boost and freedom to tread upon the public space and achieve a social life without fear or stigma.

 

REFERENCES:

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2.        Hanson, Julienne., (2002).‘The Inclusive city: what active ageing might mean for urban design’. London: University college

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