Let me ask you a question. In your mind, what makes a city safe?
The answer to that question will probably reveal a lot about you, as it did me.
Whenever I pondered this question, I instantly think of three things: homicide, burglary, and sexual assault. All of which I would put under the larger umbrella of street crimes. So long as crime rates are low, I’m a happy camper.
So what does that say about me? Essentially, it says that I’ve been incredibly privileged, and blissfully ignorant. I’ll explain.
As it turns out, according to the Economist's Intelligence Unit (EIU) there are a lot of factors that go into making a city safe apart from a lack of crime. The thing is though, when you’re accustomed to having them, you forget they are there. Here are just a few highlighted in their report:
1. Sanitation
Cities lacking sanitation are inherently unsafe because of the resulting health risks. If you don’t know what I’m talking about, this article explains the health risks in depth. Adding to these is the fact that girls and women are at greater risk when they live somewhere with poor sanitation. Without access to safe toilets and latrines, they’re forced to find somewhere to defecate out in the open, making them vulnerable to attacks.
2. City Planning
It’s easy to take city planning for granted when you’re accustomed to safe and efficient roads and walkways, but these things matter! I’ll never forget visiting the Thai island of Koh Lanta with my friend, and being advised by locals not to drive because the roads were too dangerous for out of towners. I was sure they were being dramatic, until I saw for myself! Driving down this one road literally felt like we were gambling with our lives.
3. Natural Disaster Preparedness
As we recently saw in Nepal, being unprepared for natural disasters and extreme weather events can have serious consequences. Many of the buildings were poorly constructed and unable to withstand the earthquakes, resulting in damage and devastation that might have been prevented. In addition to building safe structures, there are other things cities can do to prepare for these types of events such as ensuring that there are sufficient roadways and methods for evacuation.
4. Healthcare
Access to quality healthcare is vital to making a city safe. That means healthcare must be affordable and physically accessible to residents regardless of where they live. Furthermore, It’s essential that health facilities have sufficient medical equipment and resources, and enough trained medical workers to meet demand.
5. Pollution
It’s common sense- a city that’s heavily polluted will be less safe to live in because of the health risks associated with pollution. The WHO reports that “air pollution is now the world’s largest single environmental health risk.” Now that’s saying something. Fortunately, cities do have the power to turn things around. In the United States, for instance, regulations like the Clean Air Act have helped cities like Los Angeles completely transform their air quality and improve the well-being of their residents.
Of course there are many factors worth considering outside of these five areas. For cities like Amsterdam that have many cyclists, ensuring they can get around safely is vital. Addressing threats like terrorism and cyber crime is also crucial now that cities rely more and more on technology. And, Interestingly enough, cities with more first-generation immigrants tend to be safer because this population is less likely to commit violent crimes.
Finally, increasing equality, and decreasing poverty, is HUGE to achieving safety in cities. Dr. Michele Acuto works with the UN to improve urban safety. He explains: “There is no safer-city agenda that can proceed without a social-equality agenda.” Well said, Dr. Acuto, well said indeed.
Curious how your favorite cities stack up? Check out the Safe Cities Index to find out.