Experiential Equity: An Environmental Neuroscientific Lens for Disparities in Urban Stress

Abstract

This chapter articulates the concept of ‘experiential equity’ to explain how urban space is experienced differently depending on one's intersecting social identities. It relates experiential equity to the COVID-19 pandemic by reflecting on different experiences of cycling and questions who is able to fully enjoy new bike lanes that have sprung up in cities during the pandemic. It also discusses how the pandemic has highlighted and demonstrated the bidirectional relationship between urban design and stress. The chapter explores the term ‘pandemic related stress,’ which refers to the stress and anxiety associated with contracting the illness, passing the illness onto others, and the financial stress associated with the pandemic's impact on the economy. It highlights an outdoor-focused approach that has been lauded as a necessary strategy to enhance and support physical and mental well-being.