Gender differences in pedestrian safety perceptions: the physical and digital spheres

Abstract

Public spaces play a crucial role in urban life, yet safety perceptions influence mobility, accessibility and urban liveability. Although prior studies have addressed environmental factors shaping perceived safety, the role of digital technologies in smart cities, such as surveillance systems, smartphones and safety applications, remains underexplored. As cities adopt smart safety tools, further research is needed to understand their effects on gendered gaps in perceptions of safety, particularly by examining how women’s fear shapes these disparities.

This study employed a two-stage approach. First, data from 48 countries were analysed to assess fear levels among pedestrians walking alone at night and examine gender disparities in safety perceptions using Sustainable Development Goal Parameter 16.1.4. Subsequently, a comprehensive survey of 754 participants in core cities of three Israeli metropolitan areas assessed gender differences in safety perceptions and mobility. The survey examined factors shaping safety in both the physical (e.g. lighting, street activity) and digital (e.g. smartphone apps, surveillance) spheres.

Findings show that women’s fear strongly influences nighttime mobility. Women draw more security from active street environments and increasingly depend on smartphones to manage fear. The study underscores the need for a hybrid approach that integrates urban design, digital safety tools and community engagement. The findings contribute to the broader discourse on mobility, urban planning and gender-sensitive safety policies, emphasising the importance of integrating environmental design with emerging smart city technologies to foster inclusive public spaces.