Getting There - On Foot, By Cycle - Priority 10

A strategy to advance walking and cycling in New Zealand transport

February 2005

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Address crime and personal security concerns around walking and cycling 

Why?
Concerns about crime and personal security can act as barriers to walking and cycling. As with road safety, perceptions must be addressed alongside reported crime (which may be low), because fear often deters travel. Concerns about personal security can be a particular barrier for those who feel more vulnerable to crime (including women, the elderly, and the disabled), while parents may not allow children to walk or cycle for fear of 'stranger danger'.

For pedestrians, levels of concern are often highest at night and around town centres. Less use of walking and cycling can become a vicious circle-having fewer people 'out and about' adds to people's feelings of insecurity, leading to still fewer people walking or cycling.

Both broad social and more specific factors contribute to personal security concerns in communities. For pedestrians and cyclists, addressing situational factors such as a lack of natural surveillance, inadequate or poorly maintained lighting, entrapment points, overgrown shrubbery and graffiti will improve perceptions of security in streets and public spaces.

Many crime and safety perception issues faced by people as they move about their communities will be addressed through broader strategies such as the Crime Reduction Strategy, and in particular its General Violence Strategy. This has safety in public places as one of its focuses, as does the New Zealand Police Safer Streets Strategy. It is important that the personal security issues of pedestrians and cyclists are considered as part of these.

For cyclists, a further important crime-related issue relates to bicycle theft. A lack of secure parking or storage for bicycles can be a significant barrier to cycle use, and efforts to create more cycle-friendly communities must address this.

Desired outcome
Streets and public spaces will be perceived as secure places for people to walk and cycle.

How?
International and local experience indicates that the following types of action will help to achieve this outcome:

• 'Crime Prevention through Environmental Design' principles are used to create safer and more useable town centres, public spaces, streets and suburbs.
• Personal security issues are considered in the development of standards, guidelines and safety audit tools for walking and cycling.
• Pedestrian and cyclist personal security issues are identified and addressed in the community infrastructure strategies (such as lighting strategies) and maintenance policies of territorial authorities.
• Personal security issues for pedestrians and cyclists are identified and addressed in broader strategies to reduce crime in communities, and considered by Safer Community Councils and Road Safety Committees.
• Crime safety audits are built into the development of community-based walking and cycling promotion initiatives, with crime risk assessments undertaken in identified high crime and safety-risk areas (such as transport centres and parks).
• Secure bike parking is provided as part of initiatives to create cycle-friendly communities.

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• Walking and Cycling as strategy launched

Download the:

• Strategy Document (PDF v7.0, 2156kb)  
• Questions and Answers (PDF v7.0, 35kb) 
• Report on Consultation (PDF v7.0, 200kb)