Creating safer and accessible public spaces

Being able to access public spaces and public transport is fundamental to participation in the economy and society. The design of public spaces is often considered gender-neutral, however, evidence highlights women and girls have different needs. It is essential to understand and address these needs through the planning and design of public spaces.

Safety is a key concern for women and girls in public spaces and when using public transport

Research and engagement have shown that women, girls and gender diverse people tend to feel less safe in public spaces and when moving to, through and within transport hubs. Their perception of safety can impact their mobility.¹¹³

The NSW Government’s Safer Cities Survey conducted from December 2022 to February 2023 revealed seven key insights about the perceptions of safety in NSW public spaces and transport hubs:

1. Most women do not feel safe in public spaces after dark, with 42 per cent of women surveyed responding that they felt unsafe after dark ‘most’ or ‘all of the time’.
2. Women are twice as likely to feel unsafe after dark (59 per cent) as men (31 per cent).
3. A sense of safety influences the routes people choose, with 92 per cent of women and 75 per cent of men reporting that a sense of safety impacted their chosen transport routes.
4. People reported that if they felt safer, they would walk, catch public transport and go out more during the day and at night.
5. Both women and men felt safest in public spaces where there were plenty of people around.
6. Certain groups have different perceptions of safety in public spaces and transport hubs, including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women, LGBTQIA+ women, women and men with disability, women under 25, and women over 75.
7. After dark, 68 per cent of women in regional New South Wales reported feeling unsafe in public spaces compared to 57 per cent of women in metropolitan areas.¹¹⁴

Community members, particularly women and gender-diverse people, who feel unsafe when using public spaces may alter their behaviour. They may avoid travelling alone at night, avoid using public transport or avoid public spaces altogether.¹¹⁵ Safety concerns can impact their employment and education opportunities as well as access to health care and other services, which can then negatively impact their long-term economic outcomes.

In addition to safety concerns, women may face access challenges as some public spaces, including some train stations, do not provide adequate access to sanitary facilities, baby change rooms and lifts to accommodate parents with prams and children.

The NSW Government is committed to ensuring public spaces are safe and accessible

This Budget commits an extra $300.0 million to expand the Transport Access Program to upgrade train stations and commuter car parks to make them more accessible, safe, and secure, as well as improve their amenities. The delivery of the current tranche of the Transport Access Program is due for completion in 2024. This will make public transport more accessible for people with disability or limited mobility, and parents with prams. This will also support a more integrated network across all modes of transport.

This Budget continues investment in the Safer Cities Program. Transport for NSW is working with delivery partners and ten local councils to trial interventions to improve safety in NSW cities and towns, especially for women, girls and gender diverse people. Transport for NSW is also developing a public education campaign to focus on improving safety and reducing harassment.

The NSW Government has allocated $3.9 million to support the former Darlinghurst Police Station to be transformed into a permanent home for the LGBTQIA+ museum, Qtopia Sydney. The museum will present exhibitions that explore the LGBTQIA+ community through the lens of history, culture and art. The museum is intended to be a safe space for people to explore their identity.