On Sunday 16 July 2023, the NSW Government released the Safer Cities Survey Report: Perceptions of safety in public spaces and transport hubs across NSW.

The NSW Government is investing $30 million over two years to improve perceptions of safety in our cities and towns, particularly for women, girls and gender diverse people through the Safer Cities program. As part of the program, Transport for NSW has launched the Safer Cities Survey.

The purpose of the Safer Cities Survey was to gather data and evidence around perceptions of safety for people across NSW when going about their day-to-day travel in public spaces. The Survey was open to all NSW residents over the age of 16. Across the online survey, poll and ideas board, we heard from nearly 5,500 members of the community. Through the Safer Cities Survey, we heard that:

• Most women do not feel safe in public spaces after dark.
• After dark, women were twice as likely to feel unsafe in public spaces compared to men.
• For most people, a sense of safety in public spaces influences the routes they choose.
• For most people, a sense of safety in public spaces influences the routes they choose.
• If they felt safer in public spaces, people would be more likely to walk, catch public transport and go out during the day and after dark more often.
• People feel safest in activated public spaces with plenty of people around.
• People’s sense of safety can differ across age, ability, cultural background and identity.
• People’s sense of safety in public spaces can differ depending on where they live.

The findings in the Report will be used to inform the interventions that will be implemented as part of the Safer Cities program. The findings will be used to help create better public spaces, through approaches such as improvements to infrastructure, amenities and activations that aim to improve the community’s perceptions of safety in cities and towns in NSW.

Click here to read the report.

If you would like to know more about the Safer Cities program, click here or get in touch with the Cities Revitalisation and Place Branch at safercities@dpie.nsw.gov.au.

Thank you to everyone who participated.