Measuring Spatial Security of Pedestrian Overpasses for Women; a Case Study of Rasht

Half of the users of urban spaces are women and the sense of security is of factors influencing the use of these spaces by women. One of the urban spaces that has received less attention and its security is of considerable importance to women is pedestrian overpass. Therefore, the aim of this study is to assess the spatial security of pedestrian overpasses in the city of Rasht, employing physical (local), functional (performance) and environmental-behavioral (cognitive) indicators from the perspective of women using these spaces. Descriptive analytical method is used and data collection approach is survey using questionnaires. The Statistical population is women over 18 years of Rasht who use pedestrian overpasses and they are selected randomly, 30 for each pedestrian bridge and 270 in total. The results show that the sense of insecurity perceived by women in pedestrian overpasses in Rasht is more than average in all three indicators and the greatest sense of insecurity perceived by women is within the physical indicator and the functional indicator plays the minimal role in the women's scense of insecurity. Pedestrian overpass of Janbazan toward Imam Hossein Square also has the lowest average from the point of view of sence of insecurity felt by women and pedestrian overpasses located in the Shahid Beheshti Boulevard and then Khorramshahr Boulevard are the most insecure ones among pedestrian bridges. The most important factors influencing the feelings of insecurity and fear in women using pedestrian bridges in the city of Rasht, are darkness in bridges at night and the lack of adequate lights installed in pedestrian bridge especially during 19:00-24:00 hours. The results highlights the necessity of correct planning and design of pedestrian overpasses and paying attention to women as one of the major users of these bridges more than before.