In collaboration with Bella Gustin
Students’ Union Award for Outstanding Innovation, 2018
WHO'S HEALTH?
The World Health Organization (WHO) defines “health positively, as complete physical, mental and social well-being, not merely as the absence of disease or infirmity.” The class used this definition to ground our interpretation of health.
The World Health Organization (WHO) defines “health positively, as complete physical, mental and social well-being, not merely as the absence of disease or infirmity.” The class used this definition to ground our interpretation of health.
TRANSIT RIDER SECURITY
Bella and I focused on the health of public transit riders who use the Edmonton Transit System (ETS). We started our search by simply googling and consulting articles and papers on issues people experienced while using public transit. On many accounts the issue of personal security was a concerning and significant issue faced by riders.
Bella and I focused on the health of public transit riders who use the Edmonton Transit System (ETS). We started our search by simply googling and consulting articles and papers on issues people experienced while using public transit. On many accounts the issue of personal security was a concerning and significant issue faced by riders.
FOLLOW THE RESEARCH
Originally, we didn’t intend to focus on a specific gender of transit rider, but as we gathered more secondary research gender was often expressed when discussing transit safety and security. An article on transit safety written by Ro (2017) for the Matador Network states...
Originally, we didn’t intend to focus on a specific gender of transit rider, but as we gathered more secondary research gender was often expressed when discussing transit safety and security. An article on transit safety written by Ro (2017) for the Matador Network states...
NEWS AND ARTICLE HEADLINES We found the above headlines as we began to search for insights on transit security. Notably the headlines all specified gender.
HOW MANY WOMEN RIDE TRANSIT?
(Bennett & Shirgaokar, 2016)
INTERVIEW FINDINGS
Continuing our investigation on the experiences of transit riders and their safety, we conducted interviews with 4 male and 4 female ETS riders. They were all asked the same questions regarding their experience riding transit and their perceived security. Here are a few of the insights...
Continuing our investigation on the experiences of transit riders and their safety, we conducted interviews with 4 male and 4 female ETS riders. They were all asked the same questions regarding their experience riding transit and their perceived security. Here are a few of the insights...
INTERVIEW QUESTION
Can you share a time you’ve ever felt uncomfortable while using transit?
Can you share a time you’ve ever felt uncomfortable while using transit?
MALE INSIGHTS Some male interviewees did share uneasy experiences, although they never spoke with as much concern for their own safety compared to the female responses.
FEMALE INSIGHTS Without hesitation, all female interviewees referenced a specific experience that left them feeling unsafe and vulnerable. They often had multiple stories to share.
FOLLOW UP QUESTION
What do you do in these situations when you’re feeling unsafe?
What do you do in these situations when you’re feeling unsafe?
Carrying mace, placing their keys between their knuckles, and preparing to call 9-1-1 were precautions the female interviewees took when they felt unsafe using public transit. Bella and I decided this was an issue in need of tackling, since no one riding transit should have to go to these lengths to feel safe.
POCKET PRECAUTIONS
DEFINING THE PROBLEM
Being our first HCD project it took some time to realize the importance of specificity for design. Developing a representative and guiding problem statement took many iterations and required revisiting the research. We eventually landed with the following:
Being our first HCD project it took some time to realize the importance of specificity for design. Developing a representative and guiding problem statement took many iterations and required revisiting the research. We eventually landed with the following:
WHAT CAN WE DO?
Bella and I wondered if we could approach this problem through proposing changes to the current bus stop environment. The mention of lighting contributing to safer environments wasn’t only stated in articles, but also in an interview we conducted with Marian, a member of the Women’s Advocacy Voice of Edmonton Committee (WAVE). The WAVE committee provides City Council with insight on women’s gender based issues and had conducted a report on the topic of transit safety. Marian stated that increased lighting in dark environements is important to ensure more people are out walking, and therefore more eyes are out and about. She noted lighting can act as a preventative measure concerning public safety.
Bella and I wondered if we could approach this problem through proposing changes to the current bus stop environment. The mention of lighting contributing to safer environments wasn’t only stated in articles, but also in an interview we conducted with Marian, a member of the Women’s Advocacy Voice of Edmonton Committee (WAVE). The WAVE committee provides City Council with insight on women’s gender based issues and had conducted a report on the topic of transit safety. Marian stated that increased lighting in dark environements is important to ensure more people are out walking, and therefore more eyes are out and about. She noted lighting can act as a preventative measure concerning public safety.
ETS PARALIGHT
Our intervention is a modular pressure sensitive light tile that stands by your side in the dark. The Paralight increases the commuter’s awareness while increasing visibility when waiting for the bus at night.
OUTCOMES By focusing on one group of people and working to understanding and respond to their needs the Paralight design extends beyond gender, and works to support anyone that desires light for comfort in the dark. Additionally, this design does not place the onus of security on the riders themselves in an effort to move away startling precautionary measures currently taken to feel secure. Not only does the Paralight increase visibility contributing to a physically safer environment, but the Paralight also contributes to more peace of mind for riders, reducing anxieties felt when waiting in the dark. These sentiments were validated when we shared the Paralight design with our interviewees.
REFLECTION
Bella and I presented our project to the class and received positive feedback. Moving forward, we acknowledge there are an array of logistical details in need of more consideration. For instance, materials, power sources, electrical outputs, tile arrangements, and how the tiles will interact with Edmonton winters to name a few. Although, even without these details fully figured out Bella and I were able to incite meaningful conversation on health and safety through a design concept.
This was our first stab at navigating the human-centered design process and inspired me continue to explore and challenge this method. I want to document this first project not only because this where I discovered my passion for design problem-solving, but there is also so much to be improved upon and investigated deeper.
ACKKNOWLEDGEMENTS
This project was completed during a design course at the University of Alberta in 2017. I would like to extend a thank you to the interviewees, course instructors (Ben King and Tim Antoniuk), and our colleagues who volunteered their time to share their experiences, expertise, and insights. These not only helped to shape the design outcome, but also contribute to extended conversations in hopes of increasing public and personal health awareness and security.
REFERENCES
Bennett, Kelly, and Manish Shirgaokar. “Social Sustainability of Transit: An Overview of the Literature and Findings from Expert Interviews.” Edmonton: University of Alberta, February 29, 2016.
Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design. Accessed September 30, 2017. https://www.edmontonpolice.ca/CrimePrevention/CommunitySafety/CPTED.
Loukaitou-Sideris, A. Fear and safety in transit environments from the women’s perspective. Secure J 27, 242–256 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1057/sj.2014.9
Ro, Christine. “How to Make Public Transportation Safer for Women.” Matador Network, February 21, 2017. https://matadornetwork.com/life/make-public-transportation-safer-women/.
“Winter City Guidelines - Transforming Edmonton into a Great Winter City.” City Government Documents. City of Edmonton, December 2016. https://www.edmonton.ca/city_government/documents/PDF/ WinterCityDesignGuidelines_draft.pdf.
ARTICLE HEADLINES
CBC Edmonton: http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/edmonton/lrt-buses-unsafe-at-night-female- passengers-say-1.2951562
Edmonton Metro: http://www.metronews.ca/news/edmonton/2015/04/21/some-women-riders-worn- down-by-verbal-harassment-on-edmonton-transit.html
Matador Network: https://matadornetwork.com/life/make-public-transportation-safer-women/
