Safer Streets stakeholders in South African expressed their commitment to creating safer, more inclusive urban environments through design, policy, and community engagement. The need for urgent action, especially for the safety of children and pedestrians, was underscored. The webinar concluded with a call to empower new generations to advocate for peoplefirst city designs and to foster ethical literacy around road design and use.

The webinar focused on various aspects of urban planning and safety, emphasizing the importance of community involvement and youth engagement in creating safer streets. Participants discussed the ethical implications of unsafe mobility for vulnerable road users and stressed the need for robust data collection to scale safety initiatives. The discussions highlighted the necessity of including taxi associations in safety dialogues to ensure comprehensive solutions, recognizing the limited financial resources of the government for road safety. Emphasis was placed on communitydriven planning and the activation of public spaces to foster safer environments, with a call for integrated, multistakeholder approaches to urban sustainability.

Key questions revolved around expanding the scope of safety initiatives to address criminal activities on the streets, such as smashandgrabs and pedestrian attacks, and strategies to gain support from local municipalities. Notable comments underscored the systemic nature of urban safety issues and the need for real, tangible impacts, encouraging student participation in these initiatives. The webinar concluded with a call to empower new generations to advocate for peoplefirst city designs and foster ethical literacy around road design and use, emphasizing the urgent need for action, especially for the safety of children and pedestrians.

Overall, webinar was a collaborative effort to address the multifaceted challenges of urban mobility and safety, bringing together various stakeholders to share insights, resources, and strategies for a safer urban future.

For those who wish the join the WhatsApp Community (https://chat.whatsapp.com/InNE2cWeRcK...)
Read more on the Safer Streets Programme (https://youngurbanists.co.za/wpconte...)
For those who wish to be part via email, fill out our survey (https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FA...)