On 29th April, the Transport Planning Society hosted an event at WSP exploring how places can be designed to work more equitably for everyone. At the outset, the TPS emphasised an important point: while women and girls are often the focus of discussions about safety, the goal is to create places that feel safer, more welcoming and more equitable for all members of our communities. Safety is not a single‑group issue, it is a societal one.

 

The event, Designing Equitable Communities: Rethinking Through a Gender Lens, brought together a panel of practitioners working at the forefront of this agenda: Alison Bradshaw (TfL), Susan Leadbetter (WSP), Susannah Walker (In Her Place) and Stephanie M.C. Yu (Arup), chaired by Joely Hill (WSP and TPS Board Director). The high turnout (both in person and online) reflected the growing interest across the profession in understanding how gender shapes mobility and how planning can respond.

 

A key theme throughout the discussion was that women and girls often navigate transport systems differently. Their journeys are shaped by safety concerns, caring responsibilities and early socialisation into risk‑management behaviours. Alison Bradshaw noted that many girls begin modifying their behaviour around age 11, which is a striking reminder of how early these patterns form. Yet designing for women and girls ultimately improves transport for everyone: older adults, disabled people, parents with prams, people carrying luggage, and anyone who has ever felt vulnerable in public space.

 

The panel also explored the balance between physical design and human behaviour. A line from Leslie Kern’s Feminist City was referenced: “No amount of lighting is going to abolish the patriarchy.” It served as a reminder that while lighting, sightlines and maintenance matter enormously, they cannot alone undo the cultural norms and behaviours that shape fear and vulnerability. The panel captured the balance well: we may be aiming for utopia, but we must build from where we are now. Good design can reduce risk and increase confidence, but cultural change and social responsibility remain essential.

 

Several practical examples demonstrated how gender‑inclusive thinking is already being embedded across the sector. TfL has introduced night‑time considerations into Active Travel Zone assessments, with compliance rising from 0% to 70% of planning applications in just two years. WSP is working with Active Travel England on new gender‑inclusive design guidance for walking and wheeling environments. North East Combined Authority has also commissioned WSP to undertake a region‑wide study into the experiences of women and girls, including through a partnership with Girlguiding. Arup has developed a women’s safety audit methodology for a Paddington development, integrating findings into Section 106 obligations. And a major southeast England masterplan is being designed with women and girls in mind from the outset, including alternative night‑time routes and grouped facilities to reduce trip‑chaining.

 

These examples show that gender‑inclusive design is not theoretical. It is happening now, and it is scalable.

 

One of the strengths of the event was its focus on what practitioners can take back into their day‑to‑day work. The panel highlighted the importance of embedding lived experience into every project, not as an add‑on but as a core input. Night‑time audits can reveal issues invisible during the day. Assumptions about “typical” journeys should be challenged, recognising that travel patterns vary widely. Maintenance and cleanliness play a significant role in perceived safety. Qualitative data should sit alongside quantitative evidence. And safety considerations should be integrated from the earliest design stages, rather than retrofitted later.

 

The enthusiasm in the room suggests strong appetite for further discussion. TPS will consider hosting a follow‑up event next year, building on the momentum and continuing to support the profession in developing more equitable, inclusive transport systems.

 

Designing equitable communities is not a specialist niche. It is central to good transport planning - and it is work the entire sector has a role in advancing.