Revitalizing alleys in high-density cities: how urban and landscape design interventions impact the sense of safety

Abstract

The back alley is a common but often neglected urban space in high-density cities. Citizens, especially females, try to avoid back alleys because of the problem of safety. Citizens often perceive the back alleys as gray, unsanitary, chaotic, crime-infested places. In fact, many alleys have the potential to be benign or even valuable spaces that can benefit citizens in multiple ways. In this study, we examined people’s safety perceptions of existing alley conditions in Hong Kong city ...