How cities are designed directly affects how people move, work, and participate in society. While most urban spaces are built to accommodate the traditional male commuter, some cities recognise the urgent need to design for everyone—including women. From Vienna’s gender-sensitive planning to Barcelona’s pedestrian-first policies, these cities are proving that inclusive urban design makes life better for all residents.

Global Cities Leading the Way in Gender-Inclusive Planning

1️⃣ Vienna, Austria: Designing Cities with Women in Mind

✅ Parks were redesigned to better accommodate women and girls, ensuring inclusive recreational spaces.
✅ Co-housing projects were created for single mothers, offering safe and accessible living environments.
✅ Pavements were widened to accommodate strollers and wheelchairs, making streets more walkable for caregivers.
✅ Improved street lighting and security measures enhanced safety for women in public spaces.

Impact: These changes have made Vienna one of the safest and most accessible cities for women, increasing female participation in public spaces.

2️⃣ Barcelona, Spain: The Power of Pedestrian-First Planning

🚶‍♀️ Superblocks—large pedestrian zones—were implemented to:
✅ Limit car traffic, reduce pollution, and reclaim public space for people.
✅ Ensure streets are well-lit and populated, reducing risks for women travelling at night.
✅ Promote walkability and safer public transport connections.

Impact: By prioritizing pedestrians over vehicles, Barcelona has created more active, safer urban spaces where women feel secure.

3️⃣ Bogotá, Colombia: Prioritizing Women’s Safety in Mobility

🚲 Mapped 230 km of bike paths using Safetipin’s safety assessment app to:
✅ Improve street lighting and install CCTV cameras in key areas.
✅ Ensure women feel safer using public transport and bike lanes.
✅ Organize initiatives like “Women Taking the Night”, where women reclaim public spaces by walking through previously unsafe areas.

Impact: Bogotá has significantly increased women’s confidence in public spaces, leading to higher participation in economic and social activities.

4️⃣ Tokyo, Japan: The “Proof of Parking” Rule for Safer Mobility

✅ Enforced a “Proof of Parking” policy, requiring car buyers to show proof of a private parking spot before purchasing a vehicle.
✅ Reduced congestion, improving overall walkability.
✅ Created safer pedestrian areas with better lighting and surveillance.

Impact: With fewer cars and better pedestrian safety measures, Tokyo has enhanced mobility and security for women in urban spaces.

Umeå, Sweden – The “Gender Landscape” Model
✅ Introduced public seating areas designed for women, ensuring safety and comfort.
✅ Prioritized pedestrian and public transport improvements to enhance accessibility for all.
✅ Promoted gender equality in urban policies, strategies, and projects, making it a benchmark for inclusive city planning.

Impact : Umeå’s approach proves that participatory urban design—where women actively contribute to city planning—creates more inclusive and socially connected spaces.

To create safer, more inclusive cities, Indian urban planners must learn from these global examples and implement:

• Better Public Transport Design: Frequent, well-lit, and secure transport options—not just for 9-to-5 commuters.
• Safe & Accessible Streets: Pedestrian-first policies, improved street lighting, and CCTV surveillance in public areas.
• Gender-Sensitive Urban Planning: Integrating women’s needs from the planning stage, as seen in Vienna & Barcelona.
• More Public Toilets & Caregiving Spaces: Markets, transport hubs, and workplaces must offer clean, accessible facilities for women caregivers & workers.

Cities should not be built with men as the default users. Urban spaces must be designed for the needs of all citizens.

The Future of Gender-Inclusive Urban Design

Creating cities that work for women isn’t just about fairness—it’s about building better, safer, and more efficient urban spaces for everyone. When public transport is secure, when streets are well-lit, and when infrastructure supports caregiving and mobility, cities flourish economically and socially.