Car parking changes in Durham 'left female workers fearing for their safety'

[SunsetBeetch]

I'm not expecting this to generate a huge amount of discussion, but I thought it was an interesting little example of how women's needs aren't considered.

Of course these safety concerns wouldn't have occurred to a lot of men, but this is the sort of thing women have to factor in all the time.

' “We have lost quite a few of our female traders who drive the large vans, because they have concerns about walking back there, especially in the darker evenings, because they tend to carry their cash float with them – it’s that little bit further away and a little less well lit.” '

www.chroniclelive.co.uk/news/north-east-news/car-parking-changes-durham-left-20613446.amp

That is interesting, but good that it's at least been recognised - I wonder how that came about? (Asking, or being told?)

It really does show how important who decision makers are at all levels doesn't it.

This is a standard consideration for most women. Just shows how much the world is literally built around men, men's experiences, and men's bodies, doesn't it?

They haven't just closed the parking for the fuck of it though, it's become a construction site. I doubt any market trader appreciates walking further with their takings but this is the reality of urban environments, motorists are seen as the enemy.

So actually what we have is a man speaking on behalf of women in what he claims as their interest? I doubt very much that he cares that much. It's funny how people can always trot out that someone else (women, children, the disabled) is disadvantaged when what they actually mean is "I don't like it". If anyone genuinely cares about women's safety, then find solutions, not problems.

@vimtosogood

They haven't just closed the parking for the fuck of it though, it's become a construction site. I doubt any market trader appreciates walking further with their takings but this is the reality of urban environments, motorists are seen as the enemy.

That's so not the point.

@IntoAir

This is a standard consideration for most women. Just shows how much the world is literally built around men, men's experiences, and men's bodies, doesn't it?

Indeed. I have walked with a female friend back to her car in a notorious local multistorey car park at the end of a night out. She then dropped me at my car across town. 🤷‍♀️

I don't know of a single multi-story that I feel safe in at night time (and I'm not keen in the day time TBH). Lifts are dangerous for obvious reasons, signage and lighting is poor, stairwells often smell of piss, there are seldom any staff since everything is automated.
Either way, nothing in cities is ever designed for women.

Massive back story here with the local council that is building a new HQ on a grotty out of the way car park that few people really used. The multi story is closer to the market and well lit etc.

Loads of local politics outrage stuff going on about the temerity of them replacing their asbestos filled 1960s building with a centrally located modern building close to public transport hubs and increasing working from home.

Potentially there are indeed safety concerns from the women quoted in the article but the local press are doing their very best to stir up as much outrage about the new HQ as possible and the article needs this context.

@KitchenWarrior

Massive back story here with the local council that is building a new HQ on a grotty out of the way car park that few people really used. The multi story is closer to the market and well lit etc.

Loads of local politics outrage stuff going on about the temerity of them replacing their asbestos filled 1960s building with a centrally located modern building close to public transport hubs and increasing working from home.

Potentially there are indeed safety concerns from the women quoted in the article but the local press are doing their very best to stir up as much outrage about the new HQ as possible and the article needs this context.

However, if it's true that women traders are stepping back because of the safety concerns, it's a problem that should have been anticipated and doesn't seem to have garnered much comment from anyone. It sounds like, whether or not the press are riling people up about the construction, this problem exists.

@vimtosogood

They haven't just closed the parking for the fuck of it though, it's become a construction site. I doubt any market trader appreciates walking further with their takings but this is the reality of urban environments, motorists are seen as the enemy.

If you read the full article, they’re talking about ultimately turning the car park into a car park for the new council offices under construction.

Which suggests that it’s not going to be available for the market traders to use even after construction is completed.

@KitchenWarrior

Massive back story here with the local council that is building a new HQ on a grotty out of the way car park that few people really used. The multi story is closer to the market and well lit etc.

Loads of local politics outrage stuff going on about the temerity of them replacing their asbestos filled 1960s building with a centrally located modern building close to public transport hubs and increasing working from home.

Potentially there are indeed safety concerns from the women quoted in the article but the local press are doing their very best to stir up as much outrage about the new HQ as possible and the article needs this context.

Is the multi-storey possible for the market traders to use though?

Thinking about most - if not all - of the multi-storey car parks I’ve used - they’re designed for cars, not larger vehicles, the spaces are car sized, the turns on the ramps can be quite sharp, some of them have those dangly height warning things on the way in.

It could be the most well located, safest multi-storey in the world, but it’s no use to a market trader if they can’t fit a van in it.

I used to live just off Providence Row when I was a student. I honestly think I'd feel safer walking there than to the Sands car park, which strikes me as being much more secluded, plus it's closer to the river. Providence Row itself may not be especially well lit compared to the route they are presumably taking to the car park, but until you get to the turn off or Providence Row you're on a well lit main road. The difference in walk time is negligible - in fact a quick check on Google Maps informs me that it's a 2-minute walk from the market hall to the Sands car park, and a 1-minute walk takes you halfway down Providence Row.

@Olderbadger1

I don't know of a single multi-story that I feel safe in at night time (and I'm not keen in the day time TBH). Lifts are dangerous for obvious reasons, signage and lighting is poor, stairwells often smell of piss, there are seldom any staff since everything is automated. Either way, nothing in cities is ever designed for women.

Interesting article about city design & women: www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/2021/may/19/why-are-our-cities-built-for-6ft-tall-men-the-female-architects-who-fought-back