Plazandreok, taking up a proposal from our municipal election campaign, has been working these past months on the realisation of this Map which gathers the opinions of the women of Donostia concerning places which we women consider especially problematic, either because they produce a certain fear or because access is impeded due to architectural barriers.
The idea of making a Map of the “Forbidden City” came up due to knowledge about other similar experiences carried out in Europe by different women’s associations. Our idea is to make known to the citizens of Donostia women’s opinions on the two questions stated above. Although our city is considered peaceful and easy to get around in, the perception which women have concerning certain places contradicts this generalised impression. Knowing that the municipal authorities are normally not aware of this fact, Plazandreok has, after consulting the women of the city, put together this map.
The results can be grouped into three categories, in descending order of conflict, according to the information obtained. They are shown graphically in the Map.
In the case of areas considered dangerous we find:
1. Underground passageways
2. Parks and squares
3. Places with little activity
In the case of areas difficult to access we find:
1. Steps and stairways in public buildings
2. Steep streets
3. Narrow pavements/sidewalks.
Evaluating the results, Plazandreok proposes:
1. The progressive disappearance of underground tunnels, to be substituted by better lighted and safer passageways.
2. Better lighting in these problematic areas with periodic checks of the installations.
3. An increase in the hours of public transport to the surrounding neighbourhoods, especially at night.
4. The installation of both alarm buttons on the columns of underground car parks and better lighting.
5. The diversification of the uses of and activities in the city centre, so that it is more than just an area of shops and offices which empties at the end of the day and becomes – as is occurring in other cities – a potentially dangerous area.
6. The elimination of architectural barriers, which impede free access to persons of limited mobility, the handicapped and people who move about with shopping carts or strollers and baby carriages. When we speak of architectural barriers we mean, as well as those usually considered as such: stairways, high curbs, narrow pavements/sidewalks, others which make getting about difficult such as pavements/sidewalks full of urban equipment, construction barricades, open holes or steep streets whose surface is slippery.
Plazandreok plans a follow-up to these questions and will periodically give information about the improvements or the deterioration of the above mentioned situations.
To see the map and photos of the areas, click here