Predicting children’s streetscape perceived safety based on new combinations of enclosure aspects and demographic characteristics

Purpose This study aims to extend research on children’s safety indicators beyond the commonly studied non-architectural factors. It investigates children’s perceived safety (PS) through: (1) streetscape enclosure aspects (skyline configuration [SC], lateral permeability [LP], street width [SW], and focal-point permeability [FP]), (2) children’s personal attributes (age group [AG], gender and school [living area]) and (3) intra- and inter-group interactions of the aforementioned features. Design/methodology/approach Using a simulation-based questionnaire, we surveyed students from two schools located in different urban areas. The students rated streetscape images, representing combinations of the four enclosure features, for PS. To analyze the data, we performed crossed random-effects modeling and repeated-measures analyses of variance. Findings The results revealed that both permeabilities increased PS. Besides, wider and open-FP streetscapes were perceived as safer in the regular-high and irregular SC scenarios than in the regular-low ones. Age was a significant predictor (older children felt safer) and so was gender (males felt safer). The latter finding was more pronounced in the laterally impermeable scenarios. Contrarily, school had no significant impact. Originality/value Researchers have studied PS based on streetscape enclosure characteristics. However, some questions seem to have been overlooked. First, although SW and building height have been examined interdependently, these have not been studied interactively with permeability. Second, vertical boundaries have been considered as heights, but not as a SC. Third, the existing research has not differentiated between lateral and frontal permeability. And fourth, the literature has not focused on the transition from childhood to adolescence. This paper attempts to address these research gaps.