Sport and the Communities by Allan Edwards David Hassan

Author:Allan Edwards, David Hassan [Allan Edwards, David Hassan]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9780415571654
Barnesnoble:
Publisher: Taylor & Francis
Published: 2014-06-26T00:00:00+00:00

Security as a built environment factor

The third factor motivating physical activity is security. In our opinion, because of the socio-economic particularities of the investigated neighbourhood, this factor is central to our research. Therefore, it seems fundamental to underline some earlier research that links security to the attendance rate at these physical activity sites. In the literature, this aspect is often analysed and treated through the scope of road traffic. Indeed, various traffic-related issues can impact the individuals’ choices with respect to transportation, sport facilities and physical activity in itself. For example, adequate road signalization in the area, traffic calming measures and urban design that favours harmony between different modes of transportation (foot, bicycle, bus and car) are all influential factors in choosing a place for physical activities.38 However, various researchers also argued the importance of planning adequate subsidiary spaces together with the sport facilities in order to reinforce the users’ security.39 As Molnar et al. put it,

disordered neighbourhoods may inhibit children and adolescents from engaging in physical activity, both because of the lack of safety of playing sports or games in the neighbourhood, and because of their exposure to criminal activity when traveling to or from recreational activities within or outside of the neighbourhood.40

Therefore, the feeling of insecurity due to crime is an important dimension of this third motivating factor. It also affects most decisions when it comes to choosing a place for physical activity. Beyond the installation of playground elements limiting risks and injuries, other key actions could reinforce the appeal of diverse sport and leisure sites for the population, such as planning a secure environment, providing convivial atmospheres and insuring a pleasant community through the application of surveillance measures.41

To focus our conceptual reflection on the different populations concerned by the Bleu, Blanc, Bouge project, we decided to analyse different studies focusing on security in relation to young users. In their study on Baltimore (Maryland) teenagers, Ries et al. mention that for these teens, the security of sport spaces and facilities is one of the most important factors when they consider practising an activity.42 This is even more important for younger teens and girls. In fact, girls are not attracted to places where lighting is inefficient, where there is are no crowds and where onsite surveillance is lacking. Ries et al. consider, as the Committee on Environmental Health did, that onsite events, through the planning of organized sport activities, the construction of dressing rooms, the supervision of playgrounds and the installation of adapted lighting onsite and in the vicinities (green areas, parking, streets, etc.), are likely to increase the security of these sites and their attractiveness.43 Molnar et al. also believe that routes leading to these sites should be secure in order to convince individuals to attend.44 This becomes even more important in the case of the young female population, which is usually using active or public transports. According to the authors, security as a motivating factor goes largely beyond the perimeter of the facility; it also concerns its entire location area.

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