Ask any woman what would help her feel safer on the streets, and the answer is: better lighting. That is why three lighting plans are being tested in tunnels in Amsterdam-Zuidoost. Interestingly, more light is not always better.
The starting point is a starry sky, preferably one on a clear night with a full moon. "That's enough," says Bas Vroon. As he signals to his colleague that the lights can be dimmed a little. "This is how it can be," announces the municipal project leader, like a magician about to pull a rabbit out of a hat. Slowly, the lighting in the tunnel dims.
There is no applause, but it's close. In front of the spot where Bullewijkpad passes under Huntumdreef above, stands a distinguished audience of administrators, civil servants, and local residents. One of them, who lives diagonally opposite, likes the new lighting plan. "This is a really dodgy spot. When it's dark, you won't find me here. Better lighting just helps."
Women feel unsafe
Women feel unsafe
This tunnel is one of three underpasses where lighting profiles have been tested for some time. The approach: which light intensity and which light shape are most pleasant? And above all: does this help to create a feeling of safety, particularly for women who have to use these underpasses because their work, the shopping center, or public transport are on the other side of the embankment?
The city needs to change, as has become clear over the past year, particularly after the death of 17-year-old Lisa. She was murdered in August while cycling home from the city to her house in Abcoude at night. One of the most common comments is that the way the city has designed its public spaces takes too little account of women's perspectives. There are too many dark areas and too many blind corners, which make it impossible, especially for women, to move around the city comfortably.
More than 150 tunnels
Southeast Amsterdam is riddled with underpasses, a consequence of the fact that the roads in this part of the city are often elevated to separate cars from slower traffic. There are more than 150 tunnels, says Southeast Amsterdam administrator Tanja Jadnanansing. Practical on the one hand, but for many women, they are mainly obstacles. That is why tests are being conducted here to see whether better lighting can offer a solution.
Testing is being conducted at three locations, all in the vicinity of Bullewijkpad. In the first tunnel under Huntumdreef, the sides are mainly illuminated with a so-called LED line. This provides uninterrupted and somewhat futuristic lighting. In the second tunnel under Karspeldreef, an extra set of light boxes has been installed, and the third tunnel under Flierbosdreef near Hogevecht mainly relies on spotlights mounted in the ceiling of the underpass.
Large, black hole
Noteworthy: the trick is to use less light, rather than more – at least in the evening. Vroon, who is responsible for the tests together with a few colleagues, says that there is a widespread misunderstanding. "More, more, more does not necessarily make you feel safer. If it is dark around the tunnel and the lighting in the tunnel is very bright, the end of the underpass feels like a big black hole. You don't want to cycle or walk there."
Vroon is a true believer in light. "You can use it to dispel the darkness," he says. But in moderation, of course. During the day, the lights could perhaps be a little brighter. And during last month's snowfall, it was another puzzle, says Vroon. Light is custom work, that much is clear.
Difference in viewing
Alderman Melanie van der Horst is also present at the start of the evening. She points out that eight out of ten young women sometimes feel unsafe when cycling. "It is very important that we do something about this. When we ask what could be done to improve the situation, they almost always say: provide better lighting."
Van der Horst points out that men and women look differently when traveling by bicycle. "Men often look ahead, while women are more aware of what is happening beside them, because that is where danger can come from. I can imagine that they would therefore prefer tunnels with well-lit sides."
The test period will end in March, after which a decision can be made on the type of lighting to be used. Administrator Jadnanansing says that the intention is to share the knowledge widely so that it can also be applied to other underpasses in the district.
