Tuesday, May 19, 2009

Eyes on the Street

‘Eyes on the street’

‘Eyes on the street’. Coined by the legendary urban sociologist, Jane Jacobs in her landmark book, Death and Life of Great American Cities, these are probably four of the most fundamental words when it comes to public safety.

The term is used by neighborhood watch programs across the country and familiar to law enforcement officials as well. In Jane’s words:

“There must be eyes on the street, eyes belonging to those we might call the natural proprietors of the street. The buildings on a street equipped to handle strangers and to insure the safety of both residents and strangers, must be oriented to the street. They cannot turn their backs or blank sides on it and leave it blind. The sidewalk must have users on it fairly continuously, both to add to the number of effective eyes on the street and to induce a sufficient number of people in buildings along the street to watch the sidewalks.“

What are "eyes" on the street? How do you think they affect personal safety and a sense of community?

What kind of streets have more eyes on them? Which kind of streets have less?

What are some of the "eyes" on the street where you live? Do you have enough?

PArt 2: The USes of sidewalks summary document

What role does Jacobs see for sidewalks?

/Which of her ideas do you agree with? Which do you think are totally silly?


2 comments:

leoE said...

LeonardoEstrella

Well effects in a good way when people around the street with feel more safety. ALso Depends how many people with talk on the street. the ppint is that affects us in a Good point of view

2.morgan av and cornelia st

3.yes they do

part 2

Safety in the city is measured by the comfort people feel on the streets. A safe street is busy, and thus is watched and monitored almost unconsciously.

leoE said...

1 Eyes on the street are people around every where you go that sees everything.It effects in a good and bad way because there peolpe around you 24 7.In a bad way because sum people dont care and like to snithch. 2 What i have less is in marcy. 3 They are police and noisey neigbors and good neigbors that look out for one and another.
part 2

Safety in the city is measured by the comfort people feel on the streets. A safe street is busy, and thus is watched and monitored almost unconsciously.

agree and yes