tag:theconversation.com,2011:/africa/topics/contested-spaces-36316/articlesContested Spaces – The Conversation2017-03-20T03:18:13Ztag:theconversation.com,2011:article/721992017-03-20T03:18:13Z2017-03-20T03:18:13ZContested spaces: the ‘long-grassers’, living private lives in public places<figure><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/160751/original/image-20170314-10759-1jpsrhn.JPG?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=496&fit=clip" /><figcaption><span class="caption">People have camped in the long grass since colonisation. From this perspective, bans on the practice are a denial of Indigenous agency, culture and rights to country.</span> <span class="attribution"><span class="source">Photo: K. Pollard</span></span></figcaption></figure><p><em>This is the final article in our <a href="https://theconversation.com/au/topics/contested-spaces-36316">Contested Spaces</a> series. These pieces look at the conflicting uses, expectations and norms that people bring to public spaces, the clashes that result and how we can resolve these.</em></p>
<hr>
<p>The number of people in Australia who are homeless <a href="http://www.homelessnessaustralia.org.au/index.php/about-homelessness/doing-a-project-on-homelessness">is increasing</a>. They lead lives that are often hidden – either hidden from view or hidden from recognition.</p>
<p>Looking at the places they camp and the things they use gives us insights into these private lives in public places. In Darwin, Northern Territory, more than 90% of homeless people <a href="http://abs.gov.au/AUSSTATS/abs@.nsf/DetailsPage/2049.02011?OpenDocument">are Aboriginal</a>. In contrast to perceptions of other homeless people sleeping rough, these “long-grassers” are applying a long cultural tradition to deal with the situation in which they find themselves. </p>
<p>Two recent films, Rolf de Heer’s <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2aYLzIFcPk8">Charlie’s Country</a> and Jeremy Sims’ <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hypCdpjTMDI">Last Cab to Darwin</a>, succinctly – but accurately – encapsulate the ease with which people can end up living in the long grass. Many come to the city from remote communities. They may have been visiting someone in hospital, watching friends in an AFL game, or staying with relatives in the city. </p>
<p>After a time, these short-term stays come to an end. Often, these visitors move into the “long grass”, urban fringe areas where tall spear grass grows.</p>
<p>The long grass is shared space – parks, beaches, urban bushland. However, Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal people behave differently in these spaces. The agency of Aboriginal people can challenge mainstream expectations about the uses of shared public space.</p>
<h2>Laws that deny Indigenous custom</h2>
<p>The Aboriginal use of long grass spaces contravenes NT laws. Under Darwin City Council Bylaws <a href="http://www.austlii.edu.au/au/legis/nt/consol_reg/dccb262/s103.html">Regulation 103</a>, it is an offence to camp or sleep in public places. Other bylaws regulate behaviours ranging from the consumption of alcohol to leaving food scraps in public. </p>
<p>People who camp in the long grass risk fines they can’t pay. Sometimes, they are <a href="http://www.austlii.edu.au/au/journals/AltLawJl/1999/84.pdf">jailed for non-payment</a>. As their disadvantage becomes criminalised, their capacity to improve their lives decreases.</p>
<p>Successive governments and city councils have engaged in campaigns against the long-grassers. George Brown, Darwin lord mayor from 1992 to 2002, <a href="http://www.austlii.edu.au/au/journals/AltLawJl/2000/42.html">said</a>:</p>
<blockquote>
<p>… harass, harass, harass … I reckon that if you keep shifting them around, constantly harass them so they can’t settle, they will get sick and tired of it and maybe some of them will go back to their own communities.</p>
</blockquote>
<p>Such attitudes fail to grapple with the realities of the situation. Unless they are assisted, how can people on low incomes return to communities hundreds of kilometres away? If no transitional or last-resort housing is available in the city, where are they expected to go? </p>
<p>In fact, a <a href="http://sustainable.unimelb.edu.au/case-investing-last-resort-housing">recent cost-benefit analysis</a> found that providing “last resort” housing is cheaper than dealing with health care and other costs of homelessness.</p>
<h2>A sense of community</h2>
<figure class="align-center ">
<img alt="" src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/161329/original/image-20170317-6133-dys7og.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/161329/original/image-20170317-6133-dys7og.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=338&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/161329/original/image-20170317-6133-dys7og.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=338&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/161329/original/image-20170317-6133-dys7og.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=338&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/161329/original/image-20170317-6133-dys7og.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=424&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/161329/original/image-20170317-6133-dys7og.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=424&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/161329/original/image-20170317-6133-dys7og.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=424&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px">
<figcaption>
<span class="caption">A long-grass camp in Darwin.</span>
<span class="attribution"><span class="source">Photo: K. Pollard</span></span>
</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>For some, living in the long grass is a cultural choice. Many camps are designed for short-term living. They have evidence of eating and sleeping, but not of cooking. </p>
<p>In Aboriginal communities in remote areas, people occasionally cook on outdoor fires. Camping in the bush is a highly valued cultural activity. From this perspective, living in the long grass extends aspects of their normal lives. </p>
<p>For others, it is a way of escaping the pressures of contemporary life. In <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hypCdpjTMDI">Last Cab to Darwin</a>, Tilly (played by Mark Coles Smith), a young Aboriginal man from Oodnadatta, has fled the demands of professional AFL training to seek the <a href="http://www.abc.net.au/tv/messagestick/stories/s1412406.htm">social support</a> of other Aboriginal people in the long grass. </p>
<figure>
<iframe width="440" height="260" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/hypCdpjTMDI?wmode=transparent&start=0" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe>
<figcaption><span class="caption">Last Cab to Darwin:
the trailer.</span></figcaption>
</figure>
<p>When possible, people camp near their relations or family members. The strong sense of community in the long grass is reflected in the song, <a href="http://www.dlmusicas.com/dl/UzdXc75i_e7.html">I’m a Long Grass Man</a>. </p>
<p>The objects around long-grass camps can offend mainstream notions of order. Those designed for long-term stays are more likely to offend. These camps have evidence of intensive usage and substantial investment in shelter and sleeping accommodation.</p>
<p>Occasionally, a camp is laid out like a home, with distinct sleeping, cooking and laundry areas.</p>
<h2>Privacy in a public place</h2>
<p>What happens when your private home is in a public place? Some people manage by hiding their camp behind the long grass – hidden in plain view.</p>
<figure class="align-center ">
<img alt="" src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/160808/original/image-20170314-14776-1pr25mg.JPG?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/160808/original/image-20170314-14776-1pr25mg.JPG?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=399&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/160808/original/image-20170314-14776-1pr25mg.JPG?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=399&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/160808/original/image-20170314-14776-1pr25mg.JPG?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=399&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/160808/original/image-20170314-14776-1pr25mg.JPG?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=501&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/160808/original/image-20170314-14776-1pr25mg.JPG?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=501&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/160808/original/image-20170314-14776-1pr25mg.JPG?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=501&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px">
<figcaption>
<span class="caption">A long-grass camp, hidden in plain view.</span>
<span class="attribution"><span class="source">Photo: K. Pollard</span></span>
</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>In the long grass, the private act of sleep is undertaken in the open. “Beds” are swags, sleeping bags, foam mats, ensemble mattresses, a rug, sheets, flattened plastic or cardboard materials like pizza boxes or beer cartons. </p>
<p>Most Australians like to have the occasional party in their home. While people in the long grass like to party, too, only 40% of camps had evidence of alcohol use. Very few had evidence of drug use. </p>
<p>The resourcefulness of homeless people is evident in caches of plastic bags discreetly wrapped in “discarded” clothing. These hold important belongings such as prescription medicines, identity papers and paperwork related to government welfare benefits.</p>
<h2>Cultural menus and modern fusions</h2>
<p>Like many Australians, people in the long grass eat takeaway foods or prepare meals. Their food remains show a fusion of traditional and contemporary economies. </p>
<figure class="align-center ">
<img alt="" src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/160936/original/image-20170315-5364-1lbe74p.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/160936/original/image-20170315-5364-1lbe74p.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=338&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/160936/original/image-20170315-5364-1lbe74p.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=338&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/160936/original/image-20170315-5364-1lbe74p.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=338&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/160936/original/image-20170315-5364-1lbe74p.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=424&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/160936/original/image-20170315-5364-1lbe74p.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=424&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/160936/original/image-20170315-5364-1lbe74p.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=424&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px">
<figcaption>
<span class="caption">Provisions at a long-grass camp, Darwin.</span>
<span class="attribution"><span class="source">Photo: K. Pollard</span></span>
</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>There is ample evidence of takeaway foods like KFC and Red Rooster. Shop-bought foods like tins of tuna, mussels, oysters and sardines naturally extend a bushfood menu. </p>
<p>This preference is part of a distinctive “cultural menu” that includes mud mussel, periwinkle, mangrove worms, crabs, fish, stingray and turtle. The frequency and variety of these foods suggests that hunting, collecting and preparing bushfoods are significant activities for Aboriginal people in the long grass. </p>
<p>The presence of “longbum” (<em>Telescopium telescopium</em>), a species of shellfish found in abundance in mangroves in Darwin, can be used to distinguish Aboriginal from non-Aboriginal camps. A majority of the long-grass camps surveyed contained this species.</p>
<figure class="align-center ">
<img alt="" src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/160749/original/image-20170314-10759-10eh5ok.JPG?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/160749/original/image-20170314-10759-10eh5ok.JPG?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=399&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/160749/original/image-20170314-10759-10eh5ok.JPG?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=399&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/160749/original/image-20170314-10759-10eh5ok.JPG?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=399&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/160749/original/image-20170314-10759-10eh5ok.JPG?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=501&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/160749/original/image-20170314-10759-10eh5ok.JPG?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=501&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/160749/original/image-20170314-10759-10eh5ok.JPG?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=501&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px">
<figcaption>
<span class="caption">Evidence of bushfoods consumed in a long-grass camp.</span>
<span class="attribution"><span class="source">Photo: K. Pollard</span></span>
</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>While the hunting and collecting of bushfoods is a continuation of cultural practices, it is more than this. Interviews revealed the social significance. Some people take taxis to the Elizabeth River, several kilometres from their camp, so they can collect bushfoods. </p>
<p>In addition, people on low incomes use their skills to collect bushfood. Aboriginal people in the long grass are simply applying their learned food-procurement skills to their situation.</p>
<figure class="align-center ">
<img alt="" src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/160937/original/image-20170315-5357-17d36xx.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/160937/original/image-20170315-5357-17d36xx.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=338&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/160937/original/image-20170315-5357-17d36xx.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=338&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/160937/original/image-20170315-5357-17d36xx.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=338&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/160937/original/image-20170315-5357-17d36xx.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=424&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/160937/original/image-20170315-5357-17d36xx.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=424&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/160937/original/image-20170315-5357-17d36xx.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=424&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px">
<figcaption>
<span class="caption">The remains of a magpie goose meal at a Darwin long-grass camp.</span>
<span class="attribution"><span class="source">Photo: K. Pollard</span></span>
</figcaption>
</figure>
<h2>Looking after their health</h2>
<p>In <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2aYLzIFcPk8">Charlie’s Country</a> we see how quickly Charlie (played by David Gulpilil), an Aboriginal man from Ramingining, joins the long-grass population when he is <a href="http://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-05-26/indigenous-long-grassers-unable-to-get-back-to-communities/7449188">unable to return to his home country</a> after being released from hospital. </p>
<p>The lack of emergency accommodation and public housing, as well as inadequate support to return to communities, means some Aboriginal people <a href="http://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-06-29/darwins-homeless-longrassers-tell-of-struggle-to-survive/6570440">go directly from hospital to the long grass</a>. </p>
<figure>
<iframe width="440" height="260" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/2aYLzIFcPk8?wmode=transparent&start=0" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe>
<figcaption><span class="caption">Charlie’s Country: the trailer.</span></figcaption>
</figure>
<p>Though homelessness <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1805022/">contributes to poor health</a>, it is clear that people in the long grass care for their health. The evidence includes medical creams, bandages, medication bottles, heart-monitor patches and cotton earbuds. </p>
<p><a href="http://www.aihw.gov.au/indigenous-data/health-performance-framework/">Aboriginal health</a> is significantly poorer than that of other Australians, so it is not surprising that camps are clustered close to the hospital. This accords with a <a href="https://www.mja.com.au/journal/2016/204/3/factors-contributing-frequent-attendance-emergency-department-remote-northern">recent study</a> that found “a very strong association” between frequent emergency department attendance, homelessness and Aboriginal identity.</p>
<p>People care for themselves. Evidence of hygiene products at long-grass camps included toothbrushes, combs, toilet paper, tissues, towels and deodorants. These reflect attempts to maintain their personal appearance. </p>
<p>It is possible that people living in the camps wish to not appear conspicuous when walking around Darwin. In their study of long-grass people in Darwin, <a href="http://www.ndlerf.gov.au/sites/default/files/publication-documents/monographs/monograph33.pdf">Holmes and McRae-William</a> recorded Aboriginal people’s sensitivities to mainstream perceptions of them as dirty and unkempt. </p>
<p>Aboriginal people have camped in the long grass since the first European colonisation. Their use of this public space is a continuum of cultural practice. From this perspective, the response of authorities to Aboriginal homelessness in the long grass is a denial of Indigenous agency, culture and rights to country. </p>
<hr>
<p><em>You can find other pieces published in the series <a href="https://theconversation.com/au/topics/contested-spaces-36316">here</a>.</em></p><img src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/72199/count.gif" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" />
<p class="fine-print"><em><span>Kellie Pollard has received funding from the Australian Research Council for research into Aboriginal people living in the long grass in Darwin.</span></em></p><p class="fine-print"><em><span>Claire Smith has received funding from the Australian Research Council for research into Aboriginal people living in the long grass in Darwin.</span></em></p><p class="fine-print"><em><span>Jordan Ralph receives funding from an Australian Government Research Training Program Scholarship and Flinders University to support his research into modern material culture and graffiti in the Aboriginal community of Barunga, Northern Territory. </span></em></p>In contrast to perceptions of other homeless people sleeping rough, Darwin’s “long-grassers” are applying a long cultural tradition to deal with the situation in which they find themselves.Kellie Pollard, PhD Candidate, Department of Archaeology, Flinders UniversityClaire Smith, Professor of Archaeology, Flinders UniversityJordan Ralph, PhD Candidate, Archaeology, Flinders UniversityLicensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.tag:theconversation.com,2011:article/742392017-03-17T03:01:33Z2017-03-17T03:01:33ZContested spaces: conflict behind the sand dunes takes a new turn<p><em>This is the eleventh article in our <a href="https://theconversation.com/au/topics/contested-spaces-36316">Contested Spaces</a> series. These pieces look at the conflicting uses, expectations and norms that people bring to public spaces, the clashes that result and how we can resolve these.</em></p>
<hr>
<p>When we think of coasts, we are likely to think about the great sandy beaches that have been the destination for many day trips and long weekends. At times these spaces have been <a href="https://theconversation.com/contested-spaces-we-shall-fight-on-the-beaches-72265">sources of contestation</a>, especially in areas of public access and codes of conduct. However, behind the sand dunes are other landscapes with deep histories of social conflict. </p>
<p>Moments from coastal pasts have had a major impact on how we see different coasts today. They feed into distinct ideals and ethics on place, especially in terms of how it is developed. </p>
<h2>Noosa Heads versus Surfers Paradise</h2>
<p>Noosa Heads is a prime example of this. Noosa’s history during colonisation includes a number of difficult stories to tell. Examples include the contentious tale of the <a href="https://www.google.com.au/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=4&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0ahUKEwjd_buo0tTSAhVEwLwKHXw_APEQFggvMAM&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.theaustralian.com.au%2Farts%2Freview%2Ftale-of-eliza-fraser-shipwrecked-in-1836-takes-aboriginal-perspective%2Fnews-story%2F7d2b7438cb119c34aacc15c43c7290f7&usg=AFQjCNHNV5jjhaN1tHIcdjrP9lc0hCYIgg">rescue of Eliza Fraser</a>, or the fate of the traditional owners, the <a href="http://www.gubbigubbi.com/">Gubbi Gubbi</a> people, at the hands of the colonial settlers and the native police. </p>
<p>Yet it was in the 1960s when modern conflict over land use really took shape in Noosa. A proposal by the developer T.M. Burke to build a resort at Alexandria Bay created a stir among locals. The local shire was set to build an access road around the headland, destroying well-trodden walking tracks. </p>
<p>A group led by local Arthur Harrold fought this proposal and formed the still-operating <a href="http://www.noosaparks.org.au/">Noosa Parks Association</a>. Thus began a long-standing fight against over-development, mining and other impediments to what residents saw as the natural beauty of the coast. This included the <a href="http://www.kinaba.org/cooloola-conflict">Cooloola Conflict</a> and the now-famed resistance to high-rise development. </p>
<p>While there are elements of conservationism here to consider, these conflicts arose in a bid to keep Noosa low-key, with a slower mentality and authentic natural surrounds. Today, these ethics of authenticity are firmly <a href="https://www.noosa.qld.gov.au/documents/40217326/40227843/Noosa%20Design%20Principles.pdf">embedded in planning regulation</a>, illustrating the strength of local resistance past. </p>
<p>Noosa residents’ key fear in the 1960s and ’70s was losing their sense of place to the different ideals embodied in another coastal mecca, Surfers Paradise. Like Noosa, Surfers has a long history of conflict. Yet this place developed much differently due to several key factors. </p>
<p>Arguably, the significant turning point was in 1925 when <a href="http://adb.anu.edu.au/biography/cavill-james-freeman-jim-9713">Jim Cavill</a> bought the then Elston Hotel and renamed it the “Surfers Paradise” hotel. Cavill and his wife proceeded to turn the coastal setting into something more than a place to bathe or surf. </p>
<p>Alongside the hotel, they built a zoo full of exotic animals that gave the place a peculiar flavor. Having been influenced by the American example of how to develop coasts, Cavill exhibited a desire to construct Surfers Paradise as an exotic international resort. However, due to the war in the Pacific, Surfers Paradise was restricted by building codes, frustrating locals who were eager to begin making the space bigger.</p>
<p>Shortly after the war, the codes eased and developers flocked to the “Golden Coast”. In the course of development, local leaders such as the progress association often came into conflict with governance. </p>
<p>In the example of parking meters, this led to the controversial <a href="http://www.goldcoast.qld.gov.au/thegoldcoast/surfers-paradise-history-2764.html">meter maid scheme</a>, which further established Surfers Paradise’s theme as an overtly transgressive and sexualised place. </p>
<h2>Conflicts of a climate-changed future</h2>
<p>In both spaces, conflicts have continued into contemporary times. </p>
<p>Recently, for instance, the fight against the proposed <a href="http://www.saveourspit.com/">Southport Spit</a> development has again drawn locals into conflict with authorities. Such fights against development continue up and down our coastlines. These are mostly driven by the desire to maintain a specific lifestyle and aesthetic appeal. </p>
<figure class="align-center zoomable">
<a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/160425/original/image-20170313-19256-1a945hj.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=1000&fit=clip"><img alt="" src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/160425/original/image-20170313-19256-1a945hj.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/160425/original/image-20170313-19256-1a945hj.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=448&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/160425/original/image-20170313-19256-1a945hj.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=448&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/160425/original/image-20170313-19256-1a945hj.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=448&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/160425/original/image-20170313-19256-1a945hj.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=563&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/160425/original/image-20170313-19256-1a945hj.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=563&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/160425/original/image-20170313-19256-1a945hj.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=563&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px"></a>
<figcaption>
<span class="caption">An East Coast Low storm event along the Victorian coastline offers just a hint of the risks of sealevel rise in a future of climate change.</span>
<span class="attribution"><span class="license">Author provided</span></span>
</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>However, early critics of coastal development saw other concerns about coastal development. For instance, in 1879 a journalist for The Gympie Times, while contemplating the construction of Noosa and Tewantin, wondered about the location of the village and whether one day seawater might be running between you and your <a href="http://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/170582221?searchTerm=tewantin&searchLimits=l-title=839%7C%7C%7Cl-decade=187">neighbour</a>.</p>
<p>While we have different motivations for maintaining or developing our coastal places, we seem to neglect discussions about the risks of living so close to the ocean. </p>
<p>As we approach a climate-changed future, issues of <a href="https://theconversation.com/hurt-by-sea-how-storm-surges-and-sea-level-rise-make-coastal-life-risky-68348">sea-level rise and coastal flooding</a> are going to challenge our <a href="https://theconversation.com/coastal-law-shift-from-property-rights-to-climate-adaptation-is-a-landmark-reform-59083">thinking about coasts</a>. </p>
<p>History has shown that several of our coastal meccas are already <a href="https://theconversation.com/the-role-of-climate-change-in-eastern-australias-wild-storms-60552">susceptible to significant damage</a> from storms and cyclones. We scramble to rebuild following these events, but few debates are had about retreating away from the sea. </p>
<p>As we continue into that risky climate-changed landscape, however, we might see <a href="https://theconversation.com/risky-business-how-companies-are-getting-smart-about-climate-change-65221">new players like insurance companies</a> become increasingly important. </p>
<p>Already in the tropics, insurance premiums have <a href="http://www.news.com.au/technology/environment/climate-change/maps-show-areas-that-will-be-most-affected-by-rising-sea-levels/news-story/57d33f3fdf52a6baf9491ffcd4f1a570">caused a stir</a> politically and in the media. In the future, though, we may need to consider to whether we have to redefine our relationship with coasts as they become more risky places to live. </p>
<hr>
<p><em>You can find other pieces published in the series <a href="https://theconversation.com/au/topics/contested-spaces-36316">here</a>.</em></p><img src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/74239/count.gif" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" />
<p class="fine-print"><em><span>Nick Osbaldiston does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.</span></em></p>Conflicts over coastal areas have largely been between development and preserving what makes these attractive places to live. Rising sea levels are now complicating our relationship with the coast.Nick Osbaldiston, Senior Lecturer in Sociology, James Cook UniversityLicensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.tag:theconversation.com,2011:article/743732017-03-16T03:05:05Z2017-03-16T03:05:05ZContested spaces: flash disruptions on the CBD street<p><em>This is the tenth article in our <a href="https://theconversation.com/au/topics/contested-spaces-36316">Contested Spaces</a> series. These pieces look at the conflicting uses, expectations and norms that people bring to public spaces, the clashes that result and how we can resolve these.</em></p>
<hr>
<p>Inner-city streets have historically been a site for challenges to the conventional, disrupting the flow of business suits and shoppers. Clashes can occur on many levels. </p>
<p>Noise, smells, pollution, garish billboards or even the jostle of bodies are aspects of the city that can excite or repel us. Among disruptive street users are the homeless sleeping rough with their bundles of belongings and graffiti artists painting murals in alleyways at night.</p>
<p>Our reactions to alternative practices on the street depend on what meanings we inscribe on the city, and what we are there for. Disruptions can challenge our sense of order and control, and so can make us feel insecure. However, many people are drawn to the city for the rush they experience from its diversity and possibilities.</p>
<h2>Occupy</h2>
<p>Some disruptions on the streets are overtly political, such as the Occupy Movement. Occupy Melbourne protesters camped in the city square in October 2011. I was part of this protest – a group of people giving voice to citizens who felt left out by the surging corporate profits on display in the city. </p>
<p>This clash of values was resolved after one week, when police gave two hours for the square to be vacated, before moving in with riot gear and pepper spray. </p>
<p>The next day, the Herald Sun published an article by Melbourne Lord Mayor Robert Doyle, “<a href="https://www.google.com.au/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=1&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0ahUKEwjh9tar99TSAhXGKZQKHVlQB4oQFggbMAA&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.heraldsun.com.au%2Farchive%2Fnews%2Fselfish-rabble-got-what-it-deserved%2Fstory-fn7x8me2-1226174052823&usg=AFQjCNHFn2ZGI2EKUmFHdC44A81tFUoVyg">Selfish rabble got what it deserved</a>”. He wrote that:</p>
<blockquote>
<p>… the city must return to normal at some point. Our streets belong to everyone, not a self-appointed rabble.</p>
</blockquote>
<p>The question remains, however, as to what is “normal” and whether a city’s strength lies in its ability to <a href="http://www.creativeclass.com/richard_florida/books/cities_and_the_creative_class">nurture diverse and creative uses</a>.</p>
<h2>Flash mobbing</h2>
<p>An example of a less overtly political form of disruption is flash mobs, with their playful pop-up challenges to order and restriction. Flash mobs began in the increasingly surveilled spaces of post-9/11 New York. </p>
<p>Flash mobs can be characterised as a unique form of game, using internet and mobile technologies in their organisation but playing out in public urban spaces. The idea is to “jam” public space like a disruption to a radio transmission.</p>
<p>Technologies are changing city space. Mobile devices have allowed the online world to become a part of the city street. <a href="https://www.routledge.com/Wired-Youth-The-Social-World-of-Adolescence-in-the-Information-Age/Mesch-Talmud/p/book/9780415459945">Ilan Talmud and Gustavo Mesch</a> write that “the online/offline comparison is … becoming a faded and even false dichotomy”. The “entwining of people, place and software” creates complex new relationships, which reinterpret spaces. </p>
<p>Mobile technologies augment the city with a “secret” space known only to the gamers. The <a href="http://www.theage.com.au/victoria/bunch-of-geeks-pokemon-go-players-told-to-stay-away-from-melbourne-golf-course-20160820-gqx7tf.html">Pokémon Go phenomenon</a> was a short-lived but very visible example of this augmented reality. Less obvious to the public is <a href="https://www.geocaching.com/play">geocaching</a>. </p>
<p>In the case of flash mobbing, remaining disguised before a timed eruption is essential.</p>
<h2>Don’t walk, dance!</h2>
<p>On Facebook I received an invitation from a guy I’d met at a party. It gave directions on how to participate in a “portable dance portal” at the intersection of Flinders and Elizabeth streets, at 5.55pm on 5/5/11. </p>
<p>I jumped on the Flinders Street train, excited by the invitation and not wanting to be left out. In my carriage I noticed a girl dressed in brightly coloured, alternative clothes.</p>
<figure class="align-right zoomable">
<a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/160865/original/image-20170315-11529-144p07h.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=1000&fit=clip"><img alt="" src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/160865/original/image-20170315-11529-144p07h.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=237&fit=clip" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/160865/original/image-20170315-11529-144p07h.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=844&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/160865/original/image-20170315-11529-144p07h.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=844&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/160865/original/image-20170315-11529-144p07h.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=844&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/160865/original/image-20170315-11529-144p07h.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=1060&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/160865/original/image-20170315-11529-144p07h.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=1060&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/160865/original/image-20170315-11529-144p07h.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=1060&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px"></a>
<figcaption>
<span class="caption">A green light to cross the road, or to dance?</span>
<span class="attribution"><span class="source">shutterstock</span></span>
</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>Twenty minutes later, I was dancing with her in the intersection of two of the busiest streets in Melbourne’s CBD. Like a storm appearing in the summer sky, swirls of people skipped unexpectedly into the intersection as the crossing lights changed to green. They emerged out of the peak-hour suits as though drawn by an invisible thread, cavorting and pirouetting, dancing to the tunes on their MP3 players until the lights changed to red. </p>
<p>I, caught in the current, felt a strange connection with my new friends, although no words were exchanged. The dancing went on for about an hour – the crowd swelling to a peak of about 150. It was not a large mob, but this made it perfect. </p>
<p>When the light turned red, the mob had the ability to melt into the sidelines, and appear again as if by magic at the sound of the walk signal. Astounded commuters stared, but continued in a frantic beeline for the next train. </p>
<p>I wondered whether seeing the spin of whirling dervishes made them question their hurry and consider joining in. Perhaps life doesn’t hinge on catching the next train…</p>
<p>This was my very first flash mob, up close and personal. According to Bill Wasik, the inventor of the phenomenon, flash mobbing was <a href="http://harpers.org/archive/2006/03/my-crowd/">dead before the end of 2003</a>. However, as reported by Giles Hewitt, flash mobs have taken on “<a href="http://www.abc.net.au/science/news/stories/s913314.htm">a life of their own</a>” and this was confirmed for me on the streets of Melbourne in 2011 and again in 2017.</p>
<h2>Pussy hats</h2>
<p>On March 8, 2017, a group of Melbourne women, and a few men, took to the streets in a <a href="http://www.smh.com.au/video/video-news/video-victoria-news/flashmob-at-melbourne-international-womens-day-march-20170308-4rgxq.html">“pussy hat” flash mob</a>. </p>
<p>They joyously sang the song Quiet, which has gained international popularity with guerrilla protesters <a href="https://www.icantkeepquiet.org/about/">#ICAN’TKEEPQUIET</a>, who gave an impromptu performance of the song in response to President Donald Trump’s inauguration.</p>
<figure>
<iframe width="440" height="260" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/POpZb46OAUI?wmode=transparent&start=0" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe>
<figcaption><span class="caption">A pussy hat flash mob in Stockholm Central Station, one of the big ones held on International Women’s Day this year.</span></figcaption>
</figure>
<p>The Melbourne mob was celebrating International Women’s Day. The group was a smiling, singing vision in pink and lavender, many wearing pussy ear hats like those worn in the Washington flash mobs.</p>
<p>Via creative and playful practices assisted by mobile technologies, flash mobs can provide spaces where the marginalised or unconventional can become visible and resist the conformity of suits and shoppers. </p>
<p>Flash mobs have the power to not only disrupt flows of traffic but also assumptions about norms of behaviour in public spaces. Their disruptive quality exists more in the psyche, in their ability to provoke questioning of public behaviour and to momentarily slow the city’s rush.</p>
<hr>
<p><em>You can find other pieces published in the series <a href="https://theconversation.com/au/topics/contested-spaces-36316">here</a>.</em></p><img src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/74373/count.gif" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" />
<p class="fine-print"><em><span>Susan Bird does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.</span></em></p>Political street protests and even the more playful flash mobs have the power to not only disrupt flows of traffic but also assumptions about norms of behaviour in public spaces.Susan Bird, Lecturer in Law, CQUniversity AustraliaLicensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.tag:theconversation.com,2011:article/720782017-03-15T03:59:23Z2017-03-15T03:59:23ZContested spaces: saving nature when our beaches have gone to the dogs<figure><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/160086/original/image-20170308-24179-dflmw8.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=496&fit=clip" /><figcaption><span class="caption">Early in the morning and late in the evening is when shorebirds escape disturbance on the beaches on which their survival depends.</span> <span class="attribution"><a class="source" href="https://pixabay.com/en/seagulls-gulls-shore-birds-beach-241953/">Arnuchulo</a></span></figcaption></figure><p><em>This is the ninth article in our <a href="https://theconversation.com/au/topics/contested-spaces-36316">Contested Spaces</a> series. These pieces look at the conflicting uses, expectations and norms that people bring to public spaces, the clashes that result and how we can resolve these.</em></p>
<hr>
<p>There’s no doubt about it, Australians love the beach. And why not? Being outdoors <a href="http://www.nature.com/articles/srep28551">makes us happy</a>, and all <a href="https://theconversation.com/contested-spaces-we-shall-fight-on-the-beaches-72265">beaches are public places</a> in Australia.</p>
<p>Head to a beach like Bondi on Christmas Day and you’ll share that space with more than 40,000 people. But we aren’t just jostling with each other for coveted beach space. Scuttling, waddling, hopping or flying away from beachgoers all around Australia are crabs, shorebirds, baby turtles, crocodiles, fairy penguins and even dingoes. </p>
<p>Beaches are home to an incredible array of animals, and sharing this busy space with people is critical to their survival. But, if we find it hard to share our beaches <a href="https://theconversation.com/contested-spaces-we-shall-fight-on-the-beaches-72265">with each other</a>, how can we possibly find space for nature on our beaches? </p>
<h2>Beach birds</h2>
<p>Here’s a classic example of how hard it is to share our beaches with nature. Head to a busy beach at dawn, before the crowds arrive, and you will most likely see a number of small birds darting about. </p>
<p>You may recognise them from the short movie <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BGsoNm86nD8">Piper</a> – they are shorebirds. As the day progresses, swimmers, kite surfers, dog walkers, horse riders, 4x4s and children descend upon the beach en masse, unwittingly disturbing the shorebirds.</p>
<figure>
<iframe width="440" height="260" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/e7v2zDZBf6g?wmode=transparent&start=0" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe>
<figcaption><span class="caption">We share beaches with an extraordinary array of life, including many shorebirds.</span></figcaption>
</figure>
<p>Unlike seabirds, shorebirds do not spend their life at sea. Instead, they specialise on the beach: foraging for their invertebrate prey, avoiding waves, or resting. </p>
<p>However, shorebird numbers in Australia are <a href="http://www.publish.csiro.au/MU/MU15056">declining very rapidly</a>. Several species are officially listed as nationally threatened, such as the critically endangered <a href="http://www.environment.gov.au/cgi-bin/sprat/public/publicspecies.pl?taxon_id=847">Eastern Curlew</a>.</p>
<p>There are few places you can let your dog run for as long and as far as it pleases, which is one of the reasons beaches appeal to dog owners. But this disturbance results in heavy costs to the birds as they expend energy taking flight and cannot return to favourable feeding areas. Repeated disturbance can cause temporary or permanent abandonment of suitable habitat. </p>
<figure class="align-left zoomable">
<a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/160088/original/image-20170308-24226-avq9ze.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=1000&fit=clip"><img alt="" src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/160088/original/image-20170308-24226-avq9ze.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=237&fit=clip" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/160088/original/image-20170308-24226-avq9ze.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=679&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/160088/original/image-20170308-24226-avq9ze.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=679&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/160088/original/image-20170308-24226-avq9ze.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=679&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/160088/original/image-20170308-24226-avq9ze.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=854&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/160088/original/image-20170308-24226-avq9ze.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=854&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/160088/original/image-20170308-24226-avq9ze.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=854&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px"></a>
<figcaption>
<span class="caption">The world’s largest shorebirds, Eastern Curlews are critically endangered – and Australia is home to about 75% of them over summer.</span>
<span class="attribution"><a class="source" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/dhobern/15847904525/in/photolist-aEowdB-5fqeJk-D2MpGg-naot7x-diwQ95-dKdPZo-nao9fX-qDajny-gDs6MR-h4TcLF-pS1mit-q9qDTc-Ds1wFZ-CCToKr-bmFewo">Donald Hobern/flickr</a>, <a class="license" href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/">CC BY</a></span>
</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>The fascinating thing about many of these shorebirds is that they are migratory. Beachgoers in Korea, China, Indonesia or New Zealand could observe the same individual bird that we have seen in Australia. </p>
<p>Yet these journeys come at a cost. Shorebirds must undertake gruelling flights of up to 16,000 kilometres twice a year to get from their breeding grounds in Siberia and Alaska to their feeding grounds in Australia and New Zealand. In their pursuit of an endless summer, they arrive in Australia severely weakened by their travels. They must almost double their body weight before they can migrate again.</p>
<p>And these birds must contend with significant daily disruption on their feeding grounds. A <a href="onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/1365-2664.12662/abstract">recent study in Queensland</a> found an average of 174 people and 72 dogs were present at any one time on the foreshore of Moreton Bay, along Brisbane’s coastline. And 84% of dogs were off the leash – an off-leash dog was sighted every 700 metres – in potential contravention of <a href="https://www.npsr.qld.gov.au/parks/moreton-bay/about.html">regulations on dog control</a>. </p>
<h2>Managing the menagerie</h2>
<p>One conservation approach is to set up nature reserves. This involves trying to keep people out of large areas of the coastal zone to provide a home for nature. Yet this rarely works in practice on beaches, where there are so many overlapping jurisdictions (for example, councils often don’t control the lower areas of the intertidal zone) that <a href="http://www.publish.csiro.au/mu/MU15046">protection is rarely joined up</a>.</p>
<figure class="align-right zoomable">
<a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/160091/original/image-20170309-24182-1akelhs.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=1000&fit=clip"><img alt="" src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/160091/original/image-20170309-24182-1akelhs.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=237&fit=clip" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/160091/original/image-20170309-24182-1akelhs.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=400&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/160091/original/image-20170309-24182-1akelhs.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=400&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/160091/original/image-20170309-24182-1akelhs.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=400&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/160091/original/image-20170309-24182-1akelhs.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=503&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/160091/original/image-20170309-24182-1akelhs.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=503&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/160091/original/image-20170309-24182-1akelhs.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=503&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px"></a>
<figcaption>
<span class="caption">The beach-nesting Hooded Plover is unique to Australia where it is listed as vulnerable (and critically endangered in NSW).</span>
<span class="attribution"><a class="source" href="https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Hooded_Plover_-_Phillip_Is_-_Victoria.jpg">Francesco Veronesi/Wikimedia Commons</a>, <a class="license" href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/">CC BY-SA</a></span>
</figcaption>
</figure>
<figure class="align-right zoomable">
<a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/160078/original/image-20170308-24201-13o3hf7.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=1000&fit=clip"><img alt="" src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/160078/original/image-20170308-24201-13o3hf7.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=237&fit=clip" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/160078/original/image-20170308-24201-13o3hf7.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=450&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/160078/original/image-20170308-24201-13o3hf7.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=450&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/160078/original/image-20170308-24201-13o3hf7.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=450&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/160078/original/image-20170308-24201-13o3hf7.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=566&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/160078/original/image-20170308-24201-13o3hf7.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=566&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/160078/original/image-20170308-24201-13o3hf7.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=566&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px"></a>
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<span class="caption"></span>
<span class="attribution"><a class="source" href="https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Hooded_Plover_eggs444.jpg">Benjamint444/Wikimedia Commons</a>, <a class="license" href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/">CC BY-SA</a></span>
</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>However, <a href="http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/1365-2664.12662/abstract">our work</a> at the University of Queensland shows we don’t need conservation reserves in which people are kept out. Quite the reverse. We should be much bolder in opening up areas that are specifically designated as dog off-leash zones, in places where demand for recreation is high.</p>
<p>In the case of Moreton Bay, 97% of foraging migratory shorebirds could be protected from disturbance simply by designating five areas as off-leash recreation zones. Currently, dogs must be kept under close control throughout the intertidal areas of Moreton Bay.</p>
<p>By zoning our beaches carefully, the science tells us that the most intense recreational activities can be located away from critical areas for nature. And there’s no reason why this logic couldn’t be extended to creating peaceful zones for beach users who prefer a quiet day out.</p>
<p>By approaching the problem scientifically, we can meet recreational demand as well as protect nature. Proper enforcement of the boundaries between zones is needed. Such enforcement is effective when carried out in the <a href="http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/1365-2664.12606/abstract">right places at the right time</a>.</p>
<p>We believe that keeping people and their dogs off beaches to protect nature is neither desirable nor effective. It sends totally the wrong message – successful conservation is about living alongside nature, not separating ourselves from it. </p>
<p>Conservationists and recreationists should be natural allies, both working to safeguard our beautiful coasts. The key is to find ways that people and nature can co-exist on beaches.</p>
<hr>
<p><em>You can find other pieces published in the series <a href="https://theconversation.com/au/topics/contested-spaces-36316">here</a>.</em></p><img src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/72078/count.gif" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" />
<p class="fine-print"><em><span>Madeleine Stigner received funding for the work referred to in this article from Birds Queensland and the Queensland Wader Study Group Nigel Roberts Student Research Fund. </span></em></p><p class="fine-print"><em><span>Kiran Dhanjal-Adams received funding for the work referred to in this article from the Centre of Excellence in Environmental Decisions, the Australian Research Council, Queensland Department of Environment and Heritage Protection, the Commonwealth Department of the Environment, the Queensland Wader Study Group, the Port of Brisbane Pty Ltd, the Goodman Foundation and Birdlife Australia’s Stuart Leslie Award. </span></em></p><p class="fine-print"><em><span>Richard Fuller received funding for the work referred to in this article from the National Environmental Science Programme's Threatened Species Recovery Hub, the Australian Research Council, Queensland Department of Environment and Heritage Protection, the Commonwealth Department of the Environment, the Queensland Wader Study Group, the Port of Brisbane Pty Ltd, the Goodman Foundation and Birdlife Australia’s Stuart Leslie Award.</span></em></p>We aren’t just jostling with each other for beach space. Scuttling, waddling, hopping or flying away from beachgoers all around Australia, wildlife struggles to survive the daily disturbances.Madeleine Stigner, Research assistant, The University of QueenslandKiran Dhanjal-Adams, Research Associate Ecological Modeller, UK Centre for Ecology & HydrologyRichard Fuller, Associate Professor in Biodiversity and Conservation, The University of QueenslandLicensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.tag:theconversation.com,2011:article/741722017-03-14T03:21:43Z2017-03-14T03:21:43ZContested spaces: living next door to Alice (and Anh and Abdullah)<figure><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/160253/original/image-20170310-3700-1neyndl.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=496&fit=clip" /><figcaption><span class="caption">How is apartment living changing the way we get to know our increasingly diverse neighbourhoods?
</span> <span class="attribution"><span class="source">from www.shutterstock.com</span></span></figcaption></figure><p><em>This is the eighth article in our <a href="https://theconversation.com/au/topics/contested-spaces-36316">Contested Spaces</a> series. These pieces look at the conflicting uses, expectations and norms that people bring to public spaces, the clashes that result and how we can resolve these.</em></p>
<hr>
<p>Ethnic conflict is on the rise in Australia, with <a href="http://www.sbs.com.au/guide/article/2017/02/01/face-racism-what-you-need-know">regular reports of racist abuse</a> in public spaces, including transport, streets and shopping centres. But what about our more immediate domestic environments such as apartment buildings? </p>
<p><a href="https://cityfutures.be.unsw.edu.au/research/projects/managing-diversity-strata-communities/">Our research</a> shows that ethnic tensions can also play out within these buildings, where growing numbers of city dwellers now live.</p>
<p>As increasing diversity and density come to characterise our cities, how can we build harmonious communities within apartment complexes? Community relations programs have traditionally focused on neighbourhoods, local associations, sport and recreation activities, or schools. But as more and more of us <a href="https://cityfutures.be.unsw.edu.au/cityviz/strata-schemes-sydney/">move into apartments</a>, we need to pay more attention to these super-local residential interactions. </p>
<p>Apartment complexes are microcosms of society, but living so close to strangers can increase the likelihood of tension. The flashpoints range from complaints about noise and garbage to disputes about levies and budgets. Cultural and language differences can exacerbate these conflicts.</p>
<p>What can we do with our closest neighbours to combat growing cultural tensions in society and improve community harmony? Here, drawing on our research, we reveal some top tips on how to build an inclusive and harmonious community in your apartment building.</p>
<h2>Know thy neighbours</h2>
<p>Social commentary on the <a href="http://bowlingalone.com/">loss of community</a> abounds. As we become busier and more mobile, we are less and less likely to <a href="http://www.smh.com.au/news/national/a-matter-of-trust/2005/10/29/1130400400879.html">know our neighbours</a> and our local community. However, <a href="http://www.simonandschuster.com.au/books/When-Strangers-Meet/Kio-Stark/TED-Books/9781471156090">a recent book</a> highlighted the benefits of talking to strangers. This includes cementing relationships in the places where you live, work and play. </p>
<p>In our <a href="http://www.abs.gov.au/ausstats/abs@.nsf/Latestproducts/3236.0Main%20Features42011%20to%202036">increasingly isolated societies</a>, these local relationships are important. The same goes for our most immediate neighbours.</p>
<p>In addition to getting to know them face to face, you could ask your strata committee to do a quick survey of residents to get a better picture of the diversity among your neighbours. If many families of particular cultural groups live in your building, this knowledge can help you plan communication and events accordingly.</p>
<p>It may be that you have important notices translated, or arrange for neighbours to act as translators at meetings and relay information to others who may not speak English well. Or you can plan communal activities around festivities such as Christmas, Chinese New Year, Diwali or Eid.</p>
<h2>Be a social butterfly</h2>
<figure class="align-right zoomable">
<a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/160112/original/image-20170309-21047-ykhpys.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=1000&fit=clip"><img alt="" src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/160112/original/image-20170309-21047-ykhpys.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=237&fit=clip" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/160112/original/image-20170309-21047-ykhpys.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=471&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/160112/original/image-20170309-21047-ykhpys.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=471&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/160112/original/image-20170309-21047-ykhpys.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=471&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/160112/original/image-20170309-21047-ykhpys.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=592&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/160112/original/image-20170309-21047-ykhpys.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=592&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/160112/original/image-20170309-21047-ykhpys.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=592&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px"></a>
<figcaption>
<span class="caption">Inviting your neighbours to pop over for tea or a glass of wine, depending on everyone’s taste, is a good way to get to get to know one another.</span>
<span class="attribution"><span class="license">Author provided</span></span>
</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>Doing things together is by far the most effective way to getting to know people. Invite your neighbours over for a cup of tea or, if all of you prefer, a glass of wine. But, remember, while sharing food can help you get to know one another, be considerate of people’s food choices, whether it’s for religious, ethical or other reasons; a barbecue of just pork sausages many not win many friends.</p>
<p>Invite neighbours to form working bees to do up the garden or decorate the hallways. But be culturally sensitive in your approach to building aesthetics. Don’t just put up decorations for Christmas or Easter; include other cultural events your neighbours celebrate. Or, if your building has a “no decorations” rule, make sure this applies universally and not just to Chinese New Year or Diwali ornaments.</p>
<p>Some apartment residents have successfully used social media such as <a href="https://www.facebook.com/help/167970719931213?helpref=about_content">Facebook groups</a> or <a href="https://www.whatsapp.com/faq/en/general/21073373">WhatsApp group chat</a> to encourage communication in their buildings. This may be an easier method of communication for those with poor spoken English. Your residents survey may reveal other preferred forms of communication.</p>
<h2>Singling out is never the right thing to do</h2>
<p>While translating important documents will help your neighbours who may not have a good command of English, singling out specific language and cultural groups as potential wrongdoers (such as by translating “Do not do this” signage into one language only) may not only cause offence, but may be pointing the finger at the wrong party.</p>
<p>And leaving notes like the one below without first trying to find the culprit and speak with them about it may also damage relationships with your neighbours.</p>
<figure class="align-center zoomable">
<a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/160111/original/image-20170309-21018-91k1le.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=1000&fit=clip"><img alt="" src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/160111/original/image-20170309-21018-91k1le.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/160111/original/image-20170309-21018-91k1le.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=495&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/160111/original/image-20170309-21018-91k1le.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=495&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/160111/original/image-20170309-21018-91k1le.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=495&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/160111/original/image-20170309-21018-91k1le.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=622&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/160111/original/image-20170309-21018-91k1le.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=622&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/160111/original/image-20170309-21018-91k1le.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=622&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px"></a>
<figcaption>
<span class="caption">A note like this one, especially if directed at an innocent party, can lead to lasting difficulties between neighbours.</span>
<span class="attribution"><span class="license">Author provided</span></span>
</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>These are just some tips on how to start making your apartment building more harmonious and inclusive. <a href="https://cityfutures.be.unsw.edu.au/research/projects/managing-diversity-strata-communities/">Our project webpage</a> has a longer list of these tips. </p>
<p>Help is also often at hand from other sources. The City of Sydney, for example, regularly holds <a href="http://www.cityofsydney.nsw.gov.au/live/residents/apartment-living">workshops</a> on how to live well in apartments for all parties. Likewise, peak bodies such as Strata Community Australia (NSW) produce <a href="http://nsw.stratacommunity.org.au/information/factsheets/">fact sheets</a> that not only update you on changes in regulations but also on ways to make your meetings run more smoothly.</p>
<p>Apartment living provides many opportunities to <a href="http://interculturalunderstanding.org/">foster intercultural understanding</a>, as residents increasingly share a domestic environment and work together to maintain their buildings. However, such close proximity can also amplify intercultural tension and hostility. </p>
<p>Fostering harmonious relations within high-density living is becoming increasingly important in creating socially cohesive, multicultural cities. We need to pay more attention to ideas and strategies for achieving this goal.</p>
<hr>
<p><em>You can find other pieces published in the series <a href="https://theconversation.com/au/topics/contested-spaces-36316">here</a>.</em></p><img src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/74172/count.gif" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" />
<p class="fine-print"><em><span>Strata Community Australia (NSW) funded the research project on which this article is based.
Edgar Liu receives funding from the Australian Housing and Urban Research Institute, Cooperative Research Centre for Low Carbon Living, New South Wales' Department of Family and Community Services, PAYCE Communities, SGCH Ltd, South Australia's Department for Communities and Social Inclusion, and Strata Community Australia (NSW chapter).</span></em></p><p class="fine-print"><em><span>Christina Ho has previously received funding from the Australian Research Council. </span></em></p><p class="fine-print"><em><span>Hazel Easthope receives funding from the Australian Research Council.</span></em></p>As increasing diversity and density come to characterise our cities, how can we build harmonious communities within apartment complexes?Edgar Liu, Research Fellow at City Futures Research Centre, UNSW SydneyChristina Ho, Senior Lecturer & Discipline Coordinator, Social & Political Sciences, University of Technology SydneyHazel Easthope, Senior Research Fellow, City Futures Research Centre, UNSW SydneyLicensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.tag:theconversation.com,2011:article/733712017-03-13T03:10:43Z2017-03-13T03:10:43ZContested spaces: ‘virtuous drivers, malicious cyclists’ mindset gets us nowhere<figure><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/158005/original/image-20170223-6440-1flo6gj.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=496&fit=clip" /><figcaption><span class="caption">With Australian roads originally built and designed with only motorists in mind, drivers and cyclists are still learning to share.</span> <span class="attribution"><span class="source">shutterstock</span></span></figcaption></figure><p><em>This is the seventh article in our <a href="https://theconversation.com/au/topics/contested-spaces-36316">Contested Spaces</a> series. These pieces look at the conflicting uses, expectations and norms that people bring to public spaces, the clashes that result and how we can resolve these.</em> </p>
<hr>
<p>I turn on the car radio and the radio station host asks listeners to call in to comment on the idea of introducing compulsory registration for cyclists. The conversations that follow illustrate once again that our roads are a highly contested urban space.</p>
<p>As I expected, those calling in argue emphatically in favour of the radio host’s proposal. They claim it’s unfair that motorists pay for the roads cyclists use, that motorists should be able to report cyclists running red lights, and that cyclists should have insurance to compensate the cost of injuries or damage to cars.</p>
<p>What surprised me was not the arguments being invoked – these are well-rehearsed – but the radio host’s failure to question the assumptions on which the callers based their claims. Their hostility to cyclists appeared to be based on a certain view of what roads are for, and who is entitled to use them. </p>
<p>For a start, the radio host could have pointed out that Australia is an outlier. In European countries, the first roads were <a href="http://www.historytoday.com/logan-thompson/roman-roads">built for pedestrians</a> (usually armies) and horse-drawn carriages. From the 1870s onward, cyclists started to appear on the roads, and they blended into existing traffic very easily. </p>
<p>Not until the 1930s did <a href="https://www.britannica.com/technology/automobile/History-of-the-automobile">cars make their appearance</a> in numbers. Due to their greater speed and weight, this presented a much greater public safety challenge.</p>
<p>In Australia, however, cycling became popular <a href="http://www.australiangeographic.com.au/topics/history-culture/2016/05/history-of-cycling-in-australia">much later</a>. Unlike in Europe, where motorists were the newcomers, in Australia cyclists were the newcomers. This forced governments to “retrofit” cycling facilities in the existing road network. </p>
<p>Because Australian roads were built and designed with motorists in mind, it is easy for Australian motorists to feel cyclists are using “their” roads, and to feel as though cyclists are <a href="https://www.minnpost.com/second-opinion/2013/02/why-motorists-get-so-angry-cyclists-psychologists-theory">disrespecting the natural order</a>.</p>
<h2>But who pays for our roads?</h2>
<p>Those phoning in appeared to believe roads are paid for in full by motorists through vehicle registration licensing. This is inaccurate.</p>
<p>Government statistics on <a href="https://bitre.gov.au/publications/2011/files/is_040.pdf">public road revenues and expenditures</a> show that the amount received from licensing fees is well below the amount spent on new road projects and road maintenance. The gap between the two is paid for through all kinds of taxes, which motorists and cyclists both pay.</p>
<p>But it’s not just about “who pays”. It is clear from <a href="https://chartingtransport.com/2014/01/27/census-cycling-to-work/">census statistics</a> that cycling has become the preferred mode of transport for many high-income earners. They can afford to live in gentrified inner-city suburbs and many of them have embraced <a href="https://ijbnpa.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/1479-5868-9-106">cycling as a healthier lifestyle choice</a>. </p>
<p>Governments are increasingly using subtle health reminders to <a href="http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/1475-6765.12073/full">nudge citizens towards healthier choices</a>. Cyclists in turn have arguably become a highly visible public health reminder. It may be that they confront motorists with their own less healthy lifestyle, or their inability to stick to their new year’s resolution. </p>
<p>Without research we cannot be sure. However, this may explain some of the intense resentment some motorists seem to feel when confronted with cyclists. It would also explain the kinds of pejorative terms frustrated motorists hurl at cyclists (“those bloody latte-sipping greenies!”)</p>
<h2>Beware the ‘us and them’ mindset</h2>
<p>But this is not the only reason why we pit “the virtuous law-abiding motorist” against “the malicious free-riding cyclist”. We <a href="http://psycnet.apa.org/psycinfo/1994-98213-000">stereotype</a> all the time, although the stereotypical categories we use to describe the world ultimately only exist in our imagination. This includes the categories “cyclists” and “motorists”. After all, many motorists also ride bicycles, and most cyclists drive a car (and thus pay rego). </p>
<p>Based on the stereotypes one might expect non-cycling motorists to be more aggressive towards cyclists than motorists who also identify as cyclists. However, <a href="http://www.news.uwa.edu.au/201509017929/new-study-asks-why-some-motorists-are-more-aggressive-cyclists">research conducted in the UK</a> revealed that this is a myth. The two groups did not differ in their attitudes towards cyclists.</p>
<p>The problem with such stereotypical “us and them” categorisations is that it glosses over the fact that there are good and bad cyclists (some cannot resist the temptation to run a red light; others can), and good and bad motorists (some cannot resist the temptation to text behind the wheel; others can).</p>
<p>It may be tempting to blame it all on “the media”. However, that would be to overlook that the “cyclists versus motorist” narrative also fits the current <a href="http://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/1354068811436065">populist anti-establishment zeitgeist</a>, and the idea that ordinary hardworking taxpayers are subsidising “the urban elite” and its frivolous activities. </p>
<p>By peddling this “virtuous motorists versus malicious cyclists” narrative, radio programs may well unwittingly contribute to this zeitgeist and the preoccupation with so-called “<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2016/nov/30/political-correctness-how-the-right-invented-phantom-enemy-donald-trump">phantom problems</a>”.</p>
<h2>Signs of progress</h2>
<p>There are also positive developments. First, governments have stepped up investment in cycling infrastructure. There are now many more dedicated bike lanes and so-called green bridges. </p>
<figure class="align-center zoomable">
<a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/158649/original/image-20170228-29948-15h0i2.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=1000&fit=clip"><img alt="" src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/158649/original/image-20170228-29948-15h0i2.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/158649/original/image-20170228-29948-15h0i2.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=402&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/158649/original/image-20170228-29948-15h0i2.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=402&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/158649/original/image-20170228-29948-15h0i2.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=402&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/158649/original/image-20170228-29948-15h0i2.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=505&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/158649/original/image-20170228-29948-15h0i2.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=505&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/158649/original/image-20170228-29948-15h0i2.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=505&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px"></a>
<figcaption>
<span class="caption">The Kurilpa ‘green bridge’ for cyclists and pedestrians spans the Brisbane River.</span>
<span class="attribution"><a class="source" href="http://freeaussiestock.com/free/Queensland/brisbane/slides/goma_kurilpa_bridge.htm">freeaussiestock.com</a>, <a class="license" href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/">CC BY</a></span>
</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>This should not only increase cycling and car safety, but also reduce the temptation to break rules. This temptation might arise, for instance, when traffic lights do not detect waiting cyclists. Such places are increasingly fitted with a button cyclists can press without having to go on the footpath. </p>
<p>Second, cyclists are increasingly “self-policing” and advising fellow cyclists <a href="http://theclimbingcyclist.com/sharing-the-road-and-leading-the-way/">how best to share the road</a>. They pull each other up on behaviour that is “not on”, knowing that bad cycling behaviour will give cyclists a bad name. </p>
<p>Finally, motorists appear to have become more tolerant towards cyclists in recent times, particularly since the <a href="http://www.smh.com.au/nsw/new-nsw-cycling-fines-and-metre-passing-laws-what-you-need-to-know-for-march-1-20160224-gn34fi.html">“one-metre rule” was introduced</a> in Queensland, New South Wales, South Australia, Tasmania and ACT. The rule has been <a href="http://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-09-15/cyclist-overtaking-buffer-rule-proposed-in-victorian-parliament/7847528">recommended in Victoria</a> and <a href="http://www.abc.net.au/news/2017-02-10/wa-election-labor-promises-one-metre-cycling-rule/8260870">promised in Western Australia</a> during the recent state election campaign.</p>
<p>Requiring motorists to give cyclists a metre of space was a practical safety measure. It may well also have fulfilled an important signalling function, too, by conveying to motorists that cyclists have the right to be on the road.</p>
<hr>
<p><em>You can find other pieces published in the series <a href="https://theconversation.com/au/topics/contested-spaces-36316">here</a>.</em></p><img src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/73371/count.gif" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" />
<p class="fine-print"><em><span>Frank Mols does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.</span></em></p>Because Australian roads were built and designed with motorists in mind, it is easy for Australian motorists to feel cyclists are using ‘their’ roads and disrespecting the natural order.Frank Mols, Lecturer in Political Science, The University of QueenslandLicensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.tag:theconversation.com,2011:article/723512017-03-09T23:35:38Z2017-03-09T23:35:38ZContested spaces: living off the edge in a city mall where design fuels conflict<figure><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/158531/original/image-20170227-26306-1241af.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=496&fit=clip" /><figcaption><span class="caption">Design deficiencies that contribute to conflict in public spaces often start at the edges.</span> <span class="attribution"><span class="license">Author provided</span></span></figcaption></figure><p><em>This is the sixth article in our <a href="https://theconversation.com/au/topics/contested-spaces-36316">Contested Spaces</a> series. These pieces look at the conflicting uses, expectations and norms that people bring to public spaces, the clashes that result and how we can resolve these.</em></p>
<hr>
<p>There are few more telling signs of conflict in urban spaces than calls to send in the police. Geelong’s Little Malop Street Mall has been the subject of many such calls, as regular incidents keep the space in the media spotlight. </p>
<p>But Geelong-based writer <a href="http://www.geelongadvertiser.com.au/news/opinion/ross-mueller-unblock-the-length-of-little-malop-st-and-welcome-back-traffic/news-story/6317893773671c0b631ce7edfaad7ef7">Ross Mueller’s 2015 call</a> for the police to be called in to investigate “criminal neglect of our public place” comes at the problem from a new angle. </p>
<p>“That’s right,” Mueller began. “We need a whole division to investigate exactly who approved the brilliant idea of building two massive shopping (centres) right next door to each other.” He proposed “the biggest working bee in our history” to rip up the space and start from scratch. </p>
<p>Even if said working bee came to pass, the spatial issues behind the mall’s malaise need to be understood. While an <a href="http://www.geelongadvertiser.com.au/news/opinion/daryl-mclure-attract-wider-populace-and-mall-rats-will-leave-lt-malop-st-mall/news-story/f210a53c98f6fe96f3ec58c27c998eab">influx of police</a> has often been seen as a way to “fix” the mall, such approaches deal with symptoms rather than the causes of conflicts in such spaces. </p>
<p>The mall’s story has vital lessons for cities around Australia. Chief among them is that public spaces not designed for all can become stages of conflict and alienation. While the centre may hold the focus, the edges of these spaces hold the key.</p>
<h2>Haven of the ‘mall rat’</h2>
<p>In the 1860s, the area comprising today’s Little Malop Street Mall was part of <a href="http://geelongindy.com.au/indy/2009-04-09/dust-bowl-becomes-a-shopping-centre/">Market Square</a>, then a large public reserve in the east of the city centre. Its story has been controversial, with privatisation for commercial interests gradually eroding the space over time.</p>
<p>In 1985, what remained of the square and a network of streets was replaced by the Market Square Shopping Centre. This left the narrow rump of public space to the south that is now the mall. </p>
<p>The shopping centre, and another built on the other side of the mall soon after, closed over a connected network of streets similar in form to Melbourne’s celebrated <a href="http://ergo.slv.vic.gov.au/explore-history/colonial-melbourne/everyday-life/melbourne-city-grid">Hoddle Grid</a>. This loss of lively streets and laneways has made this section of Geelong’s city centre less permeable and less pedestrian-friendly.</p>
<p>While the introverted centres have prospered, the mall has become a space as feared and fretted over as the people locally derided as “<a href="http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/victoria/teen-girl-bashes-victim-in-little-malop-st-mall-in-geelong/news-story/718aad7671dbc8ac41605053c60d0d7c">mall rats</a>” who have become associated with it. </p>
<p>Public perceptions of the space have declined in spite of various interventions, including redevelopments and <a href="http://www.geelongadvertiser.com.au/news/geelong/geelong-cbd-new-plan-aims-to-make-lt-malop-st-mall-safer/news-story/f680c21f92e75f40538f23dee777846d">communications campaigns</a> targeting antisocial behaviour.</p>
<h2>Conflicted messages and purposes</h2>
<p>The conflict between users of Little Malop Street Mall is rooted in two larger interrelated conflicts. One is between the operation of space as a public common and space for profit. The other stems from the conflicted messages that the space sends to users.</p>
<p>People interpret spaces, and the messages we receive are shaped by several factors. These range from our interaction with physical factors like objects within the space, the space’s edges and how we navigate through spaces, through to discourses or texts that French philosopher Henri Lefebvre identified as “<a href="https://uptheossroad.wordpress.com/2015/01/23/using-lefebvres-triad/">representations of space</a>”.</p>
<p>A successful public space or commons sends messages that make it welcoming to all. The space encourages interaction and invites people to linger. </p>
<p>In this context, defensive interventions aimed at excluding particular groups, such as playing <a href="http://www.geelongadvertiser.com.au/news/crime-court/pantsless-man-causes-disturbance-in-little-malop-st-mall/news-story/cb8675f2dc5bada42d3a95812c66c4d2">loud classical music</a> to deter so-called “mall rats”, are particularly problematic. Measures that seek to exclude one group often generate a space that deters all.</p>
<p>More successful interventions to activate the mall have involved organised programs of events such as <a href="http://www.geelongadvertiser.com.au/news/geelong/geelong-cbd-new-plan-aims-to-make-lt-malop-st-mall-safer/news-story/f680c21f92e75f40538f23dee777846d">food trucks and live entertainment</a>. But when the carnival moves on, the design problems remain.</p>
<h2>Conflict by design</h2>
<p>The shopping centre’s opening was clearly a decisive blow in favour of privatised space. Even more significant, though, is the way the centre is designed to turn its back on the public spaces and streets around it.</p>
<p>This speaks to the importance of edges in urban design. While the centre’s boxy form and bulky scale overshadow the mall, the biggest issue is at street level. Here, long stretches of blank concrete walls, loading docks, tagged shopfronts and security grilles form the centre’s face to the mall. </p>
<figure class="align-center ">
<img alt="" src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/158521/original/image-20170227-26312-zeve5g.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/158521/original/image-20170227-26312-zeve5g.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=413&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/158521/original/image-20170227-26312-zeve5g.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=413&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/158521/original/image-20170227-26312-zeve5g.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=413&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/158521/original/image-20170227-26312-zeve5g.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=519&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/158521/original/image-20170227-26312-zeve5g.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=519&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/158521/original/image-20170227-26312-zeve5g.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=519&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px">
<figcaption>
<span class="caption">Loading bays form an unwelcoming edge to Little Malop Street Mall.</span>
<span class="attribution"><span class="source">Author provided</span></span>
</figcaption>
</figure>
<figure class="align-right ">
<img alt="" src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/158522/original/image-20170227-25959-1gqgjsl.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=237&fit=clip" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/158522/original/image-20170227-25959-1gqgjsl.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=800&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/158522/original/image-20170227-25959-1gqgjsl.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=800&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/158522/original/image-20170227-25959-1gqgjsl.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=800&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/158522/original/image-20170227-25959-1gqgjsl.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=1006&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/158522/original/image-20170227-25959-1gqgjsl.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=1006&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/158522/original/image-20170227-25959-1gqgjsl.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=1006&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px">
<figcaption>
<span class="caption">Large stretches of blank walls make stretches of the mall an empty experience, devoid of life.</span>
<span class="attribution"><span class="source">Author provided</span></span>
</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>This stark edge sends a message that the space is unsafe and unwelcoming, positioning the mall’s public function as secondary to the profit-driven centre. While in theory the mall is a public space, these hard edges send the clear message that it is not a place for people.</p>
<p>Contrast this with a lively space where the edges between streetfronts and shops are open, with lots to attract eyes and people. Danish architect Jan Gehl, a key figure in the <a href="http://www.theage.com.au/victoria/from-quite-awful-to-liveable-urban-design-guru-helps-transform-melbourne-city-20170209-gu9570.html">reinvigoration of inner-city Melbourne</a>, writes in his 2010 book <a href="https://islandpress.org/book/cities-for-people">Cities for People</a>: </p>
<blockquote>
<p>When the city’s edges work, they reinforce city life. Activities can supplement each other, the wealth of experience increases, walking becomes safer and distances seem shorter. </p>
</blockquote>
<p>The good news is that hints for creating a better mall are literally metres away. In <a href="http://www.geelongadvertiser.com.au/news/geelong/geelong-cbd-lt-malop-st-comes-back-to-life-with-the-help-of-investor-bill-votsaris/news-story/c4a5a7e5f7f20d3c69480515d9909272">Little Malop Street</a>, west of the mall, narrow shopfronts on both sides of a one-way street and pedestrianised area form lively edges. These have laid the foundation for a renaissance of city life: dining, activity and a totally new vibe.</p>
<p>The mall’s edges are not the only issue confronting the space, but they are fundamentally important. Other interventions such as streetscape works will be of little use if the inactive edges remain.</p>
<hr>
<p><em>You can read other pieces in the series as they are published <a href="https://theconversation.com/au/topics/contested-spaces-36316">here</a>.</em></p><img src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/72351/count.gif" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" />
<p class="fine-print"><em><span>Matt Novacevski is affiliated with the Planning Institute of Australia.</span></em></p>Redesigning spaces of conflict starts with creating life on the edges. Geelong offers contrasting examples of city centre spaces: one with problems inherent in its design and a nearby one that works.Matt Novacevski, Research Fellow, Deakin UniversityLicensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.tag:theconversation.com,2011:article/722612017-03-08T23:45:56Z2017-03-08T23:45:56ZContested spaces: we need to see public space through older eyes too<figure><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/159253/original/image-20170303-31744-1qjz5zl.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=496&fit=clip" /><figcaption><span class="caption">Simple features, like a thoughtfully sited bench, can make a big difference to older people's ability to enjoy public spaces in the city.</span> <span class="attribution"><a class="source" href="https://www.shutterstock.com/image-photo/couple-back-park-480848737?src=CU3WMHNBi0lwEhpt2MlWHw-2-1">alexkich from www.shutterstock.com</a></span></figcaption></figure><p><em>This is the fifth article in our <a href="https://theconversation.com/au/topics/contested-spaces-36316">Contested Spaces</a> series. These pieces look at the conflicting uses, expectations and norms that people bring to public spaces, the clashes that result and how we can resolve these.</em></p>
<hr>
<p>The urban environment can have significant impacts on healthy ageing of older people, including how they enjoy and participate in their local community. Our <a href="http://www.cotaq.org.au/index.php">recent research</a> has identified that older people living in high-density Brisbane actively engage with well-designed neighbourhood public space. </p>
<p>Participation, interaction and physical activity hold the promise of <a href="http://apps.who.int/iris/bitstream/10665/67215/1/WHO_NMH_NPH_02.8.pdf">promoting health and independence</a> and reducing the risk of disablement for older people.</p>
<p>Our participants identified several key design considerations that help make public spaces usable and comfortable places. Many of these aspects are linked to walkability. </p>
<p>Successful public spaces become well-used venues for extending daily life beyond the home. But when public spaces are not well designed and maintained for everyday use and comfort, and their needs are not met, older people are discouraged from getting out and about. </p>
<h2>What do older people want?</h2>
<p>Our survey participants identified the key factors as:</p>
<ul>
<li><p>A wide variety of places for people to sit, to enjoy being out in public and watching people. Usable, universal design seating – rather than having to sit on the grass – is especially important for older people as rest-stops or destinations given their declining physical flexibility.</p></li>
<li><p>Hand rails on stairs and steep paths for safety and confidence.</p></li>
<li><p>Drinking fountains and trees to provide shade and comfort. A tree canopy provides comfort and protection from <a href="https://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/health/healthyliving/heat-stress-and-older-people">heat, humidity and sun exposure</a>. This is especially important in a sub-tropical <a href="https://theconversation.com/bad-luck-brisbane-muggy-cities-will-feel-future-heat-even-more-35205">climate like Brisbane’s</a>.</p></li>
<li><p>Plentiful and clean public toilets. The <a href="https://theconversation.com/caught-short-we-need-to-talk-about-public-toilets-60450">lack of such facilities can be debilitating</a> and an obstacle to some older people’s enjoyment of the public realm.</p></li>
<li><p>Wider walk paths and safer buffers between pedestrian paths and high-traffic roadways. In some areas, footpath and streetscape treatments could improve safety. An example would be to use trees and parking lanes to create a buffer between pedestrians and traffic.</p></li>
<li><p>Safer and clearly posted pedestrian crossings on busy thoroughfares to avoid or reduce the risk of pedestrian and motorist confusion at intersections. Older people avoided walking in some urban areas because of <a href="https://theconversation.com/to-keep-older-people-active-pedestrian-accessibility-must-improve-65134">concerns about crossing roads</a> with fast-moving traffic and little pedestrian amenity.</p></li>
</ul>
<figure class="align-right zoomable">
<a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/159257/original/image-20170303-16360-tc9mya.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=1000&fit=clip"><img alt="" src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/159257/original/image-20170303-16360-tc9mya.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=237&fit=clip" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/159257/original/image-20170303-16360-tc9mya.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=678&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/159257/original/image-20170303-16360-tc9mya.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=678&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/159257/original/image-20170303-16360-tc9mya.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=678&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/159257/original/image-20170303-16360-tc9mya.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=852&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/159257/original/image-20170303-16360-tc9mya.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=852&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/159257/original/image-20170303-16360-tc9mya.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=852&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px"></a>
<figcaption>
<span class="caption">Paths, crossing and access points need to cater for people with various levels of mobility.</span>
<span class="attribution"><a class="source" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/dylanpassmore/6939311855/in/photolist-9tj4HJ-9tg4eT-9tg6dz-dAwrhJ-9rUVAB-9rUV5g-ha1LE2-7Jn8tY-9tj4YW-9tg6qv-9tj2W9-X74v-gSpiej-9tg7kt-gSp7Re-h9Ze7W-5ZALX-gSoU3E-h9Zm7t-6Uk2r3-DaEAe-dwwjxc-LSYQw-5mwf6J-EigoX-dwBQZL-3kHRjF-bzcMDR-7znwkc-5RMViy-dwwjSv-9mMoLi-wr5qX-b6hTX6-5RMV2J-a49Qsa-eEDw2t-c8j3y7-cr5HpU-9tg4HD-5RMUsW-oXhvvA-9tg4ZP-8KEdSk-5imwSx-5RMUKW-7VrQ7E-4wvWdG-8a7kZ8-6fQnnX">Dylan Passmore/flickr</a>, <a class="license" href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/">CC BY-NC</a></span>
</figcaption>
</figure>
<ul>
<li>Clearer delineation on paths between areas for cyclists and runners and those who tend to move more slowly, such as older people and children. An example of where participants were uncomfortable was when the “strollers” must <a href="http://theconversation.com/contested-spaces-a-users-guide-to-shared-paths-72186">compete with numbers of runners and cyclists</a> using shared paths. Such infrastructure is shared with all segments of the population; the challenge is to design for all competing demands so no-one is excluded.</li>
</ul>
<p>Our research found it is the interplay of these needs that is important in activating public space for older people. We need to make these areas welcoming, comfortable and active. This requires spaces for people to walk, sit, people-watch and relax.</p>
<h2>Why do inclusive spaces matter?</h2>
<p>The benefit of good public space amenities in high-density neighbourhoods cannot be overstated. These features in public spaces are essential for older people’s participation and interaction in public – and indeed for everyone. </p>
<p>Our research highlights the potential impact these issues have on healthy ageing for older residents of high-density neighbourhoods. It gives us a better understanding of the design factors that make these areas more liveable and sustainable for older people. </p>
<p>The findings can help inform practical policies, programs and urban development design to help promote liveability, social engagement and healthy ageing in high-density neighbourhoods. This, in turn, can help preserve the independence and <a href="https://theconversation.com/aussies-are-getting-older-and-the-health-workforce-needs-training-to-reflect-it-67710">wellbeing of our ageing population</a>.</p>
<p>The World Health Organisation promotes healthy ageing as the ability to live an <a href="http://www.who.int/ageing/publications/Global_age_friendly_cities_Guide_English.pdf">active, safe and socially inclusive lifestyle</a>. </p>
<p>As the world <a href="http://data.worldbank.org/indicator/SP.URB.TOTL.IN.ZS">continues to urbanise</a>, various levels of government, the private sector and the community will need to work together to respond to the needs of older people. Issues of ageing in Australia and other parts of the developed world will become more critical in coming decades. </p>
<p>Current planning and development processes present several barriers to the provision of age-friendly infrastructure. Given the growing number of older people, and thus their increasing political influence, successful governments will need to respond to their needs and, in particular, the need for supportive social and physical environments.</p>
<hr>
<p><em>You can read other pieces in the series as they are published <a href="https://theconversation.com/au/topics/contested-spaces-36316">here</a>.</em></p><img src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/72261/count.gif" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" />
<p class="fine-print"><em><span>Desley Vine receives funding from Australian Research Council, Private organisations including RSL Care, Ballycara, AVEO, Stockland, Ergon Energy. </span></em></p><p class="fine-print"><em><span>Laurie Buys receives funding from Australian Research Council, Private organisations including RSL Care, Ballycara, AVEO, Stockland, Ergon Energy, Cotton RDA, </span></em></p>Several key aspects of public open space can encourage older people to get out and about. And badly designed and maintained facilities have the opposite effect and can harm their wellbeing.Desley Vine, Research Fellow, Creative Industries Faculty, Queensland University of TechnologyLaurie Buys, Professor, Creative Industries Faculty, Queensland University of TechnologyLicensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.tag:theconversation.com,2011:article/721862017-03-08T01:24:11Z2017-03-08T01:24:11ZContested spaces: a user’s guide to shared paths<figure><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/157056/original/image-20170216-27409-14zsyxu.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=496&fit=clip" /><figcaption><span class="caption">What can we do to avoid clashes between users of shared paths?</span> <span class="attribution"><span class="source">from www.shutterstock.com</span></span></figcaption></figure><p><em>This is the fourth article in our <a href="https://theconversation.com/au/topics/contested-spaces-36316">Contested Spaces</a> series. These pieces look at the conflicting uses, expectations and norms that people bring to public spaces, the clashes that result and how we can resolve these.</em></p>
<hr>
<p>Evidence suggests that transport modes (walking, cycling, public transport, private motor vehicles) <a href="http://www.victoriawalks.org.au/Assets/Files/FINAL-Shared-Paths-position-paper.pdf">should be separated</a> wherever possible. However, this isn’t always the case. </p>
<p>In all Australian states – <a href="https://www.bykbikes.com/riding-bikes-on-the-footpath-the-laws-for-kids-and-adults-in-australia/">except Victoria and New South Wales</a> (unless the rider is under 12 years of age, or accompanying someone who is) – cyclists are allowed on footpaths. This effectively makes every footpath a shared path. </p>
<p>The mix of pedestrians using shared paths varies greatly. So how is it that we don’t always run into each other? And what can we do to prevent clashes?</p>
<h2>Urban etiquette 101</h2>
<p>The golden rule of shared paths is that the person in the less vulnerable position should be mindful of the more vulnerable user.</p>
<figure class="align-right zoomable">
<a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/159255/original/image-20170303-31706-1tbsynv.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=1000&fit=clip"><img alt="" src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/159255/original/image-20170303-31706-1tbsynv.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=237&fit=clip" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/159255/original/image-20170303-31706-1tbsynv.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=701&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/159255/original/image-20170303-31706-1tbsynv.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=701&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/159255/original/image-20170303-31706-1tbsynv.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=701&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/159255/original/image-20170303-31706-1tbsynv.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=881&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/159255/original/image-20170303-31706-1tbsynv.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=881&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/159255/original/image-20170303-31706-1tbsynv.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=881&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px"></a>
<figcaption>
<span class="caption">Some path users, such as small children, are much more vulnerable than others.</span>
<span class="attribution"><a class="source" href="https://www.shutterstock.com/image-photo/two-little-sisters-sitting-on-forest-567491263?src=1IdUsEELSrzOitTen4U3ww-1-15">KackaBlecha from www.shutterstock.com</a></span>
</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>Think of it as a hierarchy: from cyclists, to adult pedestrians, to children and the elderly. </p>
<p>Not surprisingly, a lot of the basics stem from road rules. In general, try to stick to the left and overtake on the right. Check your blind spot before overtaking, keeping an eye out for faster-moving joggers or bicycle riders. Be courteous and respectful to others. </p>
<h2>Walkers</h2>
<p>The number of pedestrians walking on a path can vary dramatically, especially around high-traffic areas like shopping malls, parks or inner-city neighbourhoods. When it comes to etiquette, there are a number of considerations to keep in mind.</p>
<p>Walking two-abreast while chatting to a friend is only natural; nobody should expect pedestrians to walk single-file down a shared path. </p>
<p>If a busy shared path (especially in dense, inner-city neighbourhoods) isn’t wide enough for two people to walk side by side, it might be a good idea to write to your local council asking for some more space. </p>
<p>Cities around the world – <a href="http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/madrid-spain-is-banning-cars-from-its-crowded-city-center-a7514971.html">Madrid</a>, <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/cities/2016/sep/22/paris-ban-traffic-london-world-car-free-day">Paris</a>, <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com.au/oslo-bans-cars-from-its-city-center-2015-10?r=US&IR=T">Oslo</a> and <a href="http://www.nyc.gov/html/dot/summerstreets/html/about/about.shtml">New York</a>, <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/cities-going-car-free-2016-8/?r=AU&IR=T/#mexico-city-hopes-to-ban-about-two-million-cars-from-the-city-center-9">among others</a> – have trialled replacing on-street parking and car lanes with spaces for walking, cycling and public transport.</p>
<p>Some cities, <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/shortcuts/2014/sep/15/china-mobile-phone-lane-distracted-walking-pedestrians">such as Chongqing, China</a>, have recently installed “mobile phone lanes” on shared paths. Using your phone while playing Pokemon Go is fine, so long as you remain mindful and considerate of those around you. Try to keep to the left, be aware of your surroundings, use your peripheral vision and look up regularly. </p>
<p><div data-react-class="Tweet" data-react-props="{"tweetId":"510606611895705600"}"></div></p>
<h2>Dog walkers</h2>
<p>Try to keep your dog on a shorter leash while on a shared path. Cyclists and joggers can tend to sneak up on your dog and give them a fright.</p>
<p>Bring a poo bag (or two). There’s nothing worse than stepping in poo. </p>
<p>If your dog can be nervous or anxious around people, think about using a special lead or harness to warn others.</p>
<p><div data-react-class="Tweet" data-react-props="{"tweetId":"816547901719580672"}"></div></p>
<h2>Parents with prams and kids</h2>
<p>Instilling the next generation with the common sense and confidence to actively use shared spaces will pave the way for their best possible use in the future. </p>
<p>Reinforce the importance of being courteous and respectful to others using the path. </p>
<p>Teach children to ask permission before patting a dog. Some dogs can be nervous, easily frightened, or can become aggressive.</p>
<p>Bikes, trikes and scooters are a great way for kids to enjoy an afternoon walk. </p>
<p>Don’t listen to the <a href="http://insight.racv.com.au/safety/wheels-mistake/">fear-mongering of some motoring organisations</a>. Using wheels is a great opportunity to teach kids how to be the active transport users of the future. </p>
<h2>Older users</h2>
<p>As we age, and in some cases become unable to drive, the use of shared paths (whether walking, using a wheelchair, or driving a mobility scooter) becomes increasingly important for independence. </p>
<p>Elderly pedestrians are <a href="https://theconversation.com/why-older-people-get-osteoporosis-and-have-falls-68145">susceptible to falls</a>. Be mindful of cracks and uneven paths. </p>
<p>Elderly pedestrians often walk more slowly and can take <a href="https://academic.oup.com/ageing/article/41/5/690/47318/Most-older-pedestrians-are-unable-to-cross-the">longer to cross roads</a>. They should use refuge islands if needed. </p>
<p>If a set of traffic lights in your local area doesn’t allow you <a href="http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2214140516302250?dgcid=raven_sd_aip_email">enough time to cross safely</a>, don’t be afraid to write to your local MP asking for the lights to be adjusted. </p>
<h2>Cyclists</h2>
<p>At the top of the hierarchy, cyclists need to be mindful of all other users of the path. </p>
<p>Cyclists should slow down, keep their fingers on the brake lever and remember they are in a less vulnerable position than pedestrians. They should afford the same courtesies to pedestrians that they expect of drivers while sharing the road.</p>
<p>Pedestrians are unpredictable and can change direction at any moment; children are even more unpredictable. When overtaking, cyclists should slow down and give a wide berth. If there’s not enough room to overtake, wait until it’s safe to do so.</p>
<p>Cyclists should watch out for people walking dogs. Approach as if the dog has enough slack to walk into your path; again, slow down and give a wide berth.</p>
<p>And if you’re in training for Le Tour de France, trying to beat your personal best time, the shared path probably isn’t for you.</p>
<h2>Contentious issues</h2>
<p>There are several signs reminding bicycle riders to use their bell when approaching pedestrians. The intention behind this message is one of courtesy. </p>
<p>However, a bell is often perceived (or used) as an act of aggression in the same way as a car horn might be – or the pedestrian might think they’re in the way, and try to get out of the way, but instead move into the cyclist’s path. This creates a hazard when there was previously none. </p>
<p><a href="http://www.news.com.au/technology/innovation/motoring/sydney-really-needs-to-learn-from-japans-cycling-culture/news-story/9498770e43c53156504211e500560c68">In Tokyo</a>, cyclists routinely ride along footpaths, weaving through pedestrians without using a bell. Don’t be afraid to use your voice. A smile and a gentle “Coming through” or “On your right” can be a pleasant way to interact with others.</p>
<p>Motorists are required to give way to pedestrians when crossing a footpath. When designed properly, small features can give each user cues about who is required to give way. </p>
<p>A poorly designed shared path – like the one in the first image below – suggests the pedestrian is crossing the path of the motorist. The footpath in the second image suggests the correct right of way, where the motorist is crossing the pedestrian’s path.</p>
<figure class="align-center ">
<img alt="" src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/156539/original/image-20170213-23350-1cp9xc3.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/156539/original/image-20170213-23350-1cp9xc3.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=613&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/156539/original/image-20170213-23350-1cp9xc3.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=613&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/156539/original/image-20170213-23350-1cp9xc3.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=613&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/156539/original/image-20170213-23350-1cp9xc3.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=771&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/156539/original/image-20170213-23350-1cp9xc3.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=771&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/156539/original/image-20170213-23350-1cp9xc3.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=771&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px">
<figcaption>
<span class="caption">Charlotte Street in the Brisbane CBD offers cues to who has right of way on the footpath.</span>
<span class="attribution"><span class="source">Google Street View</span></span>
</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>Although some government authorities suggest you should <a href="https://www.vicroads.vic.gov.au/safety-and-road-rules/pedestrian-safety/using-shared-paths">“make sure you can still hear others”</a>, there’s no difference between a deaf person using a shared path and someone listening to blaringly loud music. If it’s safe enough for the hearing-impaired, it’s safe enough for noise-cancelling headphones. </p>
<p>Be safe and have fun.</p>
<hr>
<p><em>You can read other pieces in the series as they are published <a href="https://theconversation.com/au/topics/contested-spaces-36316">here</a>.</em></p><img src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/72186/count.gif" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" />
<p class="fine-print"><em><span>Jerome N Rachele receives funding from National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) Centre of Excellence in Healthy Liveable Communities (#1061404), and The Australian Prevention Partnership Centre (#9100001)</span></em></p>The golden rule of shared paths is that the person in the less vulnerable position should be mindful of the more vulnerable user.Jerome N Rachele, Research Fellow in Social Epidemiology, Institute for Health and Ageing, Australian Catholic UniversityLicensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.tag:theconversation.com,2011:article/726442017-03-07T19:24:04Z2017-03-07T19:24:04ZContested spaces: you can’t stop the music – the sounds that divide shoppers<figure><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/159061/original/image-20170302-5504-12rga5c.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=496&fit=clip" /><figcaption><span class="caption">When they hear the music, some people want to dance. Other shoppers want to flee.</span> <span class="attribution"><a class="source" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/jmarty/2116501096/in/photolist-4e2C3d-pqc27e-sryATK-8oZnm3-FRQfnv-74r7Ld-9EFWRq-d5Cpi9-7bDupA-oJhDHH-nDCvey-jV3CQH-gz1iag-9Cmud2-c8wCWb-cdTQoq-a473KK-8vyHpC-csFj5j-gezE1D-qw6V5m-by8nJ9-92hS7f-djfa46-bjKzNz-ecajo4-fc3Rxp-qmQcz8-cNwztA-8CMwZ3-2F8zHA-h6j3hC-cR6Vtj-8Vazh4-gCo6Jk-cNgZaL-cNwD35-edatti-fU3uGz-ni6bYb-fTZUJr-92eKik-fxYVmv-fnk9qx-pUGRo7-a9JBEM-gDKEPu-cXwics-4V54ua-6ovXhu">Justin/flickr</a>, <a class="license" href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/">CC BY-SA</a></span></figcaption></figure><p><em>This is the third article in our <a href="https://theconversation.com/au/topics/contested-spaces-36316">Contested Spaces</a> series. These pieces look at the conflicting uses, expectations and norms that people bring to public spaces, the clashes that result and how we can resolve these.</em></p>
<hr>
<p>Sound is everywhere. In urban areas, it forms part of how we feel about and negotiate various social settings. </p>
<p>The space we focus on here is the retail environment. Based on interviews with shoppers about the kinds of music and sounds encountered, we are examining how and why the acoustic dimension can either heighten or diminish the shopping experience.</p>
<p>When successful, music in retail spaces stimulates positive corporeal and other sensory responses in shoppers. The other side of the coin is that a majority of interview participants reported unpleasant musical experiences in retail situations. </p>
<p>Interviewees who liked to hear music when shopping reported that it added a sense of rhythm to what they were doing. It made the experience feel more dynamic or lively than otherwise might have been the case. </p>
<p>Some shoppers reported being so energised by the music that they worried they might engage in conspicuous behaviour such as dancing, singing and other conduct not usually found in retail settings. One participant said she was so responsive and captive to music in the shops that she feared being considered a “public weirdo” by retail staff and other shoppers.</p>
<p>Those who had negative responses to music included consumers who sensed that the music played in certain stores was “discriminatory”. This was because it seemed aimed at particular gender or age groups that excluded them.</p>
<p>Volume was another important source of disquiet. The greater the volume, the greater the imposition these shoppers felt. </p>
<p>Some shoppers avoided altogether “noisy” or “loud” retail spaces. Others reported getting through the shopping experience faster than they would have liked. And some resorted to the “privatisation” of their aural experience by using personal musical devices.</p>
<h2>In what ways does music offend?</h2>
<p>But why should music and sound be contentious in retail settings? There is a long history of people using music and sound to augment the experiences of events like festivals, community and religious celebrations, as well as markets and fairs.</p>
<figure class="align-left zoomable">
<a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/159059/original/image-20170302-5538-1ngmm75.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=1000&fit=clip"><img alt="" src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/159059/original/image-20170302-5538-1ngmm75.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=237&fit=clip" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/159059/original/image-20170302-5538-1ngmm75.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=600&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/159059/original/image-20170302-5538-1ngmm75.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=600&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/159059/original/image-20170302-5538-1ngmm75.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=600&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/159059/original/image-20170302-5538-1ngmm75.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=754&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/159059/original/image-20170302-5538-1ngmm75.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=754&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/159059/original/image-20170302-5538-1ngmm75.png?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=754&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px"></a>
<figcaption>
<span class="caption">Some shoppers may feel music is part of a retail strategy to manipulate them into buying more.</span>
<span class="attribution"><a class="source" href="https://pixabay.com/en/speakers-announcement-213232/">pixabay</a></span>
</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>One possibility is that consumers are concerned that retail atmospheres are designed to manipulate them into buying things <a href="http://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/0013916503254749">through music</a> and other forms of sensory conditioning, such as lighting, smell, temperature and colour schemes. However, this doesn’t really explain why some consumers reported feeling dislocated or not “at home” in retail environments. </p>
<p>Music and sound can often offend shoppers for other reasons, we suggest. Following the insights of microsociologist <a href="https://books.google.com.au/books/about/The_Presentation_of_Self_in_Everyday_Lif.html?id=Sdt-cDkV8pQC">Erving Goffman</a>, we think the acoustic environment of retail shopping is a complex “<a href="http://www.jstor.org/stable/2095141?seq=1#page_scan_tab_contents">interaction order</a>”, which is more fragile than we realise. </p>
<p>We contend that music and sound can impinge upon what Goffman termed the “<a href="https://books.google.com.au/books?id=ApSW54vTsYwC&pg=PA28&source=gbs_selected_pages&cad=3#v=onepage&q&f=false">territories of the self</a>”. This refers to the physical and mental space that the individual expects others will provide to them. Thus, music that is perceived as “noisy”, “loud” or “annoying” – as reported by the interview subjects – threatens the boundaries that the individual seeks to protect, and expects others will observe.</p>
<p>Unlike vision or touch, sound is much more difficult to control or protect oneself one from; sound spills across thresholds and enters into situations where it is unwelcome. </p>
<p>Equally, when interview subjects reported annoyance at retail environments starting to resemble nightclubs or pubs, they were highlighting concerns about what Goffman called “<a href="http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/9780470674871.wbespm092/abstract">frame disputes</a>”. Music can counteract “situationally appropriate” framing, if the shopper comes to feel that the acoustic environment is not providing the right scripts, cues or definition of the situation.</p>
<h2>Can and should retailers stop the music?</h2>
<p>So how might retailers respond to the kind of “territorial offences” that some of our interview subjects identified? </p>
<p>Some have reacted to the frictions generated by sound, and other types of sensory overload, by introducing “quiet hour shopping”. As one Adelaide <a href="http://www.glamadelaide.com.au/main/silence-frewville-foodland-to-host-quiet-hour-shopping-this-tuesday/">lifestyle website</a> reported, at Frewville Foodland:</p>
<blockquote>
<p>The lights will be dimmed, music and pager messages switched off, volume of the ‘beeps’ on the check-outs lowered, there will be no coffee grinding and strong smells will be reduced where possible. </p>
</blockquote>
<p>We applaud attempts to creatively redesign the shopping experience and to provide consumers with sensorially enriched retail environments. However, we would caution against simplistic understandings of the impacts of sound on the retail experience; nor do we condone seeing music and sound as something that should be avoided. </p>
<p>It is true that humans possess a limited capacity to process auditory information. At worst, this leaves scope for exploitation in the form of <a href="https://www.thenation.com/article/disco-inferno/">sonic torture</a> and <a href="https://theconversation.com/friday-essay-the-sound-of-fear-65230">sonic weaponry</a>. But it is also true, as our respondents reported, that music and sound can enrich experiences by enhancing the mood, tempo and liveliness associated with certain activities. </p>
<p>The last thing we want is for all retail spaces to sound the same. As experimental composer and Zen Buddhism practitioner <a href="https://books.google.com.au/books?id=1ECundMF9xAC&printsec=frontcover&dq=Silence+JOhn+cage&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwj-4pXpyrbSAhWMXbwKHbYtC0sQ6AEIJTAC#v=onepage&q=make%20a%20silence&f=false">John Cage noted</a>:</p>
<blockquote>
<p>There is no such thing as an empty space or an empty time. There is always something to see, something to hear. In fact, try as we may to make a silence, we cannot.</p>
</blockquote>
<p>We tend to be annoyed because, when we bump into them in the supermarket aisle, sounds don’t say “excuse me”. However, if Cage is right and there is no such thing as a silent retail space, we might as well as learn to share supermarket aisles with sounds beyond our control and sounds not on our playlists.</p>
<hr>
<p><em>You can read other pieces in the series as they are published <a href="https://theconversation.com/au/topics/contested-spaces-36316">here</a>.</em></p><img src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/72644/count.gif" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" />
<p class="fine-print"><em><span>The authors do not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and have disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.</span></em></p>Unlike vision or touch, sound is much more difficult to control or avoid; music in particular spills across thresholds and intrudes into situations where it is unwelcome.Michael James Walsh, Assistant Professor of Social Science, University of CanberraEduardo de la Fuente, Senior Lecturer in Creativity and Innovation, James Cook UniversityLicensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.tag:theconversation.com,2011:article/726602017-03-06T03:10:06Z2017-03-06T03:10:06ZContested spaces: who belongs on the street where you live?<figure><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/158849/original/image-20170301-29933-e33puo.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=496&fit=clip" /><figcaption><span class="caption">It turns out cul-de-sacs may be better than we realised for creating a safe and inclusive community within a community.</span> <span class="attribution"><a class="source" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Cul-De-Sac_Northwest_Pakuranga.jpg">Wikipedia</a></span></figcaption></figure><p><em>This is the second article in our <a href="https://theconversation.com/au/topics/contested-spaces-36316">Contested Spaces</a> series. These pieces look at the conflicting uses, expectations and norms that people bring to public spaces, the clashes that result and how we can resolve these.</em></p>
<hr>
<p>Our neighbourhoods need to be safe and inclusive places – safe for even the most vulnerable in our community. This includes the <a href="http://www.abs.gov.au/ausstats/abs@.nsf/Lookup/4433.0.55.003main+features102012">668,100 Australians</a> living with intellectual disability. </p>
<p>With the right support, these adults, who account for 2.9% of the population (up from 2.6% in 2009), can have independent and meaningful lives in a regular house or apartment. The main issue is not the type of accommodation, but its location. The neighbourhood, its design, and the community of people who live there are all significant factors for supporting safety and inclusion. </p>
<p>Yet neighbourhoods are complex and contested spaces. Communities and individuals assemble sets of <a href="http://search.proquest.com/docview/1460136424?pq-origsite=gscholar">exclusionary values</a> and expectations of the kinds of people and behaviours within them. Our perceptions of desirable streets are now so intertwined with property values and social status that we have very little tolerance of change. </p>
<p>This <a href="https://pdfs.semanticscholar.org/7f5a/56e4a5bc19adbdd116ba78a704c3f4a43df8.pdf">collective socialisation</a> and the strength or relative weakness of a neighbourhood’s social networks all influence the environment and outcomes for existing and new residents. </p>
<p>Expectations of the physical and social desirability of a street include perceived qualities such as privacy, parking, like-mindedness, spacious, healthy, clean and so on. These expectations can have a significant impact on who is welcome. </p>
<p>Without a tolerance of difference and a diversity of demographics, ages, cultures and housing type, neighbourhoods will always struggle to be welcoming and safe.</p>
<p>A neighbourhood that is stigmatised as poor or rough is as likely as one deemed well-off to subject susceptible people to ongoing disadvantage. <a href="http://www.emeraldinsight.com/doi/pdfplus/10.1108/14608790200500031">Research</a> shows that people with disabilities are at greater risk of bullying when living in economically disadvantaged or socially similar communities. </p>
<p>We need new understandings of what makes a neighbourhood a safe and inclusive place. We cannot ignore this issue. As medical and social care advances, adults with intellectual disability are <a href="http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/02673030903086790">outliving their parents</a>. </p>
<p>This is wonderful news. But it is creates a concern for their families and support services. Where will these adults live independent and productive lives beyond the care of their parents?</p>
<h2>What is the ideal neighbourhood?</h2>
<p>Our research seeks to explore and describe the complexity of establishing the ideal neighbourhood <a href="https://hf-sts.com/">“system”</a> that will provide safe, inclusive and accessible places for adults with intellectual disability. We focused on adults aged between 18 and 40 who have <a href="https://www.qld.gov.au/disability/community/intellectual-disability/">mild and moderate intellectual disability</a> as the primary disability. That’s upwards of 172,500 Australians. </p>
<p>We asked intellectually impaired adults, their parents and carers, as well as urban development and disability sector decision-makers, about the “ideal” neighbourhood. </p>
<p>Our outcomes consider the planning, design and engineering requirements of neighbourhoods. We also look at how to draw on the <a href="http://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/978-1-349-62397-6_12">social capital</a> of a community to make a local neighbourhood safer and more inclusive. </p>
<p>Our approach includes ideas of a <a href="http://www.cornellpress.cornell.edu/book/?GCOI=80140100737740">“Just City”</a>. This is about delivering places that are socially inclusive. By this we mean difference is not just tolerated, but treated with recognition and respect. </p>
<h2>What has our research found?</h2>
<p>Preliminary results indicate that three crucial high-level functions need to be established when designing or refurbishing a neighbourhood: </p>
<ul>
<li><p>actual and perceived safety within the street and neighbourhood</p></li>
<li><p>access to services and amenities via walking, cycling or public transport </p></li>
<li><p>inclusion in community life and local neighbourhood activity. </p></li>
</ul>
<figure class="align-right zoomable">
<a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/158852/original/image-20170301-19806-l72fu6.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=1000&fit=clip"><img alt="" src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/158852/original/image-20170301-19806-l72fu6.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=237&fit=clip" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/158852/original/image-20170301-19806-l72fu6.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=672&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/158852/original/image-20170301-19806-l72fu6.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=672&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/158852/original/image-20170301-19806-l72fu6.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=672&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/158852/original/image-20170301-19806-l72fu6.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=845&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/158852/original/image-20170301-19806-l72fu6.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=845&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/158852/original/image-20170301-19806-l72fu6.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=845&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px"></a>
<figcaption>
<span class="caption">An ‘exclusive neighbourhood’ has become a selling point, but may actually be less
safe and supportive because of its lack of diversity.</span>
<span class="attribution"><a class="source" href="https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Montalke-cut-3919.jpg">Vmenkov/Wikimedia</a>, <a class="license" href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/">CC BY-SA</a></span>
</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>A safe neighbourhood has a mix of residents who “keep an eye” on each other. Diversity in a neighbourhood can help minimise the <a href="http://www98.griffith.edu.au/dspace/bitstream/handle/10072/47425/80101_1.pdf?sequence=1">vulnerability</a> of adults with intellectual disability to abuse, or to their corruption and exploitation to behave illegally.</p>
<p>Neighbourhood diversity includes the types, scale and intensity of buildings, ensuring a variety of residential accommodation and commercial uses. This mix is important: it enables a range of activity and people across the neighbourhood day and night. </p>
<p>The challenge of accessibility is recognised from two aspects. The first involves access to health, employment and community services – or accessible transport to those services. The second issue is how close the independent living is to family and friends. </p>
<p>Inclusive locations have opportunities for recreation and social activities that all residents value. In some existing neighbourhoods, community education and introduction to diversity may be needed to enhance inclusiveness. </p>
<p><a href="http://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/0013916585175001">Cul-de-sacs</a>, long considered by planners as inhibitors of (auto) connectivity, are emerging as preferred solutions for many families. A cul-de-sac offers residents a community within a community. Calmed traffic and greater opportunities for knowing your neighbours happen in cul-de-sacs.</p>
<h2>So how do we assess ‘ideal’ neighbourhoods?</h2>
<p>We are identifying the key features of neighbourhoods that offer community life, work and recreational opportunities for residents and visitors. We are taking a human factors and ergonomics <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sociotechnical_system%E2%80%8Bhttp://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/1463922X.2016.1143988">sociotechnical systems perspective</a>. </p>
<p>We look at the roles that, for instance, streets, trees, recreational opportunities, employment, transport, diversity and tolerance play as part of an entire neighbourhood “system”.</p>
<p>This allows us to develop a framework that shows the relationships between the features of a neighbourhood and safe, accessible and inclusive outcomes for residents. The framework helps planning and social housing decision-makers to identify and explore potential locations for independent living. </p>
<p>Importantly, we recognise that the values used in this approach to designing community neighbourhoods match the values we seek for equitable, ecological and economically viable built environments.</p>
<p>With this human factors approach we consider: </p>
<ul>
<li><p>people as assets in the system</p></li>
<li><p>technology as a tool to assist people</p></li>
<li><p>promotion of quality of life</p></li>
<li><p>respect for individual differences</p></li>
<li><p>responsibility of all stakeholders.</p></li>
</ul>
<p>These considerations underpin what makes neighbourhoods safe, accessible and inclusive. And understanding the requirements of a neighbourhood that is good for adults with intellectual disability helps create places that are good for everyone.</p>
<hr>
<p><em>You can read other pieces in the series as they are published <a href="https://theconversation.com/au/topics/contested-spaces-36316">here</a>.</em></p><img src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/72660/count.gif" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" />
<p class="fine-print"><em><span>Cate MacMillan is affiliated with The Compass Institute Palmwoods as an honorary general Board Member.</span></em></p><p class="fine-print"><em><span>Nicholas Stevens is affiliated with the Planning Institute of Australia. </span></em></p>Understanding what makes a neighbourhood street a good place to live for adults with intellectual disability can help create places that are good for everyone.Cate MacMillan, PhD Candidate, University of the Sunshine CoastNicholas Stevens, Senior Lecturer and Researcher, Land Use Planning & Urban Design, University of the Sunshine CoastLicensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.tag:theconversation.com,2011:article/722652017-03-05T19:13:42Z2017-03-05T19:13:42ZContested spaces: we shall fight on the beaches…<figure><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/159044/original/image-20170301-5504-9l8m8i.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=496&fit=clip" /><figcaption><span class="caption">People go to the beach in large numbers and for many different reasons, and sometimes that's a recipe for conflict.</span> <span class="attribution"><a class="source" href="https://www.shutterstock.com/image-photo/crowded-beach-371178272?src=rU6F0l-T4o4s1musKx1Kcg-1-0">tazzymoto from www.shutterstock.com</a></span></figcaption></figure><p><em>This is the first article in our <a href="https://theconversation.com/au/topics/contested-spaces-36316">Contested Spaces</a> series. These pieces look at the conflicting uses, expectations and norms that people bring to public spaces, the clashes that result and how we can resolve these.</em></p>
<hr>
<p>Picture this. It’s a beautiful sunny day. You arrive on the beach, find yourself a nice quiet area away from the crowds and set yourself up for a day of relaxation and fun in the sun. </p>
<p>But then a large group arrives and sets themselves up right next to you. They’re drinking heavily, swearing loudly and leaving their rubbish in the sand. And things are about to get worse. </p>
<p>In the distance you can hear the unmistakable buzz of a jet ski heading for your once-quiet part of the beach. The day is lost. You pack up and head home.</p>
<p>Australians are a beach-going people and research suggests that the scenario outlined above is likely to seriously annoy at least half of us. A <a href="http://www.marine.nsw.gov.au/key-initiatives/marine-estate-community-survey#Final%20reports">2014 survey</a> of New South Wales residents found that 58% of respondents considered anti-social behaviour a key threat to the social benefits of the coast. The survey was conducted for the state’s Marine Estate Management Authority (<a href="http://www.marine.nsw.gov.au/">MEMA</a>).</p>
<p>Anti-social behaviour topped the list of community concerns in the survey. This was closely followed by littering, overcrowding and the unsafe behaviour of some recreational boaters and jet skiers.</p>
<p>The strength of this response was somewhat surprising; we tend to think of the coast as a place of fun and relaxation, rather than a hot bed of conflict and simmering tensions. But Australians have always had strong ideas about the right way to behave at the beach.</p>
<h2>A tradition of free public access</h2>
<p>First and foremost we have defended the right of free access the beach. Australians have a long and ongoing <a href="https://carolinefordhistory.com/sydney-beaches-a-history/">history of resistance</a> to any development that might impede public access. </p>
<p>The legacy of this is a relatively “natural” coastal environment, even in our metropolitan areas. This reflects our preference for development set back from the beach and in public ownership.</p>
<p>But while we are keen to keep our beaches open for all, we have a slightly less egalitarian attitude towards how people should use the beach. </p>
<p>Public bathing on the beach only became commonplace and <a href="http://www.environment.gov.au/heritage/places/national/bondi">acceptable in the late 19th century</a>. Board riding on public beaches was frowned upon in the 1960s – so much so that local councils in Sydney <a href="http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/10314619408595963">attempted to regulate surfing</a> through a registration system.</p>
<p>Today, activities such as surfing, swimming and snorkelling are generally agreed to be appropriate. In fact, these are seen as essential components of Australian beach culture.</p>
<h2>The unwritten rules of conduct</h2>
<p>Many beach activities are generally accepted and uncontentious as long as they are conducted within complex, unwritten models of appropriate behaviour. An example is the rules about “<a href="http://www.surfline.com/surfology/bill-of-lefts-and-rights/index.cfm?id=51320">dropping in</a>” among surfers.</p>
<p>These unwritten rules are constantly evolving. The rules may be <a href="http://www.environment.nsw.gov.au/nswcultureheritage/PlaceMakingGeorgesRiver.htm">confounding to people not exposed to them from an early age</a>, including different cultural and ethnic groups. Conflict on the coast is often infused with underlying racial tensions, as the 2005 <a href="https://theconversation.com/ten-years-on-from-the-cronulla-riots-how-much-has-really-changed-50585">Cronulla riots</a> demonstrated most dramatically. </p>
<p>Today these tensions live on and are particularly acute in relation to fishing. Conflicting cultural ideas about the size, species and number of fish and invertebrates considered appropriate to take is a regular <a href="https://epress.lib.uts.edu.au/journals/index.php/TfC/article/download/1558/1692">source of dispute</a> even for common species not covered by catch limits.</p>
<h2>When ideas about beaches are in conflict</h2>
<p>While racial tensions undoubtedly play a role, these are unlikely to explain all the tensions and annoyances that can emerge during a day at the beach. The MEMA survey indicated that we value the coast for its beauty and as a place for socialisation and enjoyment. This is largely based on the opportunities it provides for a healthy and active lifestyle. </p>
<figure class="align-left zoomable">
<a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/159046/original/image-20170301-5529-1q08e53.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=1000&fit=clip"><img alt="" src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/159046/original/image-20170301-5529-1q08e53.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=237&fit=clip" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/159046/original/image-20170301-5529-1q08e53.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=734&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/159046/original/image-20170301-5529-1q08e53.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=734&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/159046/original/image-20170301-5529-1q08e53.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=734&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/159046/original/image-20170301-5529-1q08e53.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=923&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/159046/original/image-20170301-5529-1q08e53.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=923&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/159046/original/image-20170301-5529-1q08e53.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=923&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px"></a>
<figcaption>
<span class="caption">One person’s idea of fun at the beach can be another’s hell.</span>
<span class="attribution"><a class="source" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/fleur-design/3612355391">The Pug Father/flickr</a>, <a class="license" href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/">CC BY</a></span>
</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>Dominant social norms therefore place the beach as a place of passive recreation focused on relaxation, appreciation of nature and wilderness-based adventure sports (such as surfing or fishing). Resentments appear to build when uses of the beach, and different users’ underlying value systems, come into conflict. In the scenario outlined at the start of this article, individuals or groups are potentially pursuing hedonistic or utilitarian values at the expense of nature-based or passive-use values. </p>
<p>Similar resentments have emerged in reverse. Individuals or groups who value the coast primarily as a place of social interaction, fun and active use often resist attempts to limit this use. An example is some <a href="https://theconversation.com/go-fish-why-fishers-dont-care-for-marine-parks-14558">anglers’ opposition to protected areas</a> or restricted-use zones.</p>
<p>A key to managing conflict therefore lies in improving our understanding of beach users’ value systems. This will help planners, policymakers and communities identify strategies that cater for the diverse interests and needs of different users. </p>
<p>In some national parks and council areas, for example, planning approaches have been developed to cater for a diverse range of recreational opportunities. Permitted activities and associated infrastructure are determined throughout the management area based on ensuring there are <a href="http://www.projectnatureed.com.au/web%20library/micro-ROS.pdf">opportunities along a spectrum of use</a> from active through to wilderness-based experiences. In NSW, government agencies are using the MEMA survey results to <a href="http://www.marine.nsw.gov.au/key-initiatives/threat-and-risk-assessment">identify and manage key threats</a> to the values of the coast.</p>
<p>In many ways, though, the conflict we see on our beaches may be a small price to pay for the free and open access to our beaches, which Australians have fought to preserve on many occasions. </p>
<p>Resolving these conflicts may partly involve planning, partly education and partly regulation. Those rules we consider non-negotiable need to be enforced – for example, the rules that keep us and other beach users safe. To a large degree, however, it also involves building tolerance, patience and empathy within our community so we can all enjoy our day out at the beach.</p>
<hr>
<p><em>You can read other pieces in the series as they are published <a href="https://theconversation.com/au/topics/contested-spaces-36316">here</a>.</em></p><img src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/72265/count.gif" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" />
<p class="fine-print"><em><span>Michelle Voyer has been involved in a number of projects that have received funding from the Commonwealth Fisheries Research and Development Corporation, the NSW Recreational Fishing Trust and the NSW Department of Primary Industries. </span></em></p><p class="fine-print"><em><span>Natalie Gollan works for the NSW Department of Primary Industries. </span></em></p>In many ways, the conflict we see on our beaches may be a small price to pay for the free and open access to our beaches, which Australians have long fought to preserve.Michelle Voyer, Postdoctoral Research Fellow, University of WollongongNatalie Gollan, PhD candidate, University of Technology SydneyLicensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.