Introduction
Crime, perceived insecurity and the walking behaviours of older people
Previously localised in Global North countries, population ageing is rapidly involving also the Global South. For older people, the possibility of getting out of the house and walking in one's neighbourhood to access basic opportunities is crucial for maintaining autonomy and quality of life, as well as for ageing healthily. However, in Latin American cities, the incidence of crime and the perceived insecurity may be a threat to walking. Despite "fear gaps" between crime perception and occurrence, subjective and objective dimensions related to crime can negatively influence the willingness to leave the house and to walk. However, this issue has received less attention than safety (related, for example, to accidents). The project examines to what extent the occurrence of crime and perceived insecurity influence the possibility and the decision of older people to walk, comparing the cities of Santiago, Chile and Guadalajara, Mexico. Focusing on two cities comparable in population and size but with different crime rates, we propose a quantitative spatial analysis of the relationship between the concentration of older people, walking access to local opportunities, and crime incidence. Then, in each city, we select two neighbourhoods with a similar presence of older inhabitants and offered services, but different crime incidence. Through interviews and mapping, we examine older people's walking practices, perceptions, and the influence of perceived (in)security. Perceived insecurity may condition older people's walking behaviour, affecting their autonomy and negatively conditioning the physical and psychological wellbeing associated with walking. The project intends to compare walking, crime and insecurity perception in relation to older people in two cities and to define operational guidelines to improve the security of walking for them, providing results that can be significant for the promotion of walking in other Latin American settings.
Meet the Team
Ageing and Walking in the City: Why Security Matters
The world’s population is ageing rapidly. By 2050, more than one in five people will be over 60 years old. This trend is reshaping cities, especially in terms of how older people move around. Ageing often brings changes in health and mobility, making the design of neighbourhoods and public spaces especially important for this population.
One of the key strategies to support quality of life for older adults is ageing in place—remaining in one’s home and community for as long as possible. This approach supports independence and helps maintain social connections. But to make this possible, neighbourhoods must be walkable and offer easy access to essential services like healthcare, shops, and public spaces.
Walking plays a central role. It promotes physical health, helps prevent disease, supports mental wellbeing, and encourages social interaction. It’s a simple, low-cost activity that allows older people to stay active, independent, and engaged with their surroundings. In fact, older adults tend to walk more in areas that are safer and more walkable.
However, mobility in older age is not just about physical ability or distance. Security is also crucial. Crime—both its actual occurrence and how it is perceived—can strongly affect older people’s willingness to walk in their neighbourhoods. In some areas, fear of crime may stop them from going out altogether, impacting their health, autonomy, and quality of life.
Despite its importance, the role of security in shaping older people’s mobility has received less attention compared to other factors like infrastructure or transport. Yet research shows that areas perceived as safe encourage walking, while perceived insecurity leads to avoidance of public spaces and reduced physical activity.
This project explores how crime and the feeling of insecurity influence walking for older people, focusing on Santiago, Chile and Guadalajara, Mexico—two Latin American cities similar in size, but different in crime rates. By combining spatial analysis with interviews and mapping in selected neighbourhoods, we aim to better understand how older people experience their city, and how their walking behaviours are shaped by security concerns.
The findings will help identify ways to make cities more walkable and secure for older adults, contributing to healthier, more inclusive urban environments throughout Latin America.
Population ageing is rapidly involving also the Global South:
- in Latin America, older people are expected to grow by 146,6% between 2020 and 2050
- In 2050, older people are expected to be 25% of the population in Chile and 21,5% in Mexico
For older people, the possibility of getting out of the house and walking in one's neighbourhood to access basic opportunities is crucial:
- autonomy (being able to access basic opportunities)
- healthy ageing (maintaining sufficient levels of physical activity)
- quality of life (maintaining social ties with family, friends, neighbours)
In Global South countries, older people do not depend much on cars.
What is this study about?
This project investigates how crime and the perception of insecurity affect older people’s ability and willingness to walk in two major Latin American cities: Santiago de Chile and Guadalajara, Mexico. Both have similar populations and a significant share of older adults, but very different crime rates—Guadalajara’s homicide rate is more than twice that of Santiago.
What are we exploring?
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The relationship between the distribution of older adults, access to local services, and crime at the neighbourhood level.
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Which areas combine a high presence of older people with barriers to walking, such as crime or poor infrastructure.
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How older people experience and perceive walking in safer and less safe neighbourhoods.
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Policy and design guidelines to promote safe walking environments for older adults.
Why is walking so important?
Walking helps older adults stay healthy, autonomous, and socially connected. But fear of crime can be a major barrier. Older people—especially women—often feel unsafe, even when actual victimization rates are lower among them.
What challenges do they face?
Personal or shared experiences of crime, as well as signs of neglect (poor lighting, garbage, deteriorated streets), contribute to a sense of insecurity. This can lead older adults to avoid walking alone, change routes, or stay home after dark, reducing their independence and the health benefits of walking.
Why Santiago and Guadalajara?
Guadalajara faces high crime rates, while Santiago shows high levels of fear despite lower crime. These contrasting cases help us better understand how to support safer, more walkable environments for older people—and make cities more inclusive as they age.