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Yes. Lack of light is perfectly safe for humans although we tend to get a little depressed with pro longed periods of darkness.

by serpix 7y ago

alexis_fr 7y ago
He may have meant, criminality wise. Public lightening is, and has been, a major factor against criminality. Public sodium-based lightening is too week anyway for depression. One way to ensure security for pedestrians with lowest consumption, is the “light carpet”. Only the feet are enlighted, with low spotlights. Consumes little, lets you see where you walk, but in case of theft, doesn’t allow you to see the criminal’s face. I don’t know whether this is what they chose for Place de la Nation.
- clmul 7y ago
  > Public lightening is, and has been, a major factor against criminality That's highly debatable (sure, it may feel safer): https://www.darksky.org/light-pollution/lighting-crime-and-safety/ https://www.darksky.org/light-pollution/lighting-crime-and-s... In any case, I don't there is much point in keeping the lights on throughout the entire night, but it might be beneficial to (especially during winter months at higher latitudes) light busy areas in cities for part of the evening.
  - newnewpdro 7y ago
    There was an article I stumbled across a while back written by someone who was fed up with the amount of crime that occurred just outside his window in an urban neighborhood. His window just happened to be at the darkest part on the street where shady business could be done in the shadows. Drug deals, prostitution, etc. He'd overhear all of it because of the lack of light on the street by his window. I don't remember exactly what the solution was but it involved getting the area lighted somehow. Surely it didn't prevent the crimes from happening, just relocating it elsewhere. But that's the point. As long as the paths people stick to at night are well-lit, they can avoid the dark shadows where crime is more likely occurring. If you leave entire blocks darkened, you make those blocks less safe. Stumbling upon a crime in-progress is a good way to get killed just for being a witness.
    - clmul 7y ago
      Would be interesting to read that article. Crime is a problem indeed, but I still feel like adding more lighting in hopes of solving this is not really the solution, and like you say, just moving the problem around. I think lighting very busy areas (think railway stations, main streets in cities) is a good idea in general, but how many areas are really busy at night? And most people aren't outside in the middle of the night or early morning, so most lights could probably be shutdown after the evening is over?
      - newnewpdro 7y ago
        Wish I could find it, I tried briefly but failed miserably. Was kind of hoping someone would recognize it from my comment and be able to provide a link as I wouldn't mind re-reading it myself.

Yes. Lack of light is perfectly safe for humans although we tend to get a little depressed with pro longed periods of darkness.

by serpix 7y ago

Yes. Lack of light is perfectly safe for humans although we tend to get a little depressed with pro longed periods of darkness.

alexis_fr 7y ago

He may have meant, criminality wise. Public lightening is, and has been, a major factor against criminality. Public sodium-based lightening is too week anyway for depression. One way to ensure security for pedestrians with lowest consumption, is the “light carpet”. Only the feet are enlighted, with low spotlights. Consumes little, lets you see where you walk, but in case of theft, doesn’t allow you to see the criminal’s face. I don’t know whether this is what they chose for Place de la Nation.

clmul 7y ago
> Public lightening is, and has been, a major factor against criminality That's highly debatable (sure, it may feel safer): https://www.darksky.org/light-pollution/lighting-crime-and-safety/ https://www.darksky.org/light-pollution/lighting-crime-and-s... In any case, I don't there is much point in keeping the lights on throughout the entire night, but it might be beneficial to (especially during winter months at higher latitudes) light busy areas in cities for part of the evening.
- newnewpdro 7y ago
  There was an article I stumbled across a while back written by someone who was fed up with the amount of crime that occurred just outside his window in an urban neighborhood. His window just happened to be at the darkest part on the street where shady business could be done in the shadows. Drug deals, prostitution, etc. He'd overhear all of it because of the lack of light on the street by his window. I don't remember exactly what the solution was but it involved getting the area lighted somehow. Surely it didn't prevent the crimes from happening, just relocating it elsewhere. But that's the point. As long as the paths people stick to at night are well-lit, they can avoid the dark shadows where crime is more likely occurring. If you leave entire blocks darkened, you make those blocks less safe. Stumbling upon a crime in-progress is a good way to get killed just for being a witness.
  - clmul 7y ago
    Would be interesting to read that article. Crime is a problem indeed, but I still feel like adding more lighting in hopes of solving this is not really the solution, and like you say, just moving the problem around. I think lighting very busy areas (think railway stations, main streets in cities) is a good idea in general, but how many areas are really busy at night? And most people aren't outside in the middle of the night or early morning, so most lights could probably be shutdown after the evening is over?
    - newnewpdro 7y ago
      Wish I could find it, I tried briefly but failed miserably. Was kind of hoping someone would recognize it from my comment and be able to provide a link as I wouldn't mind re-reading it myself.