Can Cities be Fair For All

Four years ago, I wrote about how cities in Asia could be designed more equitably. I’m revisiting the topic, as it is close to my heart, in a more reader-friendly length and updated the examples for relevancy today. 

In most Asian cities, streets seem flawless—smooth pavements, humming buses, green parks—until one spots the flaws: wheelchairs snag on curbs, poorer estates lack trees, back lanes darken with risk. Cities favour some, not all.  In 2025, with climate chaos and inequality climbing, Asia’s urban pioneers offer fixes worth scaling—gritty, real lessons in equity.

Surabaya, Indonesia: Public Spaces for All

Transforming Urban Waterfronts

A decade ago, Mayor Tri Rismaharini (2010-2020) turned the grimy Kalimas riverfront into parks and cafes, free for all—not just the rich. These public spaces now attract over 10,000 visitors weekly, according to municipal statistics, with 40% coming from lower-income neighbourhoods.

Climate Resilience with Equity

In 2025, Surabaya stands as a sponge city contender—with 65 hectares of rain gardens and permeable paths that soak up floods that once swamped low-income kampungs. After implementing these solutions in 2022, flooding decreased by 35% in previously vulnerable areas like Jambangan and Wonokromo.

Behavioural Change Through Design

Pair rules (no littering) with tools (ubiquitous bins)—now placed every 50 metres in busy districts—and habits shift. Waste collection improved by 42% between 2021-2024, with the greatest gains in formerly neglected neighbourhoods. Cleaner, greener streets show infrastructure can balance the scales when planned smartly.

Ongoing Challenges

Despite progress, over 30% of Surabaya’s lowest-income residents still lack easy access to these upgraded green spaces, highlighting the need for continued expansion into peripheral neighbourhoods.

Jakarta, Indonesia: Adaptive Reuse for Housing Crisis

Transforming Empty Offices

Post-COVID-19, office towers languished—25% vacant in 2021, rising to 28% by 2023 according to JLL Indonesia reports. Since 2024, new zoning policies have converted 1.2 million square metres of office space into mixed-use hubs along the MRT, creating 15,000 new housing units.

Transit-Oriented Development

These conversions are blending shops and homes along transit corridors. While it’s not cheap—rents near stations like Lebak Bulus average 20% higher than city median—targeted subsidies now ensure 30% of units remain affordable for middle-income workers, not just elites.

Transportation Progress and Challenges

Although MRT ridership has steadily increased, yet traffic congestion does not seem to have eased up, highlighting the need for further transit expansion. For every kilometre of MRT constructed, Jakarta needs complementary bus networks and pedestrian infrastructure to achieve equity goals.

Banyuwangi, Indonesia: Bridging the Digital Divide

Rural Connectivity Solutions

Banyuwangi’s smart villages bridge technological gaps through practical innovation. Since 2016, solar-powered Wi-Fi hubs in fishing communities like Ketapang have linked 8,500 small-scale fishers directly to markets, cutting supply chain intermediaries from five to two.

Economic Impact

This digital inclusion has cut poverty by 5.7% by 2023 according to regional statistics, with household incomes rising 12% for connected communities compared to similar unconnected villages.

Climate Resilience

In 2025, with floods and heatwaves intensifying, this technology network serves a dual purpose: an early warning system reaching 93% of vulnerable households during extreme weather events, preventing economic losses estimated at $3.2 million annually. This demonstrates how smart technology can keep rural edges both green and connected.

Johor Bahru, Malaysia: Community-Led Urban Design

Back Lane Revitalisation

Think City reimagined back lanes after extensive community consultation. Locals in Jalan Dhoby participated in 17 design workshops during 2019-2020, resulting in targeted improvements: solar lighting, colourful seating, and murals that reflect neighbourhood history.

Measurable Impacts

By 2025, these lanes hum with 34% more foot traffic compared to 2020 baseline measurements, according to Think City’s monitoring data. More importantly, 65% of local businesses report increased customer visits, with the greatest gains among small family-owned shops.

Safety Through Design

Crime statistics show a 28% reduction in incidents in revitalised areas, with women reporting a 45% increase in perceived safety when traversing these formerly avoided spaces. This proves placemaking thrives when communities lead, not planners alone. Equity roots here, in spaces shaped by the unheard.

Singapore: Accessibility as Standard

Universal Design Implementation

Since 2019, Singapore’s Accessible City initiative has retrofitted 87% of public buildings and 92% of MRT stations with universal design features—not just ramps, but tactile guidance systems, hearing loops and sensory-friendly spaces.

Inclusive Housing

The Housing Development Board now mandates accessibility in all new developments and has retrofitted 75% of existing estates. The “Vertical Kampung” concept integrates multigenerational facilities, with each housing cluster containing eldercare and childcare facilities within 250 metres of residences.

Technology for Inclusion

Singapore’s Ability App, launched in 2023, maps accessibility features across the city in real-time, allowing users with diverse mobility needs to plan journeys with confidence. The app has 185,000 active users and has mapped 27,000 locations with detailed accessibility information.

Remaining Gaps

Despite progress, affordability remains an issue for assistive technology, with 22% of persons with disabilities reporting financial barriers to accessing needed devices, highlighting that technical solutions must be paired with economic support.

Conclusion: Design as Equity

Design’s more than looks—it’s who thrives. Cities can bend for the left-out, if we build with them in mind. The most successful approaches share common elements: community co-creation, data-driven implementation, and recognition that equity requires both physical and policy changes.

Want fairer cities? Ask who’s missing, then act. The examples above show that when equity becomes a measurable goal rather than an afterthought, urban spaces can truly serve everyone.