Lights are a double-edged sword. The lights themselves provide no safety or security only a "feeling" of same which brings people out at night. Much akin to the unintended consequences of straight, paved, well-lit highways and seat-belts - speeding increased because of a "feeling" of safety and invulnerability.
When not well engineered they create shadows (hiding places) and spoil night vision. The glare can be bad not just for people walking the streets but also neighboring homes/condos.
More people out at night doesn't necessarily mean there is sufficient crowd to protect from or deter muggers and rapists - up to a critical mass it only means more targets.
Be careful out there.
Thank you for a thoughtful post, C2C. Agreed 100%. I am not against some form of street lighting, but it is not a panacea. As with most things in life, everything isn't always black or white.
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