Abstract

Focusing on the pedestrian space and the meaning of the pedestrian self in Tehran, the chapter shows how the pedestrian space becomes central in the relationship between people and the government in so far as the government is the responsible power for the safety and welfare of the citizens. It raises issues of citizenship, by analysing the way in which the government deals with the needs of different groups of people. The chapter illustrates this point through the dichotomy between the old Persian words piyâdeh as opposed to savàreh, which seems to reflect the social dichotomy of the worth of human beings. The different use of public space brings about the creation of different groups of citizens with different rights and privileges. This is reflected in the different perceptions that different groups of people have of the modern urban landscape and their use of public space.