Familiar Strangers in the City:

An Overlooked Dimension of Urban and Transport Planning

Abstract

The "familiar stranger" concept, first articulated by Stanley Milgram in 1972, refers to individuals encountered repeatedly in daily routines without direct interaction. This phenomenon is evident in urban transport systems and public spaces, where repeated but anonymous encounters contribute to subtle forms of social cohesion, trust, and predictability. Despite its significance in shaping everyday urban life, the notion of familiar strangers has received limited attention in urban and transport planning discourse. This study examines the theoretical foundations of familiar strangers and their implications for transport and urban design on a global scale, drawing on insights from sociology, mobility studies, and urban planning literature. Reviewing existing literature, the study explores how familiar strangers contribute to social comfort, resilience, and urban belonging, particularly within public transit and walkable urban environments. In the final discussion, Dhaka is used as a case reflection to illustrate the heightened relevance of familiar strangers in the Global South's high-density, transit dependent, and socially vibrant contexts. By re-centering familiar strangers in planning analysis, the study argues for recognizing these subtle but influential social dynamics in public transport design, transit-oriented development (TOD), and urban public spaces.