Discussion

Walking outside the central city

In the outcomes listed under Walking City there is no recognition that positive walking outcomes can occur in non-CBD areas of the city. As currently outlined all outcomes are concerned solely with the CBD.

In contrast, the discussion text recognises the presence of pedestrians throughout the entire city, for example

1. Para 4 "local shops, parks, schools and services"

2. Under Needs, bullet point 1 "the entire municipality"

The outcomes completely ignore the fact that people (including many City of Melbourne residents) walk

1. to work (which may or may not be in the CBD)

2. to and within non-CBD retail areas

3. to school (none of which are in the CBD)

4. to other educational institutions

5. to social engagements

In recognition of this I suggest that outcomes be broadened to include those which facilitate walking. Pure and simple, just plain walking.

At controlled intersections pedestrians are definitely second class citizens. We always have to press buttons just to have the right to cross the street.

So an outcome which would help walkers in general would be to reprogramme traffic lights at intersections within retail areas so that in periods of high pedestrian traffic, the green walking light would illuminate automatically (i.e. you don't have to push the button).

A prime intersection for this sort of treatment would be Victoria and Peel Streets during Friday and Saturday trading at the adjacent Victoria Market. The intersection of Faraday and Lygon Streets is another candidate. During peak retail hours there would not be a single light cycle in which walkers do not want to cross these roads.

Areas with large numbers of commuters would also benefit from a similar treatment, e.g intersections along Swanston Street (north of Victoria) during peak commuting time to Melbourne University.

HelenLewTon - 10 Jun 2008 21:04

Hi Helen, glad you've found your way to the FM wiki.

I agree with the point syouve made. Tomorrow we are doing a little restructure of the document to get a sharper focus on the sub goals for Walking City so we will take up your suggestions in that re-working. We will also be creating a new section for gathering all the ideas for actions to achieve the goals can be gathered as a resource pool of ideas. Any comments on the bicycle side of things in Priority for bicycles & other small low speed private vehicles

-- DavidMayes - 10 Jun 2008 22:36

Pedestrians in the wider city

Although the text of this sections recognises the existence of pedestrian activity outside the CBD, this is not reflected in the outcomes which are all CBD centric.

In general, the lights at controlled intersections are designed to facilitate the passage of cars. Pedestrians are treated as second-class citizens and must press a button before being granted the right to cross.

Within the wider city there are precincts which have high and/ or constant volumes of traffic. This may be day-long (as at the intersection of Lygon and Faraday Streets, Carlton) or only on certain days of the week (intersections adjoining the Queen Victoria Market), or only at peak commuting hours (Swanston Street, leading to Melbourne University, or Royal Parade, leading south to Melbourne University and the major hospitals). Other intersections which have constant pedestrian traffic include Grattan Street and Flemington Road, outside the hospitals.

Reprogramming traffic light sequences at selected times of the day/week would make walking safer and probably reduce some of the risk-taking activity which currently occurs.

-- HelenLewTon - 14 Jun 2008 15

Do you have any suggested actions to achieve this goal?

Please add them here.

IDEAS

Swanston Street is a pedestrian priority street from Princes Bridge to the RMIT Hub and new CUB plaza. Car parks around churches in the central city have been converted to pedestrian oriented spaces, using the car parking levy to buy replacement spaces for churches in nearby parking garages.