The Safe Travel Strategy and Action Plan was scheduled for adoption at the 17 June meeting but is likely to be deferred until August.
This follows a community meeting in May that attracted more than 100 people, who raised questions about the local impacts of the action plan. A petition signed by 546 people was also submitted, calling for the decision to be delayed until more information is provided.
Key concerns raised by those supporting the deferral include the design and exact location of any new bicycle lanes, the streets where 30 km/h speed limits are planned, and details of how many car parks would be removed.
Organisers of the community meeting told TWiSK that ‘residents do not trust Council after having to deal with the failed pop-up bike lanes, plans to remove carparking and construct separated bike lanes in Inkerman Street and to replace two lanes of vehicle traffic with separated bike lanes in Kerferd Road.’
A matter of life or death
While parking, bike lanes and speed limits attract the headlines, the aim of safer travel should not be forgotten. Most council roads (as opposed to state roads) are already limited to 40 km/h and subject to a range of traffic-calming measures. Most studies show that the risk of pedestrian or cyclist death at 30 km/h is significantly lower than at 40 km/h, while the extra travel time is measured in seconds.
Data in the report shows that Port Phillip local roads have a higher rate of serious and fatal accidents than all nearby council areas except Melbourne.
Most of the serious injuries involve vulnerable road users, most often pedestrians and cyclists.
While there is precious little that Council can do about state roads, local streets are part of the community and must serve many purposes, including more than transit and parking. Streets and lanes should also be good places to walk, play and meet neighbours on the way to the shop or park.
