Northcote Bike Ride for a Safer South Crescent
Join us for a community bike ride at 10am Saturday 23 March 2024 to show why people want to feel safe when riding along South Crescent (and why they don’t feel safe at the moment).
For too long, our safety concerns about South Crescent have been drowned out. It’s time for our voices to be heard as we call for safety improvements for people who ride bikes along South Crescent.
1. Ride for a safer South Crescent
WHEN: 10am, Saturday 23 March 2024
WHERE: Meet us at the BBQ area in All Nations Park next to the playground near Hopetoun Street.
WHAT: We will do a loop from All Nations Park down to South Crescent near Dennis train station, along South Crescent to Westgarth Street, and then over High Street and back to All Nations Park via the Northcote shimmy.
WHY: The latest round of Your Street, Your Say consultation (see below) is asking community members to provide feedback on suggestions to make South Crescent safer for people who ride bikes.
The more of us on this ride, the safer we will ALL feel
Even though dozens of community members have expressed safety concerns in previous rounds of public consultation, some Councillors refuse to listen to us and have pushed our safety so far down the priority list it may not even make it into the budget.
The original proposal of a modal filter has been dialled back and now the only safety improvement on offer is the removal of 3-4 parking spaces to improve sight lines.
Are you coming along to our ride or want to get involved? Please contact us!
If you think this is not good enough to keep people safe while riding bikes, join us on the ride and submit your feedback to Your Street Your Say (see below).
2. Sign the petition
A community member has started a change.org petition: Support safe cycling and walking on South Crescent, Northcote
3. Your Street Your Say community feedback open now
Council is seeking community feedback on recommended priority locations in Alphington, Bundoora, Fairfield, Macleod, Northcote East or Thornbury East. Draft concept plans for changes such as pedestrian crossings, speed humps, bike lanes and reduced speed limits are now available for review on the Your Street, Your Say Group B website. Feedback and submissions close 14 April
Council wishes to know: do you support the proposed projects? Do you have any concerns, or ideas to improve the proposed projects?
Streets Alive Darebin will be providing a submission on this consultation and we encourage you to have your say on the proposed projects.
Visit Your Street Your Say to find out more about the plan and provide your feedback by 14 April 2024.
Background
You will recall from our January newsletter that Council sought to rescind the December resolution to adopt the recommended Your Street Your Say Plan and seek community feedback, and instead voted at a Special Council meeting on 8 January to adopt an alternative list of projects put forward by Councillor Dimitriadis without community consultation.
This pushed safe cycling projects from top priority down to the bottom priority, once again proving that Darebin Councillors are willing to ignore community feedback and their own Council strategies that support sustainable transport.
Cycling on South Crescent
South Crescent in Northcote has become a discussion point again in 2024. During Darebin Council’s Your Street, Your Say Group B consultation period in late 2022, public feedback indicated that people wanted action and infrastructure to make South Crescent safer for people who ride bikes.
A brief overview
South Crescent runs alongside the Hurstbridge railway line from Dennis station to Westgarth station, at the southern end of Northcote. It presents a calmer east–west alternative for people who ride bikes than Westgarth Street, which has a speed limit of 60 km/h and supports bus routes to La Trobe University and Northland.
Pop-up bike lane
A pop-up bike lane was installed on the southern side of South Crescent (ie the west-bound side) in December 2020, and was supposed to be trailled until April 2021. During this time, Council noted a 22% increase in the number of people riding bikes along South Crescent. Council also noted an increase of 69% of ‘young people’, and surveys indicated that people who described themselves as ‘cautious’ bike riders were more likely to use the new bike lane.
However, the pop-up bike lane did not improve safety for people riding bikes eastward, and there were community concerns with car flow. So, Council voted in March 2021 to remove the pop-up bike lane and to conduct public consultation on installing a ‘No Standing’ section between Plant and Simpson streets.
Your Street, Your Say Group B feedback
During the public consultation period from November 2022 to January 2023, numerous people posted comments on Your Street, Your Say Group B interactive map requesting the return of the bike lane and/or removal of parking on the south side of South Crescent to ensure safer passage for people riding bikes. In total there were 8 comments relating to cycling issues added along South Crescent, with a total of 24 ‘upvotes’ by other participants.
Subsequently, council staff analysis proposed that South Crescent be prioritised for safety improvements, and proposed a modal filter to prevent cars travelling the full length of South Crescent while allowing bicycles all the way through. On 18 December 2023, Council voted to endorse the top 20 recommended projects, which included South Crescent.
An amendment was passed for two options for South Crescent to be presented for public consultation: the modal filter in the staff recommendation, and the removal of some on-street parking on the south side near Westgarth station. The Mayor used her casting vote to break the tie; a common practice in this term.
Following this meeting, Cr Dimitriadis called for a Special Council meeting to be held on 8 January 2024 where she put a rescission motion to reverse this decision. Rescission motions are not common at Darebin Council. In a further unusual step, Cr Dimitriadis proposed an amendment for YSYS Group B round 2 consultation in which she reordered the priority projects to solely focus on pedestrian crossings at school and childcare centre locations.
It is unusual for a Councillor to dismiss council staff analysis and set aside community voices to reprioritise road safety projects (except that, in this term we have regularly seen Councillors dismiss expert analysis by staff and vote for alternative proposals).
Cr Dimitriadis’s amendment to South Crescent proposed to consult the community on safety issues, but not to present a modal filter or parking removal as options to improve safety – completely dismissing community feedback from round 1 consultation and the analysis and proposals from council officers.
That particular element of the amendment was lost, while remaining elements were passed. Following a further amendment by Cr McCarthy, Council voted to consult the community on removing parking along the south side of the crescent near Westgarth station (ie the modal filter option was dismissed entirely). This marks Council’s return to its March 2021 position on South Crescent.
The reprioritisation of road safety projects in this way undermines community trust in council consultation processes. It sets a worrying precedent of Councillors overriding the will of the community. We hope that community voices will be heard more clearly during round 2 consultation, and that the community will have the opportunity to ask public questions and make public submissions when it comes time for Councillors to determine which projects will be funded.
What’s next for Your Street, Your Say Group B?
The reprioritised Your Street, Your Say Group B projects will now be presented for round 2 community consultation. Head to the YSYS website to subscribe for updates, so you will be alerted when the consultation opens.
Darebin street safety projects under threat
Update: 8 January 2024: Hi everyone, we were notified that our submission regarding the Your Street, Your Say rescission motion for tonight’s special Council meeting (See below) cannot be accepted due to the governance rules for special meetings.
“14.1. Community Submissions
(1) Members of the public may only address an Ordinary Meeting in accordance with the provisions of the Meeting Rules”
We are very disappointed that a matter relating to public consultation and how community concerns are dealt with is closed to public contributions.
However, you can still contact Councillors to express your support for safety improvements to support people to get around Darebin by bicycle. It’s important to contact these councillors to remind them that cyclist safety should not be ignored.
The following Councillors have voted against safe cycling projects in Darebin this term:
Councillor Lina Messina (whose Ward covers Newcastle St)
Councillor Emily Dimitriadis (who has put the rescission motion and alternative motion)
An update about the alternative motion for Your Street, Your Say Group B
Following our email and social media posts last week, Cr Emily Dimitriadis shared her motion via social media. The motion seeks to elevate priorities 7, 19, 20 and 14 to the top 4 priorities (raised pedestrian crossings near schools), removes South Crescent from the priorities list altogether. While this motion does retain safety features for Newcastle Street, it excludes the intersection at Dundas St, where council officers proposed investigating swapping the roundabout for traffic lights and installing bike lanes through the intersection.
In the meantime, tag us and Darebin Council (or Councillors directly) on social media (insta / xitter) to tell us about your experiences cycling around South Crescent or Newcastle/Dundas Street intersection!
4 January 2024: We have been alerted to a special council meeting to be held this Monday 8 January 2024, at which a rescission motion is proposed to reverse last month’s decision to support safety improvements along South Crescent in Northcote and Newcastle Street in Thornbury/South Preston.
We are calling on you to take action to support the next round of consultation to improve safety on these two local streets
Scroll down to What can we do? to see what action you can take right now or over the weekend!
A short history
Under the Your Street, Your Say program, consultation for Group B was undertaken in early 2023. After collating feedback, Council officers identified South Crescent and Newcastle Street as being areas of the highest concern
Council staff proposed a modal filter for South Crescent that would prevent cars driving the full length of the street, see above for photo of a existing modal filter in Stott Street, Thornbury
A ‘modal filter’ can safely separate cars and bicycles and work well on narrow residential streets, while also retaining on-street parking
An amendment was passed to propose removing some on-street parking along the curved section of South Crescent to allow more space for cars and bikes to travel safely in both directions near Westgarth station – and for both options to be taken to public consultation
A range of safety measures were proposed for Newcastle Street, including:
Wombat crossings at roundabouts
Speed control measures
Traffic lights with bike lanes through the Dundas Street intersection
These options should now proceed to a second round of consultation so that the community can provide feedback on the proposed safety improvements
If you want more details, you can read the reports at item 9.9 from the agenda papers for 18 December meeting, and view the minutes for item 9.9 to see the amended motion that passed by the Mayor’s casting vote
What happens if the motion is rescinded?
Rescinding the motion passed on 18 December creates an opening for an alternative motion to be put to Councillors. Such a motion has not yet been made public, and it’s unlikely the public will know what is in the motion before the meeting – it would be circulated only to Councillors prior to the meeting
Word on the street is that the essence of the alternative motion is to not make any upgrades to South Crescent or Newcastle Street
What can we do?
Write to Councillors to express your support for the next phase of consultation for Your Street, Your Say Group B.
Write to the Councillors who have been voting against safe cycling projects in Darebin this term:Councillor Lina Messina (whose Ward covers Newcastle St)
Councillor Emily Dimitriadis (who has put the rescission motion)
Submit a question (or three!) at public question time for this meeting on 8 January 2024. If you cannot attend the online meeting to ask the question yourself, it will be read out for you. Good questions to ask would be:
Is Council committed to following through on public consultation on community-backed safety improvements for South Crescent and Newcastle Street?
To date, Council has supported the community-backed safety projects proposed under Your Street Your Say for Reservoir West, Preston West and Thornbury West (Group A areas), so why is there a rescission motion on the agenda for tonight’s meeting that would ignore the community feedback for Northcote East, Fairfield West, Thornbury East and Bundoora/Macleod?
Make a submission to Monday’s special meeting to show your support for community consultation to proceed on the proposed Group B projects. You do have to attend the online meeting in order to make a submission, but you don’t have to send Council the submission ahead of time. Information about making submissions is available on the Council website. Key points to make would be:
The next phase of community consultation should proceed
The projects identified respond directly to the community’s safety concerns
Your personal experiences of using South Crescent or Newcastle Street for walking, cycling, getting kids to and from school, etc
Streets Alive Darebin will be making a submission to the Council meeting, to support further consultation so that the community can provide feedback on safety options along South Crescent and Newcastle Streets
Darebin Council reneges on parking policy
The Age: Streets Alive Darebin spokeswoman Ruth Jelley says the rule change will have “unintended consequences”. Credit: Justin McManus
On 28 November 2023, Darebin City Council voted to expand eligibility for parking permits last night in a move that could make Darebin even more car-dependent than it already is. This was against the recommendations of the own Council's officers.
The policy now voted in (to be reviewed in a year) has got rid of a long-standing rule that incentivises developers to provide parking for residents, instead of using the street.
Our submission to Council was against parking permit policy that incentivises car use and creates a scarcity of parking for those that truly need to use cars for transport.
Read more
Darebin Council Agenda: 27 November: Page 111, 9.3 Darebin Parking Permit Policy 2023 For Adoption
Youtube: Darebin City Council | Ordinary Council Meeting - Monday 27 November 2023 6.00pm, Item 9.3 submissions and discussion begins at 2 hours, 53 minutes and 54 seconds
The Age, Time warp on parking permit rules divides inner-north council, Rachael Dexter, 28 November 2023
A contentious two-decade-old street parking rule has been overturned by an inner-north council against its own planning officers’ recommendation amid a wider debate on the future of car use and parking in suburban areas.
Darebin Council, which takes in Northcote, Preston and Reservoir, on Monday night narrowly voted in favour of allowing people in homes built after 2004 to apply for permits to park in on-street bays.
The move was opposed by residents’ group Streets Alive Darebin, whose spokeswoman Ruth Jelley addressed the meeting and later told this masthead the change would have “unintended consequences” such as creating parking scarcity and incentivising motor vehicle ownership over public transport or cycling.
“Lots of people now not eligible for parking permits will be eligible to apply,” she said. “People will find that permit zones will fill up quickly.”
Jelley said the move went against Darebin’s track record tackling climate change and would make streets more congested and “unlivable”. Council officers in the meeting also warned of a potential increase in congestion and high demand in certain areas.
Streets Alive Darebin: Darebin Parking Policy Submission
Streets Alive Darebin is a Darebin resident & ratepayer action group with a vision for thriving neighbourhoods where streets are used by people of all ages, irrespective of whether they choose to walk, cycle, use public transport or drive.
Streets Alive Darebin supports Option 1 put forward in the parking permit policy in tonight’s council papers, with the exception of the user-pays permits.
Options 2A and 2B directly contradict the goals under the current Council Plan, Transport Strategy for green, sustainable and liveable neighbourhoods – as well as Darebin’s leading stance on climate emergency.
Darebin was once a community leader in climate action for the benefit of all residents, and Streets Alive Darebin urges Councillors to hold firm to those leadership commitments.
As noted in the papers, options 2A and 2B will put greater pressure on Darebin’s permit-restricted parking zones, which are concentrated in the busy activity centres, around public transport and higher-density residential areas of the municipality.
Parking permit zones exist to ensure that a limited resource is distributed equitably among residents in a particular street. The system would be undermined if this Council voted to allow residents with additional means (as opposed to those with additional needs by way of disability or aged care support) to take up more than their fair share of the limited public space.
The goal of the policy as stated in the papers is to improve equity in the parking permit system, and the independent reviewer has noted that expanding eligibility contradicts the goals of the policy.
We urge Councillors to consider the basic principles of equity when considering item 9.3 this evening, including the usual meaning of ‘extenuating circumstances’, being those that are imposed upon people (such as in the case of disability or chronic illness – not the gifting of a vehicle by an employer).
Have your say on Route 86 Tram Corridor Planning
Important announcement! The Victorian government has opened up consultation for the building of new accessible tram stops along the 86 tram corridor, on High St in Northcote and Thornbury.
Route 86 Tram Corridor Planning: feedback closes 15 October 2023
Make sure to complete the survey and show your support for the project, while also urging the Department of Transport and Planning to take all street users into account by including safe crossings and protected bike lanes in the upgrades
Critical Mass North
Riding in Melbourne North shouldn’t be spooky but here we are
Protest for safe bike lanes - Ride, scoot, skate
Critical Mass North: Spooky Edition: it's time to dress spooky, riding in Melbourne's north shouldn't be scary but here we are! We plan to ride from State Library to All Nations Park, Northcote.
Start: 5.30pm: State Library, Friday 27th October 2023
Pick up point: about 6pm (ish), Park Street Reserve, Fitzroy North
Riding from the southern suburbs? Ride with Port Phillip BUG, 5pm from St Kilda Town Hall
End: All Nations Park, Northcote
Co-hosted by Streets Alive Darebin, Streets Alive Yarra, and Yarra Bicycle Users Group
Download poster (pdf)
Keep Critical Mass fun + Advocacy Starter Kit (two leaflets per A4, double-sided pdf)
Critical Mass North: Spotify playlist bring your on-bike sound system!
Yarra Bicycle Users Group Radio on 3CR: Chris talks to Sally and Ruth from Streets Alive Darebin about Critical Mass North: Spooky Edition that calls upon Darebin Council and the Victorian Government to invest in safe separate bike lanes along High Street and re-instate the Streets for People investment program.
What is Critical Mass?
Critical Mass bike protests are organised rides that aim to raise awareness about cycling as a viable form of transportation and to advocate for better infrastructure and safety measures for cyclists and other mobility users.
We ride as a group, to form a "critical mass", making the ride safe, family friendly, and inclusive to all.
Take Action
Everyone can help make our streets safer, being an advocate is something everyone can do, read below for actions you can take today:
Streets Alive Yarra: Become a champion in your area
Build kerbside protected bike lanes on Johnston St from Kew to Carlton!
Yarra Council: Building a safer Wellington Street
Yarra Council: Testing improvements to Yarra’s cycling network
Yarra Council: Transport Action Plan
Our call - Support the Streets for People Report
We are calling upon Darebin Council and the Victorian Government to invest in safe separate bike lanes along High Street and re-instate the Streets for People investment program (Streets for People Report done by the Hansen Partnership and Martyn Group 2018 can be downloaded here) to deliver safe cycling across Darebin.
The Streets for People report lists the top 8 cycling routing and steps to improve safety and connectivity in Darebin. Below is draft email for you to send to Councillors – modify it to suit your experience.
Dear Darebin Councillors
It is now Council’s opportunity to make real improvements along High Streets and to lobby for the capital funding of the new accessible tram stops.
Council can leverage action by the Victorian Government to deliver in partnership the following improvements along High Street:
Accessible tram stops
Enable easy access to trams for users of all ages and abilities, including those using mobility aids as well as pushers & prams. Trams shelters design for shade and rain protection.
Separation - for safety
Separate bike lanes can be incorporated into the tram stop design. Separated bike lanes provide a safety buffer between parked cars and bicycle lane users, preventing cyclist deaths from dangerous 'dooring' crashes.
Wider footpaths along High Street
Provides an opportunity for re-planting this important economic and social corridor. Street trees provide shade, increase biodiversity and reduce on-street temperatures on hot days.
Pedestrian friendly design
Traffic reduction and reallocation of on-street parking provides a more pedestrian-friendly streetscape. Ensure that pedestrian can across at key points along High Street – there are a number of stops with no crossing and the new Tram stops provide council with the opportunity to ensure these are added in.
Intersection safety
Intersections along High Street urgently need safety upgrades to prevent crashes and pedestrian deaths. Council can work with DTP to improve pedestrian safety – particular at intersections and crossing point near schools and shops.
There have been 3 pedestrian deaths at Separation/High St in the last 10 years*.
*Source: https://www.tac.vic.gov.au/road-safety/statistics/online-crash-database/
Darebin councillors’ emails:
Cr Susan Rennie – South Central Ward: Susan.Rennie@darebin.vic.gov.au
Cr Lina Messina – Central Ward: Lina.Messina@darebin.vic.gov.au
Cr Trent McCarthy – South West Ward: Trent.McCarthy@darebin.vic.gov.au
Cr Tim Laurence – North East Ward: Tim.Laurence@darebin.vic.gov.au
Cr Tom Hannan – South Ward: Tom.Hannan@darebin.vic.gov.au
Cr Gaetano Greco - North West Ward: Gaetano.Greco@darebin.vic.gov.au
Cr Emily Dimitriadis – South East Ward: Emily.Dimitriadis@darebin.vic.gov.au
Cr Susanne Newton (Deputy Mayor) – West Ward: Susanne.Newton@darebin.vic.gov.au
Cr Julie Williams (Mayor) – North Central Ward: Julie.Williams@darebin.vic.gov.au
New Tram Stops in Thornbury
The Victorian Department of Transport and Planning are preparing for public consultation on the new accessible tram stop designs for Thornbury later this year. High Street is one of the biggest local issues that Streets Alive Darebin hears from people about. It is a source of constant complaints about near misses and crashes with drivers.
High Street is surrounded by people, especially families, who use bicycles as part of their everyday trips. Local schools have very high active travel rates and yet it is rare to see these people, families especially, shopping or visiting High Street by bike.
Shopping strips like High Street rely overwhelmingly on locals for business, and this is reflected in how people currently get to High Street. High Street has parking behind the shops in Northcote, and opposite The Croxton Hotel and across from Psarakos as well as in and around the shops aside from on High Street itself. Safe separate bike lanes are needed along High Street Northcote through to Preston.
At the moment there are Victorian Government clearways during the morning and afternoon peak along High Street that make it a thoroughfare and dangerous for cyclists and pedestrians. The new tram stops provide the opportunity for these clearways to be removed and separated bike lanes to be installed.
Given the decline of in-store shopping there is an opportunity to futureproof High Street and ensure cyclists’ safety.
This Heart Foundation discussion paper 'Good for Busine$$, The benefits of making streets more walking and cycling friendly' provides case studies in making streets more walking and cycling friendly. These examples of street redesign have shown that safer and friendlier street environments create benefits for our community. One of the case studies in the report looks at Darebin High Street.
In 2008, Darebin City Council was considering installing accessible tram stops at several locations on High Street and conducted a survey. The aim of the survey was to gain an understanding of travel and shopping behaviours of visitors to the Northcote Shopping Precinct to assist in assessing the potential impact of a reduction in on-street parking resulting from the introduction of the tram stops.
The key findings of this research are that:
High Street visitors tend to walk or catch public transport, while visitors to Northcote Central and Plaza tend to drive to those centres,
High Street visitors are more willing to lose car parking spaces to accommodate streetscape improvements than visitors to Northcote Central or Plaza,
Visitors to Northcote Shopping Precinct place a higher level of importance on cleanliness and maintenance, pedestrian access and safety than business respondents who thought car parking was most important,
Business respondents tended to overestimate car-based travel and underestimate walking and public transport use amongst visitors to Northcote Shopping Precinct.
This study reaffirms in an Australian context the overemphasis placed on car travel and parking by business respondents compared to shoppers.
Streets Alive Darebin: Budget Submission 2023 at a glance
High Street Streetscape
Download Streets Alive: Darebin Budget Submission - Information sheet (pdf)
Accessible tram stops
Enable easy access to trams for users of all ages and abilities, including those using mobility aids as well as pushers & prams.
Separation - for safety
Separated bike lanes provide a safety buffer between parked cars and bicycle lane users, preventing cyclist deaths from dangerous 'dooring' crashes.
Wider footpaths
Provides an opportunity for re-planting this important economic and social corridor. Street trees provide shade, increase biodiversity and reduce on-street temperatures on hot days.
Pedestrian friendly design
Traffic reduction and reallocation of on-street parking provides a more pedestrian-friendly streetscape.
Intersection safety
Intersections along High Street urgently need safety upgrades to prevent crashes and pedestrian deaths.
There have been 3 pedestrian deaths at Separation/High St in the last 10 years*.
*Source: https://www.tac.vic.gov.au/road-safety/statistics/online-crash-database/
Modal filters in Darebin?
They are a form of traffic calming which acts as a block for through-traffic, while allowing bikes and pedestrians to pass through.
Modal filters, like the one pictured here at the corner of Beavers Rd and Herbert St, can make navigating intersections safer and easier on bike and foot by also acting as a median crossing refuge.
Lowered speed limits in conjunction with modal filters can be an effective way to create safe, low traffic-stress cycling corridors with very minimal infrastructure.
While there are few modal filters in Darebin, we’d love to see many more of them appear across our council in the years to come!
Darebin’s accessible tram stops
We love Darebin’s accessible tram stops! Unfortunately, of the 55 tram stops in Darebin, only 24 feature accessible, level access boarding.
Level access platforms are accessible to wheelchair users, people with mobility impairments and injuries, and those with prams or trolleys- as well as being much safer for everyone.
We’d love to see all of Darebin’s tram stops meet accessibility standards, creating a more equitable and safe transport system.
3CR interview: Introducing Streets Alive Darebin
Streets Alive Darebin spokesperson, Marc Wion, was interviewed by Yarra Bicycle Users Group Radio on Monday 16 January 2023
On this weeks show, Chris chats to Marc Wion about creating Streets Alive Darebin, a new community group trying to bring awareness to the challenges and opportunities to making Darebin a more vibrant, safe and liveable community and looking back at the progress, however small or big it may be along the way. Follow Streets Alive Darebin on twitter, instagram and subscribe to their newsletter
Cycling themed news includes subscribing to Bike Europe newsletter for latest cycling technology and bicycle industry news, Bike Rave Melbourne celebrating ten years with next months Monster Parade on 18 February 2023 and Momentum mag article 'Three more cities embrace the transformative power of the bicycle' detailing Boston, Denver and Detroit's progress and challenges with implementing active transport
Program music
Your Street Your Say Project
Your Street Your Say Project
Darebin Council is consulting on the Your Street Your Say Project. It’s an opportunity to improve walking and cycling for Northcote East, Fairfield, Alphington, Thornbury East, Bundoora and Macleod.
See: https://yoursay.darebin.vic.gov.au/ysysgroupb
Survey closes 15 January 2023.
Does Darebin Council actually support pro-sustainable transport?
Is Darebin Council
Pop-up bike lanes ripped up, stalled despite cycling upswing (The Age, 9 May 2021) Darebin resident Ruth Jelley is advocating for a cycling lane on High Street, Thornbury. Credit: Chris Hopkins
Do we need to debunk the assumption that Darebin Council is pro-sustainable transport?
Since 2020, the current Darebin Council has been less than forthcoming about ongoing commitment and funding to active transport initiatives such as Streets For People, Octopus Schools program and separated cycling infrastructure.
Ever wonder what a vision for cycling looks like for Darebin?
Ever wonder what a vision for cycling looks like for Darebin?
The Streets for People Report done by the Hansen Partnership and Martyn Group 2018 can be downloaded here
It lists the top 8 cycling routing and steps to improve safety and connectivity
Introduction
Cities are always evolving. The many components that make up cities, including suburbs, neighbourhoods, streets and the buildings that line them are part of a dynamic urban ecosystem shaped by many difference social, economic and environmental forces.
In the City of Darebin, notable shifts in demographic and cultural profile over the decades has changed the public perception of urban living and convenience with widespread recognition of the role that urban planning and design can play in community health and well-being.
One important part of this evolving system is transport, and Darebin (and metropolitan Melbourne more broadly) has seen transformative change in relation to transport services and user behavior – in particular with shifts away from private vehicle use towards public transport (rail, tram, bus, taxi), cycling and pedestrian focused activity (or a combination of some or all).
Darebin’s streets (within the confines of the road reserve) are more than ever before under pressure to support private vehicle movements, alongside other more environmentally sustainable modes of movement, in particular for cyclists and pedestrians – where conflicts can be serious.
Given the well acknowledged sustainability and health and well-being benefits of these ‘people powered’ modes of movement, we need to do more to accommodate them within the road reservation.
This Streets for People – Feasibility Study represents an important early step adjusting the profile and performance of designated streets in Darebin to support improved local pedestrian and cycle accessibility and better connectivity to and through Darebin to surrounding Municipalities.
This Study explores alternative street configurations (and cross sections) that help to strikes an appropriate balance between the demand for local private vehicle movement and other more sustainable modes of movement in the context of Darebin’s particularly diverse neighbourhood character and image.
PART A
This Study focuses on 8 designated sustainable transport corridors previously identified by the City that traverse the municipality and its grid network (2 north-south aligned corridors and 6 aligned east-west corridors).
The Study defines a ‘Kit of Parts’ applied variously to each corridor (in sections) grounded in the now Nationally recognized ‘Movement and Place’ ideology.
This recognizes that there is a nexus between the ‘Movement’ function of a street and its ‘Place’ value, which can inform opportunities for bespoke corridor design treatments that (where appropriate) balance pedestrian and cycling functions in a street with those of private vehicle users.
The Study identifies a suite of 15 different typical treatments that can be progressively applied to the corridors, underpinned by a strategic Corridor Framework Concept that looks at influences beyond the road reservation itself.
This project does not seek to disenfranchise conventional private car users, rather it seeks to adopt careful urban design and spatial demarcations within the road reserve to ensure that practical, safe, convenient and attractive options are available for all cyclists and pedestrians.
This is pertinent in the sometimes challenging negotiation of local street spaces and with respect to connectivity beyond Darebin’s designated network to surrounding municipalities. To this end, this Study represents a paradigm shift in thinking about streets (and road reservations) as spaces for all users.
The economic feasibility of the proposal treatments is not evaluated in detail in this Study, however it does indicate opportunities for important early infrastructure works (civil and urban design) which serve as a local and regional catalyst for behavior change. We all accept that significant shifts in road use and behavior does not occur overnight. As such, this project highlights critical priorities for implementation and management in support of progressive harmonization of Darebin’s valued street assets.