Melbourne to ‘increase non-car road space’ over 10 years

The Australian city of Melbourne is proposing a 10-year plan to deliver more space for pedestrians, public transport users and cyclists.
November 5, 2019 Read time: 2 mins

The plan will seek to create more than 50km of protected on-road bicycle lanes and establish pedestrian shared priority zones with lower speed limits.

Sally Capp, lord mayor of Melbourne, says: "The strategy, to be considered by councillors, aims to upgrade public space and amenity around major public transport hubs, increase space and accessibility for pedestrians and boost bicycle safety with dedicated bike lanes."

Over the next four years, protected bike lanes will be introduced on Exhibition Street, Latrobe Street Bridge and Rathdowne Street.

Other key projects include adding 300 new on-street motorcycle parking spaces and working with the Victorian Government to deliver consistent 40 km/h vehicle speed limits across the municipality.

Councillor Nicolas Frances Gilley, chair of the transport portfolio, says inconsistent speed zones on local streets within the municipality - as well as neighbouring ones - is a challenge for drivers.

"Parkville, Yarra's Edge and other city fringe suburbs are all built-up areas with schools, shops, parks and lots of pedestrians and cyclists,” he continues. “By bringing them into line with 40km/h it would be much simpler for motorists, will avoid dangerous sudden stoppages and be much safer for people walking and riding bikes.”

A collaboration with the Victorian government will review traffic signal timing to reduce delays for people using the network, including those using trams, buses and bikes.

Additionally, the council is hoping to lower the speed limits for some ‘little streets’ to 10km/h to improve safety for people walking in the city centre.

Authorities will also continue to advocate for a tram extension to Fishermans Bend to aid the development of the area and for the Melbourne Metro 2 rail link as a priority infrastructure rail link for west and north parts of the city.

Urban Traffic Control

Related Content

  • Russia looks to ITS to curb congestion and reduce accidents
    May 7, 2015
    Major ITS installations are planned as the Russian capital Moscow grapples with extensive traffic problems. At the end of 2014, Russia’s first complex intelligent transport system (ITS) started easing traffic problems in and around the capital Moscow, following the implementation of the plans by the federal government and the city’s authorities.
    Read More
  • Changing driving conditions need ongoing driver training
    January 23, 2012
    Trevor Ellis, chairman of the ITS UK Enforcement Interest Group, considers the role of ongoing driver training in increasing compliance. It is over 30 years since I passed my driving test. The world was quite a different place then, in that there were only half the vehicles there are now on the UK's roads, mobile phones did not really exist and (in the UK at least) the vast majority of us drove cars which by today's standards exhibited dreadful dynamic stability and were woefully underpowered.
    Read More
  • Bird connects Nashville buses & scooters
    February 25, 2022
    Micromobility provider identifies stops which could benefit from scooter parking zones
    Read More
  • Road signs removed to reduce ‘clutter’
    January 4, 2013
    In a response to a move to remove unnecessary clutter in cities and rural areas, more than 9,000 road traffic signs have been taken down in England, where local councils have been urged to think more creatively about the number and location of their location. Ministers have warned that excessive signs can be a distraction to motorists and make roads appear unattractive. In October 2011, the requirement for certain road signs was lifted; the government plans to give councils more discretion over where they p
    Read More

Highlighted Content