Walking
Walking Well
Walk Against Warming Melbourne 2009 – 12/12/2009 @ 12pm
We need YOU! Join tens of thousands of people at this year’s Walk Against Warming, and help us send an urgent message to world leaders that we want action for a safe climate future for our kids.
The Walk Against Warming is Australia’s biggest day of community action on climate change. Over the last four years, over 100,000 Victoria’s have joined this family friendly event to call for real action on climate change.
12/12/2009 at 12pm – State Library, Swanston St, Melbourne, walking to Princes Bridge.
As world leaders gather at the global climate meeting in Copenhagen in December, we’ll be walking down Swanston St, and then forming a giant Human Sign across Princes Bridge to send them a safe climate message they can’t ignore.
Go to www.waw.org.au for details, and to RSVP – that way we can send you a reminder. And don’t forget to bring your friends and family!
Proudly supported by City of Port Phillip
Pedestrians get the Greenlight
Pedestrians crossing at the intersection of Richardson, Pickles and Liardet Streets on the border of Albert Park and Port Melbourne can now do so at a new, official slower rate of 0.7 metres per second. The standard rate is 1.2 metres per second.
Last year, the council coordinated the Greenlight Project, a jointly funded study with VicHealth into the 'crossability of intersections of major roads - including children in walking school buses - in the Cities of Port Phillip, Geelong and Bayside. The key purpose was to investigate and understand how the operation of traffic signals at intersections affected people's decision to walk or not to walk, particularly to and from Victorian primary schools.
The Greenlight Project aims to redirect pedestrian priority at signalised crossings on major roads. The report of the Greenlight Project was officially launched last week by the Hon Peter Batchelor, Minister for Transport, at the now less-hazardous intersection.
The Richardson/Liardet/Pickles Street intersection is the worst local road accident 'black spot' in Port Phillip. Over the past 15 years, it has been the scene of 49 casualty crashes though no one has been killed. Traffic lights were recently installed at the intersection at a cost of $370,000 - $270,000 through the State Government's Accident Blackspot Program, and $100,000 from the council.
Under the changes, pedestrians using the side roads - Richardson and Liardet Streets - will also no longer need to press the button to call up the 'green man'. The 'green man' will automatically appear. Automatic call-up does not apply to Pickles Street but pedestrians crossing that street will get a four-second 'early-green' advance ahead of vehicles turning into it.
View the full version of the Greenlight Project Report.
View Appendix IIB part one and Appendix IIB part two.
View Appendix V.
Clarendon Street signage
Six information panels have been installed by the City of Port Phillip at intersections along Clarendon Street.
The maps, housed in a stainless steel backlit panel show the local area and on the reverse inner Melbourne. The local maps include heritage photos of what was at that location in 1889.
The panels have been designed to encourage people to walk in and around Clarendon Street. The panels show how long it takes to walk to different destinations such as the South Melbourne Town Hall, Albert Park Lake or the Southern Cross Station.
Information about estimated walking times has also been added to nineteen different bins in the shopping centre. Maintenance on both the panels and bins will occur monthly. The content in the panels will be reviewed annually and updated.
Footpath safety and improvements
One way to encourage people to walk is to have smooth, well lit paths with good sight lines, a clear uncluttered path, safe places to cross streets including ramps for those using wheels and seats placed in the right position for resting.
See Road Repairs & Maintenance to report any problems with a footpath .
Safer routes to shops
The safer routes to shops program was carried out in Port Melbourne. It is a long-term project to improve streets to create a preferred route for residents to the local shopping area of Bay Street. Improvements included walk paths, benches, ramps and the pruning of trees and shrubs that might obstruct the walk path.
Use eServices to ask us a question, request information or give us feedback online. If you prefer call ASSIST on (03) 9209 6777 or TTy (03) 9209 6713 and ask for Sustainable Transport.
Pedestrian crossings
Ideally pedestrian crossings should:
- Be in the right place
- Start changing in favour of the pedestrian as soon as the button is pressed
- When at intersections controlled by traffic lights automatically show the green man when appropriate. People should not have to press a button
- Give pedestrian long enough time to cross without having to hurry
There are many pedestrian crossings that do not meet these standards within the City of Port Phillip. The council will endeavour to negotiate with VicRoads over a number of years to see the introduction of improvements to pedestrian crossings.
Streets for Living in Action
Transforming local streets to make them more inviting and safe is carried out under the Streets for Living campaign. Some things are simple, such as pram crossings and painted median strips. Other changes are more complicated such as installing raised pedestrian zebra crossings to give priority to walking and upgrading the tram stops to make them accessible for all. See the recent presentation given at an international road safety conference.
Streets for Living presentation
More information
Use eServices to ask us a question, request information or give us feedback about the safety of any particular crossing online. If you prefer call ASSIST on (03) 9209 6777 or TTy (03) 9209 6713 and ask for Sustainable Transport.
