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.

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.

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 .

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.

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.

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                                                              

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.