Responses to Survey Questions from Jacob Andrewartha
1. What are your most important priorities to increase pedestrian safety specifically in the ward you hope to represent as well as in the rest of Moreland?
Some of the important issues that affect pedestrians in Moreland are things such as lack of pedestrian crossings on roads, uneven and broken footpaths, there are even cases where footpaths are lacking or non-existent.
We must take in account needs of more diverse sections of the population such as disability access, places such as Munro St Coburg where disability access is becoming a issue, there is the recent landscaping works on Jewel station that resulted in a flight of stairs on the most prominent entrance to the station.
One solution that can address this is a disability access audit of the streets & footpaths in the activity centres and it must focus on accessibility for different types of disabilities.
2. If elected, what will you do to help reduce pedestrian road trauma in Moreland?
- Examine and find out through consultation with the community which roads need lower speed limits.
- Look into advocating for more pedestrian crossings on busy roads such as Newlands Rd, Murray Rd and Moreland Road and receive council support into pushing for it.
- Clearer markings for confusing intersections like the Moreland Road/Nicholson Street/Holmes Street intersection.
3. What vision do you have to actively encourage older adults to walk in Moreland?
Council needs to step up significantly in making it as easy as possible for residents to report dangerous footpaths and pedestrian crossings and increase the budget significantly for maintaining footpaths and improving pedestrian crossings, then council would be able to openly advocate publicly for the promotion of walking for health and social residents for older residents living in Moreland.
4. In what ways should Council increase its investment in the maintenance and improvements to footpaths and other outdoor public infrastructure to reduce falls injuries?
It should start with increasing it’s funding for the maintenance of footpaths and crossings for pedestrians at intersections, particularly roundabouts.
5. If elected, how will you encourage Council to implement proven street design measures to reduce vehicle speeds?
Sue Bolton Moreland Team if elected would move a motion in council to report on street design options and then vote to implement the most effective measures.
6. What measures would you implement to stop speeding near schools?
The installation of electronic signs around school crossing zones and other hot spots that assist with drivers reducing their speeds.
7. What improvements are needed for footpaths to make them safer for pedestrians after dark?
An investigation of installing white line markings on footpaths to make changes of level in footpaths stand out on dimly lit footpaths.
More lighting, particularly on narrow footpaths, but this must be considered in a context of not having residents affected by having too much light shining into dwellings late at night.
8. The majority of surveyed Sydney Rd. users support the removal of all on-street parking to make way for wider footpaths and protected cycling lanes in both directions. Do you agree with this and if so, how would you work to achieve this if elected?
Priorities should be on addressing pedestrian and cycling safety given they are the most vulnerable road users.
However there are some barriers towards implementing this, it cannot be done by just simply removing all parking, however we have to accept removing parking areas from different sections of Sydney road on a case-by-case basis, but it will require having meetings and consulting with the different sections of the community including council workers, cyclists, pedestrian advocacy groups and traders to find a way forward, we shouldn’t allow this issue become something which creates divisions in the community, as it undoubtedly has in the past.
9. What strategies are needed by Council, in collaboration with the State Government, to introduce a driver education campaign in regard to stopping for, giving way and slowing down for pedestrians at intersections, zebra crossings, school crossings and other hot spots?
- Improving visibility of school crossings.
- Addressing the issues of driver and cyclist distraction, fatigue and lack of education.
- Flashing lights for Zebra crossings.
- Electronic signs that tell drivers how fast they’re driving which should be installed around school crossing zones and other hot spots.
10. As the local population grows, so does local traffic and through traffic. How do you propose to address the competing interests of different transport users i.e. pedestrians, cyclists, private and commercial vehicle drivers and public transport (trams and buses)?
We need to have a expansion of public transport with a focus on improving the infrastructure of areas of the Northern parts of Moreland which includes Fawkner, Merlynston, Coburg North, and the Moreland council needs to address this, you can’t address the issue of traffic without dealing with the question of our inadequate public transport.
Walk on Merri-bek 