Responses to Survey Questions from James Conlan
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?
I have a long history of campaigning on active transport in Moreland. As the co-founder and leader of the Upfield Corridor Coalition, I campaigned to a to improve active transport outcomes from the Level Crossing Removal Project. And in June 2020, I worked with Walk on Moreland, Brunswick Residents Network and the Moreland Bicycle User Group to lobby council to increase their walking and cycling budgets. We were successful in securing additional funding for cyclists and pedestrians, as well as the delivery of new zebra crossings and shared zones across Moreland. I look forward to continuing this work on council and working closely with said groups.
My priorities on council are:
- Reducing Moreland’s appalling pedestrian fatality rate
- Making our streets safe and attractive to walk for people of all ages and abilities, through traffic calming and speed restrictions
- More priority pedestrian crossings throughout the South Ward and the rest of Moreland
2. If elected, what will you do to help reduce pedestrian road trauma in Moreland?
In collaboration with my Greens colleagues and other councillors, I will advocate to increase the pedestrian budget, separate cyclists and pedestrians in new infrastructure projects, and advocate for 30 km/h speed restrictions in residential streets, traffic calming and more priority pedestrian crossings.
3. What vision do you have to actively encourage older adults to walk in Moreland?
People of all ages and abilities can get to where they need to go by foot, safely and without fearing for their lives. For example, grandparents can walk with their grandkids to the shops, school, or the park without having to worry about the kids being hit by speeding vehicles. Our streets also have plenty of places to sit, more shading and drinking fountains to protect us from warming climate. Our streets are designed for people of every age and ability, with cars being forced to slow down and consider all other users first. Safe streets not only save lives, they are also cleaner and greener, and allow communities to meet and socialise.
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?
As an active transport advocate in Moreland, I’ve witnessed how the pedestrian budget is often inappropriately used for other council projects, or promised projects are simply delayed to the never-never. If elected to council, I would ensure the walking and cycling budgets are both increased and split, so as to ensure maximum transparency about project planning and delivery. The same should apply to the pedestrian asset maintenance budget.
5. If elected, how will you encourage Council to implement proven street design measures to reduce vehicle speeds?
In my experience as an active transport advocate in Moreland, I’ve found that it’s always locals and community groups who propose the most sensible, insightful solutions to local problems. I will continue to work closely with residents and organisations like Walk on Moreland in seeking their expert input on pedestrian improvements across Moreland when planning and delivering pedestrian improvements. As a former town planner, I’m also interested in learning from other cities that are leading the way on creating safe streets for all.
6. What measures would you implement to stop speeding near schools?
I would be open to the full range of traffic interventions that could be utilised to slow vehicles near schools, such as traffic lights, traffic calming, wider footpaths, more trees/vegetation, crossing supervisors, and walking ‘school buses’.
7. What improvements are needed for footpaths to make them safer for pedestrians after dark?
Improved street lighting and fewer black spots will help, as will better maintained footpaths with accessible ramps at crossings. The issue of safety after dark also touches on women’s safety in public, which is a much bigger conversation we need to have.
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?
Yes I agree with this. As the former Convenor of the Moreland Bicycle User Group, former employee at Bicycle Network, and former committee member of Revitalise Sydney Road, transforming Sydney Road is a long-time passion and commitment of mine. While Sydney Road is technically a state-owned road, the Greens on Moreland Council have played a pivotal role in elevating this issue at the state level. If elected, I will use my position on council to continue to directly advocate to the state government to revitalise Sydney Road with protected bike lanes, wider footpaths, and more street greenery. I will also constructively engage with the community to keep the issue alive, as well as engage with local businesses to bring them along.
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?
Greens on Council are committed to collaborating with the State Government to introduce the aforementioned pedestrian safety measures, some of which could be delivered through increased council resources which the Greens will advocate for, as mentioned earlier.
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)?
To address the competing needs of different road users, the Greens are committed to implementing the road user hierarchies outlined in the MITs, which prioritise active and sustainable transport on most streets. Moreland Council and the state Department of Transport are increasingly talking of road hierarchies, which is a move away from prioritising private cars on almost every road; the default position for almost 70 years of transport planning. The MITs mentions the implementation of such user hierarchies, which is great. Now we need to implement them across the municipality.
Walk on Merri-bek 