Responses to Survey Questions from John Durrant
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?
With the help of residents I will determine a list of ten priority roads for zebra crossings across Moreland. I will bring forward investment for these priority areas to begin building within 2021.
I will bring forward investment to repair footpaths and introduce a new more effective mobile channel for residents to report cracked footpaths.
2. If elected, what will you do to help reduce pedestrian road trauma in Moreland?
Allocate Council investment for pilot programs focused on:
- Speed limit reductions where suitable
- Traffic calming infrastructure (speed bumps, etc)
- Direct and continuous walking routes
3. What vision do you have to actively encourage older adults to walk in Moreland?
Older adults are at greater risk of pedestrian injury and the severity of the injury increases In our transport plan we must consider needs for older residents of Moreland who may have slower walking speeds, sight or hearing issues. Safe infrastructure, including pedestrian priority near shopping centres and zebra crossings near parks or public transport, is required to encourage older adults to walk in Moreland.
Our bus and tram stops should have a dedicated area for loading and unloading passengers.
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?
This should be a key COVID- stimulus investment activity. Increased resources to support prioritisation of key areas (increased risk or traffic) and then resources and workforce to bring forward repairs.
Footpaths must be continuous, on both sides of the road, and sufficiently wide.
5. If elected, how will you encourage Council to implement proven street design measures to reduce vehicle speeds?
Consider speed limit reductions or introduction of speed bumps for neighbourhood streets. Trialling of pedestrian prioritisation or closure to cars in certain areas.
6. What measures would you implement to stop speeding near schools?
Radars which display speeds to motorists can be easily implemented, can run on solar, and are proven to reduce speeds of motorists (who may be speeding inadvertently).
To support employment post-COVID, we could invest in lollipop attendants at key crossings to support children going to school.
7. What improvements are needed for footpaths to make them safer for pedestrians after dark?
Street lights must be directed to the footpaths, as well as roads. Fluorescent indicators on curbs could also support and are a simple investment. Cracks, overgrown roots, etc must be clearly marked where fast-repair is not possible.
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?
This is not the experience of Sydney Road Business owners, who I have spoken directly with. I think more work needs to be done to look at the proposals for Sydney Road. I support no-parking during key traffic (including pedestrian traffic) times.
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?
I support a driver education program addressing these issues. Council could invest in awareness and advertising campaign to support this locally. Council could support investment in safer vehicles including incentives.
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)?
These do not have to be competing priorities that result in winners/losers, this should be viewed as a plan for transitioning. We must increase community engagement and empowerment to have the community drive these issues. I support unified routes for cycling and walking to encourage a transition away from cars. I support advocating for increased public transport services through Moreland. I do not support zero-parking developments with my experience being traffic is pushed onto side streets.
Walk on Merri-bek 