Responses to Survey Questions from Nahui Ludekens
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?
Moreland Council and it’s South Ward need to see an increase in public investment in the maintenance of our existing pathways, including making them all-weather and as physically accessible as possible. Our streets, especially around shopping precincts, have popular crossing points that are both informal and high-risk. Increasing visible, demarcated crossing points in high-traffic areas will go a long way to aid pedestrian safety.
2. If elected, what will you do to help reduce pedestrian road trauma in Moreland?
Reduction of pedestrian road trauma in Moreland will require a serious council project to assess the safety of both established and popular informal points in which pedestrians and traffic intersect. I will fight for council funds to be spent on important public safety projects as well as ensuring that the measures that need to be taken, such as vegetation control, creation and maintenance of crossings and signage, are never pushed to the side simply because of its cost.
3. What vision do you have to actively encourage older adults to walk in Moreland?
We need to remove the barriers that currently exist for our older residents to walk in Moreland. This can be done by improving the safety of our existing walking tracks, making walking paths all-weather, improving visibility, and increasing the safe crossing points throughout the electorate. The introduction of social walking groups with professional facilitators can break down both the social isolation of our older residents and provide more motivation for them to get out and get active.
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?
Moreland Council must commit to the maintenance of its facilities and amenities in the long term, including updating them as better safety measures are developed. Investment in this needs to happen at all levels including increasing staffing resources, funding, and oversight. We also need to make sure our council is accessible for our hard-of-hearing and vision impaired residents.
5. If elected, how will you encourage Council to implement proven street design measures to reduce vehicle speeds?
Making sure Council implements appropriate safe measures means being committed to human need and safety over profit in every instance. As a socialist this is an important value I fight for every day and as an elected councillor my role would be encouraged and, where needed, pressure the rest of Council to make the right choice.
6. What measures would you implement to stop speeding near schools?
I would implement speed reduction measures such as speed bumps in the surrounding area, and having all crossings staffed as part of traffic control and pedestrian safety.
7. What improvements are needed for footpaths to make them safer for pedestrians after dark?
After dark safety of our footpaths requires the removal of trip hazards and the levelling of terrain. We also need to have safe all-weather paths to reduce slipping hazards. Where significant drops and trip hazards are unavoidable, or where there are crossings, there needs to appropriate lighting and visibility markers such as glow strips.
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?
I am for an increase in public transport and bicycle usage as well as facilitating easier pedestrian access. I don’t support punitive measures as a way to stop car usage.
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?
We need a highly visible, accessible, and engaging public education campaign that is able to work in collaboration with our schools and driving education programs. This campaign should be focused on positive education rather than punitive deterrents.
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)?
As a socialist my priorities will always lie with the lives and safety of ordinary working class people and the world that they live on. Navigating clashing interests always requires extensive consultation with the community and standing up to business and corporate interests that try to strong arm their way around. We oppose punitive measures and instead prioritise increasing the accessibility of more sustainable travel options.
Walk on Merri-bek 