Responses to Survey Questions from Pauline Galvin
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?
Speed control of vehicles. The slower vehicles go, the safer everyone is
Mode share, the more people catch public transport and ride bikes, the fewer vehicles on the roads, the better for everyone.
Pedestrian safety at intersections. Improved road treatments make it clear that pedestrians are both present and have right of way. Restricted turns on busy roads address a problem when drivers are turning off busy streets and focused on making a turn rather than looking for other road users.
broken and uneven footpaths – this is an issue for older people at risk of trips and falls
2. If elected, what will you do to help reduce pedestrian road trauma in Moreland?
Speed is a significant issue, faster vehicles cause more damage. Traffic calming is crucial. I will work with community to reduce speed limits, if wanted for their area. This will involve working with VicRoads and Dept of Transport.
Already identified issues need to be followed through with VicRoads.
Risk analysis of traffic incident data, resident observation places to be prioritised. Wide spread liaison with community groups such as schools, older persons and disability groups will be critical in identifying risk areas.
Separation of pedestrians, cyclists and cars where possible is important for the safety of all.
3. What vision do you have to actively encourage older adults to walk in Moreland?
Walking is an important source of exercise and independence for older people. It is an essential aspect of health as we grow older. Moreland could do a health promotion through Community Health Centres, and Senior Citizens groups. This could be targeted as an intergenerational activity for young and old to do together as in recent Old People’s Home for 4 Year Olds. Outreach to ethnically based community groups help ensure the benefits of walking are shared evenly across our community.
Safe surfaces are critical for walking and a promoted system to report broken footpaths or dangerous areas would help ensure walking was as safe as it could be.
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?
Regular audits of footpath surfaces and road access points could be timetabled to ensure damaged or sub-standard areas are identified. Areas that are part of the principal pedestrian network and activity centres would be a good place to start.
Checking of footpath condition after construction has occurred will help to target times of likely damage
5. If elected, how will you encourage Council to implement proven street design measures to reduce vehicle speeds?
We need #SafeStreets
When people join together to improve their local area and lobby council, councils are much more likely to listen. When Council meets them with expert advice, innovation is possible. I would encourage locals to organise, and assist them to approach council to participate with co-design strategies with experts to come up with locally acceptable traffic calming measures. Council joining with research and advocacy groups to formulate strategies to trial would provide an opportunity for our community to access best practice.
6. What measures would you implement to stop speeding near schools?
Speeding near schools is unfortunately a widespread issue. This is something that requires a widespread awareness approach for drivers and Moreland should join with other Councils to advocate for statewide awareness program. Time based warning signs and speed-limits are a useful strategy to draw drivers attention to the presence of nearby schools. General traffic calming would play a role in reducing speed. The council should look to do an assessment of the risks of road safety in Moreland schools, prioritise and address risks found. Our children are our most precious treasures, we should prioritise their safety.
7. What improvements are needed for footpaths to make them safer for pedestrians after dark?
Lighting levels for busy road crossings should be audited to ensure adherence to safety standards.
Innovations such as the low set lights along the Upfield shared path are a great example of ways in which lighting can be improved without being intrusive to local residents. Reflective markings delineating edges or significant crossings would increase visibility for pedestrians after dark.
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?
Whilst a majority of users support the removal of all on-street parking, there is a significant minority that have needs that may not be met by a uniform approach to this road. Shops on Sydney Rd, have delivery issues, accessible stops are coming, changes will have to be made. The critical thing is that we work to get a win/win situation, or at least a workable compromise. The design of the next version of Sydney road should be undertaken on a precinct by precinct basis, but also with an overarching vision of a central transport spine that works for us, the People of Moreland.
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?
There is a whole area of research into road safety and if Moreland wishes to address this area, we should join with road safety peak bodies and research groups to engage in action research to develop locally appropriate solutions and State wide Strategies.
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 look to international practice for ways to balance road user rights in these contested environments. A major cause of through traffic is lack of public transport in the outer suburbs, and this causes traffic chaos in the inner suburbs. Public transport options needs to be reliable, well connected and cover enough of the day to be useful. Moreland should develop an advocacy position on Transport Planning to articulate our vision for a fair, equitable sustainable transport system.
Walk on Merri-bek 