Responses to Survey Questions from Robert Durkacz
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?
None (I do not want to be terse but I do not know that there is any pressing issue of pedestrian safety
2. If elected, what will you do to help reduce pedestrian road trauma in Moreland?
I won’t be elected, but no plans to do anything in any case.
3. What vision do you have to actively encourage older adults to walk in Moreland?
None
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?
Nothing as far as I know
5. If elected, how will you encourage Council to implement proven street design measures to reduce vehicle speeds?
I don’t expect to do anything
6. What measures would you implement to stop speeding near schools?
None
7. What improvements are needed for footpaths to make them safer for pedestrians after dark?
None as far as I know
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 well aware that some cycling activists would like to have half of Sydney Rd for their use. They want it for free but we should work out how much they should have to pay for it. Suppose we had a tolling system in place that works for bicycles as well as cars. You then figure out by economic modelling how much the bicycle toll would have to be that bike riders would pay as much as cars if it was one lane each. Then ask whether bike riders would pay that cost if that was the price. I do not have a clue what the toll would be, but it might be a lot. I would take backstreets to avoid paying even a modest toll.
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 think none.
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)?
Very good question. That is the key. My first suggestion is to use economic principles. My answer to question 8 is relevant. Apart from that I don’t know but I am interested to hear other people’s ideas (so as to criticise them maybe) and thanks for asking.
Walk on Merri-bek 