As Melbourne’s cycling ambassador, Cr Tom Melican is organising councils across town to look at ways to make cycling a more realistic alternative for more people.

The shock arrival of COVID-19 and the enduring restrictions on social distancing are set to profoundly change the way Melbourne moves.

Already many Melbournians have taken to cycling during the restrictions. They have marvelled at their city with fewer cars on the road and revelled in the opportunity to be more active in a safer, less polluted world. Strange and uncertain times indeed, but could this be a real chance to recognise the lasting role that cycling can play in a healthy city?

While nobody is sure what the future holds, we can be confident that safe social distancing will severely limit the capacity of public transport while greater reliance on private cars will only lead to hellish gridlock. It’s a predicament that’s not likely to go away quickly.

Local governments have already adjusted activities to meet the COVID situation. Now most councils are looking at the serious implications for mobility within their municipalities and city-wide.

What will be the impact of social distancing on public transport capacity and usage? What are the implications of more people working from home more often? How can we encourage active transport for everyday mobility needs? How will footpaths cope with more outside dining, walking and riding? Can already congested roads cope with even more cars?

Overseas, and indeed in the Melbourne CBD, local authorities are acting swiftly to provide alternatives to unsafely crowded public transport. There is a growing lobby calling for wide-spread and immediate pop-up cycling infrastructure in response to reduced capacity of public transport. In local government, Melbourne City Council is leading the charge with funding to replace some car parking with footpaths and 12 kilometres of pop-up cycling lanes to allow people to socially distance in the CBD.

A plethora of other organisations are also backing moves to more active transport. Obvious lobbies like the Bicycle Network are keen, so too are Infrastructure Victoria, Infrastructure Australia, mental health organisations and also the RACV.

Councils across Melbourne are now assessing ideas to keep people moving for work, education and day-to-day activities. They will be looking at pop-up cycle lanes, wider footpaths and quick ways to make active transport more attractive. Some of these ideas will be temporary, others more enduring.

Asking a rhetorical question might help guide this shift. What could be the legacy of COVID for Melbourne’s mobility? Could it be a sustained lift in active transport?

As cycling ambassador, I am hoping that these difficult times will be remembered for the actions we took to reinstate cycling and walking as safe, fun and healthy transport alternatives for more Melbournians.

Cr Melican is a Banyule councillor and the Metropolitan Transport Forum’s cycling ambassador.

Barriers to safe and legal use of innovative vehicles
MTF April 2020

Mandi Mees, National Transport Commission, presented a review of Personal Mobility Devices (PMD) and possible national approaches to the April meeting.

Mandi Mees, Executive Leader Safety, National Transport Commission (NTC), discussed the ongoing review of the Australia Road Rules (ARRS) with respect to motorised wheelchairs and mobility scooters (MMDs) and personal mobility devices (PMDs).

Mandi is also Deputy Mayor of Macedon Shire and well acquainted with the local government perspective.

Mandi provided some background to the National Transport Commission, established in 2003 to lead national land transport reform across the Australian governments to improve safety, productivity, environmental outcomes and regulatory efficiency. The NTC is accountable to the Transport and Infrastructure Council, and seeks to align land transport practice across state jurisdictions, including local councils. Local government is invited to submit or otherwise engage with the NTC on current and relevant issues. NTC will develop model Australian Road Rules, it is voluntary for individual states to adopt.

The NTC intends to establish a national vehicle regulatory framework for Australia by 2021. This includes driverless buses.

The NTC review has included international experience, and Mandi showed a wide range of emerging mobility options of the MMD and PMD type. Examples were given of several North American cities also grappling with the legality and safety of a variety of devices.

Key points

PMDs growing in popularity: demand for comprehensive ecosystem of transport alternatives. Use is illegal in many jurisdictions.

Australia Road Rules are outdated and predate newer PMD technology.

Recognise motorised wheelchairs and mobility scooters as separate category. As such all motorised mobility device operators are treated as pedestrians.

Jurisdictions under pressure to regulate PMDs –no national consistency.
> Research to inform best practice regulation is limited, but beginning to emerge.
> Lack of national consistency could create confusion for industry/community.
> Limited understanding of the safety risks associated with use of devices.

The National Transport Commission on PMD and MMD seeks to join the dots from leisure/recreational to disability devices to extend freedom of mobility for everyone in a safe environment.

Following the issue papers and active consultation, the NTC will report to the Transport and Infrasturcture Council which will consider MMD in June 2020 and PMD in November2020.

Chair Cr Jonathon Marsden thanked Mandi for her presentation and discussion, and it was agreed to keep in touch with the ongoing review, and the work of the National Transport Commission, and invite Mandi again at a future date.

Link to presentation slides
.

Selected news related to the Metropolitan Transport Forum’s ABCs (Active, Buses & Choices)

ACTIVE
Melbourne Cycle Super Highways added to the Infrastructure Australia Priority List.

Proposed by RACV, IA noted that the bicycle network is not currently meeting community needs and expectations of a safer, lower-stress and better-connected network. The next stage is for the RACV to identify initiatives and develop options

Infrastructure Australia Priority List: Cycling access to Melbourne CBD (see page 135)   | RACV comment

BUSES / CHOICES
Frankston public transport connectivity added to IA priority list

Proposed by the Committee for Greater Frankston, IA notes that public transport is not keeping up with population growth.

The initiative is for public transport connectivity improvements to, and through, Frankston. These could include optimising the existing bus network, increasing bus service frequency and coverage, plus upgrades to rail services and infrastructure.

Infrastructure Australia: Frankston public transport connectivity(page 139) |C4GF media

CHOICES
Inquiry into Expanding Melbourne’s Free Tram Zone

The reporting date for this inquiry has been extended to 1 September 2020. The close of public submissions on 31 January prompted a flurry of coverage. PTUA says scrap it, Sally Capp (in a private capacity) says extend it. Basically, it’s a two-way split, PT advocates generally against, business / tourism / education in favour. Expect more in this Council election year.

PTUA submission  | Ms Capp | Weblink for committee

BUSES
Boris promises £5b for buses

The UK will spend an extra £5b for London Style buses alongside their massive £100b high speed rail linking northern England to London.

The £5bn over five years would result in more frequent services, including on Sundays, a simpler fare structure, and new priority schemes to allow buses to skirt traffic jams.

Outside London, UK buses are notoriously infrequent and unreliable, and subject to savage cuts since Thatcher.

Guardian UK: Boris Johnson bets on HS2 to deliver new spine of UK transport
WIRED: Forget the HS2 hype, buses are Boris Johnson’s real masterstroke

Happy to receive items for inclusion [email protected]