We are delighted to see that the Yarra City Council has approved an extension of the area to which its 30km/h speed limit applies, to cover all the streets within the boundaries of the Melbourne suburbs of Fitzroy and Collingwood (apart from the Johnston Street arterial) [1]. Fitzroy and Collingwood are relatively densely populated inner city suburbs (with 19,610 residents), just 3 kilometres from Melbourne’s Central Business District. Around 28% of households across the two suburbs do not own a car (compared with 8.5% for Greater Melbourne) [2] indicating a very high reliance on walking and cycling in the area. Streets Alive Yarra, a local safe streets advocacy group (and Better Streets coalition member) has led the campaign for a street-friendly reduction in the speed limit. Founder and president Jeremy Lawrence said: “the reduced speed limit is the lowest cost measure for maximum possible safety access...benefitting people of all ages and abilities; kids, seniors, parents with prams.“ [4] The improved safety outcomes of the the City of Yarra trial reflects the overwhelming evidence from health and safety authority research, and the experience of cities around the world, including Toronto (Canada), Bogota (Columbia) and London (UK) [5]. Lower vehicle speeds on residential streets are not just about fewer crashes. Lower speeds support the use of the street for people of all ages and abilities to walk, to ride, to socialise, to gather at local businesses. For Better Streets, the 30km/h limit is a vital step to getting kids active, boosting local business, and providing transport choices. If you want people-friendly speed limits in your local streets:
[1] The Melbourne Age, 9 May 2024. Speed limit cut to 30km/h on almost every street in two suburbs.
https://www.theage.com.au/national/victoria/collingwood-and-fitzroy-streets-drop-to-30km-h-from-today-20240509-p5in8u.html [2] Australian Bureau of Statistics, 2021. Community profile for Fitzroy, Collingwood, Greater Melbourne. [3] The Melbourne Age, 15 November 2023. Melbourne council votes to drop speed limit to 30km/h to protect cyclists, pedestrians https://www.theage.com.au/national/victoria/melbourne-council-votes-to-drop-speed-limit-to-30km-h-to-protect-cyclists-pedestrians-20231115-p5ek1k.html [4] Streets Alive Yarra, 9 May 2024. Yarra City Council Green Lights New 30km/h Speed Limit Trial https://streets-alive-yarra.org/journal/expanded-30-km-h-zone/ [5] Better Streets, Recommendation 2 https://www.betterstreets.org.au/slow-vehicles-downs.html
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Better Streets is launching an awareness campaign and will be creating a series of animations to engage the community about Better Streets.
This campaign is a collaboration with Tom Flood, Rovelo Creative, Two Giraffes, and a team of volunteers. Tom Flood was an ad man for the car industry. Then as a parent realised how unsafe the streets were and started turning his creative skills into reframing the mainstream narrative around road safety/road violence/active transportation and highlighting the imbalance on our streets. His videos are engaging and emotive and impactful. Two Giraffes are a local Sydney based female owned and directed firm with amazing team and experience. One of their core focus areas is social change films for some of the most recognised brands and Not For Profits in Australia. |
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