Imagine a neighbourhood where kids can ride to the park safely, where older people feel confident crossing the street, and where conversations spill out onto the footpath because traffic no longer drowns us out. Right now, too many of our streets are noisy, stressful, and unsafe. The promise of “road safety” programs has stalled. But around the world, cities are proving that slowing traffic transforms more than just crash statistics, it reshapes daily life. Quieter, greener, more social streets aren’t a dream. They’re a choice.

Webinar with Dr Mike Harris and Mark Ames (Strategic Cities) about his study of bikelash in Sydney. This study surveyed residents ten years after the installation of a separated cycleway in Sydney, Australia. The results indicate that, despite significant opposition during the planning phase, the cycleway has gained widespread acceptance among residents, with 83.1% believing it positively contributes to their street. The findings of this study may inform policy development and the implementation of separated bicycle facilities in traditionally car focused cities.

On 7 January 2018, Transport for NSW (TfNSW) pulled off something extraordinary. Overnight, traffic signals across the core of Sydney’s CBD were reprogrammed to show a green light more frequently – at least every 90 seconds. This is the remarkable story of the investigation and its results, which have remained a secret until recently uncovered through a GIPA request by Better Streets’ Jake Coppinger.

Congratulations to Sara for raising $1,000 for Better Streets by running in the Sydney Marathon. Amazing to see the streets of Sydney transform into a 42 kilometre cheering stadium for 35,000 marathon runners. What an amazing example of how Open Streets can be achieved.

Sleeping bags and marshmallows not required but like a traditional summer camp of our youth, Transport Camp brings together a bunch of people united in the common interest of making our cities better to live in and move around, for a day of discussion, community, learning and support. 

The new cycleway is a life-changer for me at the age of 78! It’s a much safer, more enjoyable journey, not only for an old lady, but for anyone, young and old, who wants to ride their bicycle. With this new cycleway the route down Oxford Street now links with other parts of the City of Sydney’s growing bike network, making it easier and safer to ride to other favourite destinations, such as Alexandria, Newtown and Balmain.

The Roads Act Reform options paper is out for consultation and we want to hear from you! . The big question is: How we should manage roads and streets in NSW for the next 30+ years, and how ambitious should the reform be?

The NSW Government has abolished Local Traffic Committees and replaced them with Local Transport Forums (LTFs). This is a monumental shift in how decisions are made about local streets and roads in NSW.