City of Melbourne’s transport chair Nic Frances Gilley has outlined his ideas to refresh Melbourne’s transport strategy that includes less space for cars and more for people.
Roads would be converted to ‘linear parks’ that include separated bike lanes and paths, plus more space for walking. Dedicated roads and treatments for trams would also be made to decrease travel times.
Cr Frances Gilley has said that improvements need to be made so Melbourne can hold on to its title as the world’s most livable city.
"If we don't enable vehicles to travel around the city, and they keep coming through, we're never going to be a liveable city," he told The Age.
Questions are already being asked about just how liveable Melbourne actually is – congestion is rife in the city, and it is very car dependent.
And with fresh census data highlighting the inefficiencies of our transport network, the prioritisation of bikes and active transport in Melbourne can’t come soon enough.
On top of the fix it list should be separated bike lanes on St Kilda Road. St Kilda Road is one of the busiest bike routes into the city, but also a dangerous one that puts bike riders at risk of dooring.
Not only would separated lanes improve safety, but also work hand in hand with another project highlighted by Cr Frances Gilley on ABC Radio Melbourne.
Southbank Boulevard is set to be rejuvenated to become a green public space built for active transport, rather than cars.
"We're going to turn Southbank boulevard into a place of trees and walking" says Nicolas Frances Gilley 🚶
What do you think of the proposal? https://t.co/CFQVYifPmT— ABC Radio Melbourne (@abcmelbourne) October 23, 2017
Cr Frances Gilley is not just going to talk the talk either, committing to riding a bike, walking or taking public transport to get to work every day and leaving his private City of Melbourne car space empty.
