As newly anointed local councillors across Victoria start settling into their roles, the Streets People Love campaign is calling on supporters to remind them of the pledge they made to creating better neighbourhoods.
The campaign, supported by Bicycle Network, Bicycle Users groups and community organisations, seeks to create safer, more pleasant neighbourhoods that encourage people to walk and ride.
A total of 496 candidates across Victoria engaged with Streets People Love (SPL) and were rated according to their commitment to measures that will help create more liveable local streets. Of these candidates, 94 were elected.
You can check out your local council area's results here.
"Now is a great time to introduce yourself to new councillors and, for those who took the pledge, remind them of the commitment they have made and ask them what their plans are to bring about change," says SPL spokesman Jeremy Lawrence.
"And for those councillors who didn't engage with SPL, introduce yourself and mention why these issues are important to you and ask them to meet you for a coffee and talk about them."
Lawrence says 371 candidates took the Streets People Love pledge and 85 of those were elected.
The pledge stated: "If elected councillor, I pledge to allocate budget and street space to build streets people love, and ensure that residents of all ages and abilities can safely move around our council area, irrespective of whether they choose to walk, cycle, wheel, use public transport or drive."
You can find who took the pledge in your local area here.
Also on the SPL website, (at the bottom of your local council page), you will find details of community groups who were part of the SPL campaign. If you'd like to get involved in local efforts to make things better for people who walk and ride, get in touch with these groups.
You can also find details of local Bicycle User Groups and advocacy organisations to join on the Bicycle Network website here.
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