WalkSydney: February 2022
WalkSydney: February 2022
Events and achievements
Road Safety Joint Committee
On 12th October 2021, our committee member Prof. David Levinson was invited to give testimony to the Joint Select Committee on Road Safety. He did a tremendous job busting myths around distracted pedestrians and explaining the benefits of 30km/h speed limits. Find out more here.
Meeting with Rob Stoke’s office
On 18th February 2022, WalkSydney was invited to speak with the Office of Rob Stokes, our new Minister for active transport and cities. We presented our 3 key asks to the state government:
Alliance supporting 30km/h speed limits in Liverpool
WalkSydney, 30Please and Safe-Streets-to-School support the 30km/h trial zone in Liverpool. Research shows that a fatal injury to a pedestrian is at least twice as likely to occur in a crash at 40km/h than at 30km/h. The Liverpool Champion reported.
Local government candidate survey
Before the local government election, WalkSydney sent a survey to all councillors in Greater Sydney about their views on walkability in their respective LGA. 64 candidates from 25 LGAs participated in our survey. A striking 100% of councillors who responded said that we need to make it safer and easier for children to walk and ride to school.
Blog posts
Open Streets in Greater Sydney
It’s always good when people take to the streets. List of official street festivals, markets, and the like that take place in Greater Sydney in 2022.
Who can ride on footpaths and shared pathways and what are the rules?
A refresher on existing rules around footpaths and shared paths.
Australian children score low on mental and physical wellbeing
Australia scores 32 out of 38 rich countries on child well-being outcomes. Countries like the Netherlands where children are independently travelling from a young age score the highest on children wellbeing and happiness.
WalkSydney recommends adopting a hierarchy of road users like in the UK.
Secrets of Successful High Streets
The Committee for Sydney has mapped 120 of Sydney’s high streets and provides analysis of which attributes make a high street work.
Crosswalks are pedestrian crossings and some need zebra crossings
Zebra crossings between footpaths, especially alongside main roads, would help correct the confusion and ambiguities created by the road rules and help drivers understand their responsibilities.
Visit our webpage for more blog posts and click here for our previous newsletter.
Alliance for three transport priorities
On 14th February a new alliance of 13 Australian organisations was formed to get federal MPs to focus on three transport priorities, the first one being lower urban speed limits.
The alliance includes 30Please and Safe Streets to School, the Heart Foundation, the Australasian College of Road Safety and the Climate Council calling for #threetransportpriorities - the first priority being lower urban speed limits.
Media reported. Individuals can pledge support here.
Join
You can join WalkSydney and get involved with activities and ideas to make Greater Sydney safe and pleasant for pedestrians. People-friendly streets are the foundation of healthy, inclusive, connected, and sustainable communities.
We are run by a committee of volunteers.
Help make walking in your local LGA better. We meet monthly on Saturday afternoons, the next (virtual) meeting will take place on 26th February 2022. Our next non-virtual meeting is planned for 26th March 2022.