What is needed to make moving around Moreland safer and easier for everyone?
People travel around Moreland on foot, bicycle, public transport, or by car. Council helps people to get around by providing or improving footpaths, bicycle lanes, street lighting, local roads and public car parking. Council works with state government to improve public transport and major roads.
Transport is a complex issue. Council must balance the needs of different groups when making decisions. For example, increasing one transport mode might impact on another. And this could affect community members differently. In all decisions, it’s important to consider accessibility.
The decisions Council makes on transport impacts many aspects of our city and lives. This includes safety, equity, accessibility, sustainability, our local economy and neighbourhoods.
For more detailed information on this topic, please refer to the topic paper on this page.
Key Issues
Opportunities in this space might include:
- Encourage research and investment into projects that prioritise walking and cycling.
- Trial innovative solutions to transport problems before making final decisions. For example, pop-up bike lanes, shared zones and road closures.
- Increase community education on the benefits of walking and cycling for local trips.
- Encourage a shift away from reliance on privately-owned fossil-fuelled vehicles. Support a long-term vision of greater uptake of walking and cycling, public transport and mobility services using shared vehicles powered by 100% renewable energy.
- Continue to use parking policy to guide parking at a local level.
- Ensure that everyone has access to a range of transport choices that empower and provide independence.
- Advocate to the state government for improved public transport, particularly in the north of Moreland and accessible options.
Challenges in this space might include:
- Moreland requires State or Crown (Federal Government) approval to make alterations to most roads, bicycle and pedestrian infrastructure.
- Many decisions on transport require balancing competing interests and may result in improvements for some people but have a negative impact on others.
- Public transport is generally better in the south of Moreland than it is in the north. Council does not operate any public transport service, but advocates to the state government and public transport operators on the community’s behalf.
- As Moreland’s population grows, the city will need to facilitate a shift in the way people travel to protect liveability and ensure people can continue to move around efficiently, conveniently and safely.
- The COVID-19 pandemic has changed how people get around. Congestion is predicted to increase in some areas as people prefer to drive than use public transport.
- Change is needed to how road space is allocated. For example, parking should not detract from the safety of those on cycling routes or around schools.
- Most tram stops in Moreland are not accessible. While all buses and train stations in Moreland are accessible, routes to these services may not be fully accessible.
