Mel Yuan for Brunswick

Walk on Moreland’s aims are to create a “walking culture” in Merri-bek https://walkonmoreland.wordpress.com/ They invited me to complete their “Merri-bek Streets People Love Candidate Pledge and Survey” and here are my answers (with commentary).

Pledge: 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. Yes

Increasing greenery, including tree planting and pocket park projects, not only makes our streets more pleasant for residents to use but helps cool neighbourhoods and provides resting spaces for those moving around by foot, scooter, bicycle, wheeled devices and public transport. Do you support Council finding more outdoor space to plant trees and understory even when it means re-allocating road space? Yes

Research has clearly established that vehicle speed is a key factor in road trauma. Higher speeds result in more crashes as well as increasing crash severity. Lower traffic speeds contribute to more walking, cycling and wheeling and general use of the streets, resulting in physical and mental health benefits as well as improved social cohesion, personal safety and equality. Do you support and will you advocate for resumption of Council’s trial of 30kph zones in Merri-bek? Yes. This is an interesting question as I live in a 40 kph zone and the implementation of this was poor. There is only a painted “40” sign on Union Street and no speed signs on posts. Newer cars with speed sign detection would not spot this and they’re not very visible to drivers.

Increasingly, arterial road traffic is being diverted onto the local streets that residents use to move, socialise and build community. 

Do you support modal filtering (road design that allows for specific modes of traffic), lower speed limits and other measures to preserve these streets for residents to live, work, play and move around? Yes. Another interesting question as it is Council policy to use side-streets to outlet high density development car parks into. I have heard little about how this impacts non-car road users.

Public Transport is an important part of transport accessibility and needs to be frequent and reliable to provide a real option for residents. As a Councillor will you support the Northern Council’s Alliance’s call for the duplication and extension of the Upfield Rail Line and an improved, fast, frequent and connected grid of electric buses? Yes. Maybe. Public transport is a network and the modes of public transport could be a mix of things, not just electric buses.

Protected bike lanes provide a space for residents to move around by bicycle, scooter and mobility device. They provide an important transport option to many residents including the many in our communities who can’t independently travel by car. Will you support building quality protected bike lanes in Merri-bek even when it means re-allocating road space during your term on Council? Yes. The biggest step-change was clearly the pandemic when lack of traffic prompted massive development of bike lanes.

Equitable access to the tram network is compromised by the lack of accessible tram stops throughout Melbourne. This impacts some of the most vulnerable people in our communities. Do you support advocacy to the State Government for accessible tram stops to be built along Sydney Road, Melville Road and Grantham Street,  and Lygon, Holmes and Nicholson Streets? Yes. This is a substantial policy goal of Walk on Moreland and they have been campaigning actively. However I think State Government funding for these project is “a train that ain’t gonna come”. The current Labor state government and future incoming Liberal state governments are not going to prioritise this investment in Brunswick and the inner north. New policy outcomes are needed.

Do you support reallocating road space in activity centres to build raised crossings and wider footpaths, install seating and create sociable spaces to make it safer, easier and more pleasant for residents and visitors to move around these areas? Yes.

These are important outcomes for Brunswick and the inner north. We are incredibly fortunate to have a “traditional” streetscape of high streets, trams, and street strip shops. Increasing density makes improving local amenity one of Council’s highest priorities.