How can we get the best out of active transport? This is a terrific report in its scope and content. Well done to Austroads, Dr. Elliot Fishman and coauthors, and everyone involved. I’m particularly pleased to see behaviour programs thoroughly described and justified. Infrastructure alone can only ever be a partial solution. It’s great to see a holistic and comprehensive approach. While it doesn’t actually refer to “systems thinking” it definitely demonstrates many of its attributes. The best outcomes will be achieved by a combination of integrated high value programs. I’d make three comments: 1. The note for the hatched area on Figure 7.4 is unnecessary and distracting. Even if a “Combination of high volumes and low speeds are very rare”, such locations still need to be managed. After spending 6 weeks in inner Melbourne, I’ve found many such locations. This figure also raises the issue about what is meant by speed - speed limit, travel speed, 85%, maximum, or something else? 2. The report touches on processes but only barely. A fundamental flaw in providing for, promoting and maximising active transport is the substandard transport planning processes and project planning. For instance, the Metronet projects in Perth had behaviour change programs to maximise active transport and patronage in the cost-benefit justification. But the programs were deleted because they were ‘operational’ not projects costs. Active transport projects and programs need to be normalised in transport planning. 3. People are important. Professionals and others involved need to be capable (skilled, knowledgeable, experienced), be motivated and have good attitudes. This report provides a very good basis for the ‘knowledge’ part. Unfortunately, I’ve had far too many conversations with people involved in transport decisions who are ignorant, skeptical and blatantly antagonistic on the basis of personal opinion. So professional development is essential, in transport and beyond. Craig Wooldridge Michelle Prior Helen Ginbey
How do we increase active transport mode share in Australia and NZ? We recently completed an 18-month project for Austroads focused entirely on this question. We looked at a wide range of measures and identified their impact, cost, and complexity. The Guidance document is intended to help transport and planning agencies boost the proportion of trips by foot and bicycle. We look at everything from car parking, modal filters, and protected bike lanes, through to land use planning measures to boost density. We are running three webinars on this project. The document itself, as well as the webinar registration page can be found here: https://lnkd.in/gAvJ_Nd4
Love the visual summaries in this report, nicely done!
Industry PhD - Professional advisory Land use and Mobility - Evidence based leading Research. Travel patterns and Behaviours
6mowas it just infrastructure or some behavioural science applied