The promotion of a modal shift away from private cars towards to more sustainable forms of transportation is be welcomed. However, to achieve these goals some objectives in the Draft Development Plan need to strengthened.
For example, Transport Objective 49, ‘to investigate reducing speed limits in appropriate urban areas to 30km[/h] in collaboration with key stakeholders’ doesn’t go far enough. The majority of streets and roads in the city centre following the Special Speed Limit Bye-Laws 2017 remain at 50km/h. The likelihood of achieving a ten percent modal share for cycling is very slim without a widespread adoption of a speed limit of 30km/h.
Transport Objective 25 is also to be welcomed but ought to also investigate the potential for ‘Park and Pedal’ facilities in conjunction with the proposed bike share scheme.
The most problematic objective is Transport Objective 50, and in particular, the plan to extend R710 Outer Orbital Route around the city. The completion of this project, which according to the transport map, runs through land zoned for conservation will have the effect of inducing private car demand – hindering the council’s ability to achieve its active transport targets. This contradicts the council’s commitment to strengthen ‘sustainable connections between people and place’, ‘reduce carbon emissions’, and to provide ‘greater opportunities for biodiversity’ (p. 175).
Regarding the transport map, there is no plan to improve cycling infrastructure into the city for commuters crossing Rice Bridge, particularly from the Sallypark direction. The planned provision of a pedestrian-cycle bridge will not help cyclists entering the city from this direction. Taking one lane from the four-lane carriageway to provide a 'cycle-superhighway' would give commuters an active transport option of entering the city and could be achieved in the short-term.