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Action for Public Transport (N.S.W.) Inc.

Pedestrian safety - Sydney CBD

posted Sunday 22 July 2007
APTNSW has always been actively involved in the placement of, and the frequent re-location of bus stops in the CBD. The re-routing of inbound bus services from Bathurst Street to Druitt Street, as part of the Cross City Tunnel project, seems to have increased pedestrian / vehicle conflicts in Druitt Street.

City Council has assured us that it is working on improved facilities for passengers at the outbound bus stop in Druitt Street.

The following is from the Lord Mayor's 20 July 2007 newsletter-

SAFETY AUDIT FOR DRUITT STREET

In response to recent tragic accidents between pedestrians and buses in the Druitt Street precinct, I spoke with the Minister for Transport John Watkins to pursue a cooperative state and local government action.

At peak times, there can be as many as 600,000 people in central Sydney. Roads and Traffic Authority (RTA) data show 170 pedestrian/bus accidents in the City local government area in the five and a half years to 30 June 2006. Six of these were fatalities. Last year alone, 352 pedestrians were injured or killed on City of Sydney streets.

The Minster has agreed that buses in Druitt Street will be limited to 40 km/hr until a joint safety audit of the precinct and follow up action are completed. The audit by the City, RTA, State Transit Authority and Ministry of Transport will investigate:

The Minister has also agreed to Council staff participating in the working group for the State Government's CBD Bus Strategy. This will include consideration of centre lane bus lanes, where possible, as part of bus corridors in the CBD. I raised this option with the Minister, as fast moving buses in kerbside lanes reduce pedestrian safety and amenity. Relocating buses to the centre lane also provides for future transition to higher volume mass transit services on key routes.

My letter to the Minister also sought:

The City is committed to improving our pedestrian environment. We have a major footpath upgraded program underway and have engaged world-renown Gehl Architects to conduct a Public Life and Public Spaces Survey. Professor Gehl's work has helped reclaim for pedestrians diverse cities such as Copenhagen, London, Barcelona, Strasbourg and Melbourne.

The City is also currently running a pedestrian safety campaign, developed earlier this year with RTA funding. The program targets pedestrians ("Watch out cars about") near Town Hall, Wynyard and Central railway stations, and drivers ("Watch out people about"). The "Watch out people about" campaign includes advertising on STA buses urging drivers to slow down around pedestrians.



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