Pedestrian safety - Sydney CBD
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-

<h3>SAFETY AUDIT FOR DRUITT STREET</h3>

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:
<ul>
<li>speed limits and traffic flows on Druitt Street;
<li>traffic light phasing;
<li>pedestrian crossing times and movements;
<li>pedestrian barriers and safety signage; and
<li>reinstalling the red light camera and pedestrian crossing on the
eastern side of Clarence Street.
</ul>

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:
<ul>
<li>State Government reconsideration of the City's proposed 40 kph
 speed limit in Central Sydney. As vehicle speed greatly increases the adverse outcomes of a crash, the RTA has a program enabling Councils to request 40km/h speed limits in high pedestrian activity areas.
In 2005, the RTA rejected the City's 40 km/h proposal.

<li>A trial of "count down" timers for pedestrian signals around Town
Hall Train Station. These timers, which are used in many cities
internationally, keep pedestrians and motorists informed of when the lights will change and help reduce the temptation to cross against the lights.
</ul>
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.