City calls for 40 km/hr speed zone to make inner Sydney safer

27 August 2009

The City of Sydney is calling on the NSW Government to follow international best practice and make our CBD and inner suburbs safer for pedestrians.

During a presentation at a Staysafe Committee Inquiry into Pedestrian Safety at Parliament House this morning, the City said councils should be given the power to set local speed limits.

"Just 15% of people travel to work in the Sydney CBD by car, and the rest - 85% - travel on foot, by bike or public transport.  It's time we made this majority a priority," Sydney's Lord Mayor Clover Moore MP said.

 "In 2007 pedestrians made up 28.3% of road casualties within the City of Sydney, compared to 8.3% on average for the rest of the State.

"We've been lobbying the RTA for years to introduce a flat 40 kilometre zone in the CBD, and on local roads throughout the City's Local Government Area, but they continue to sit on their hands and pedestrians are put at risk by cars travelling at dangerous speeds.  We're now calling on the RTA to give local councils the power to set appropriate speed limits on local roads," said Ms Moore.

"Internationally renowned urban designer Jan Gehl helped create our Sustainable Sydney 2030 plan which promotes sustainable transport including cycling and walking, but for that to succeed we have to make sure cyclists and people walking in our City are safe.

More than 850,000 people come to Sydney on a typical weekday and as the number of residents and commuters walking and cycling to work increases there is growing potential for more conflict between pedestrians, cyclists and motor vehicles. 

The solution to this increasing competition for limited road space, congestion and the environmental impact of pollution and greenhouse gas emissions is to follow the example of many cities around the world and restrict motor vehicle movement where people walk or ride bicycles. 

The City of Sydney made a number of recommendations to the inquiry in a bid to reduce the number of crashes involving pedestrians and improve the attitude and behaviour of drivers towards pedestrians and cyclists:

• local councils be given the power to approve appropriate lower speed limits on local roads including 10 km/h Shared Zones.
• pedestrian green crossing times be increased at all signalised crossings, particularly in central Sydney and main arterial roads.
• the RTA urgently trial appropriate pedestrian crossing countdown timers;
• the standard speed limit for High Pedestrian Activity Areas, such as central Sydney,  be set at 40km/h;
• a standard 40km/h speed limit in local traffic areas, particularly where Pedestrian, Cycling and Traffic Calming Plans have been developed in consultation with the local community and adopted by the local Council;
• revised criteria for 10 km/h Shared Zones should be revised to include consideration of the specific needs of the relevant Local Government Area, including prioritising pedestrian volumes over vehicle movements;
• education programs be introduced for all road users on appropriate driver interaction with pedestrians and cyclists.

"Central Sydney has the highest mix of pedestrians and cars of any city in Australia and we should be recognising walking and cycling as legitimate and preferable forms of transport, as they have positive economic, social and environmental benefits," said the Lord Mayor.

"We're working towards a world-class Sydney that is pedestrian and bicycle friendly by rolling out dedicated, separated cycleways, wider footpaths, kerb extensions, road-safety stencilling and education programs. With the support of the State Government and its agencies, we have the potential to do much more."

Media Contact: Amy Glancey 02 9265 9201 or aglancey@cityofsydney.nsw.gov.au