ITS Monday: Edition 40, 2020

Safer cycling and more routes to keep Melbourne moving

Another week, another announcement about cycling lanes, this time from Melbourne. In the wording of this announcement from the Victorian Government this is tp happen soon, and is with an eye to a COVID-normal scenario. ‘With more people expected to use cars to get around, this $13 million investment will deliver pop-up lanes to help relieve congestion and provide an alternative to public transport for those living closer to the CBD. The changes will improve travel options from inner-Melbourne areas such as Footscray, Northcote and St Kilda.’

Could e-scooters be the answer to impending COVID-19 gridlock?

Staying in Melbourne, and staying with micromobility, again we are talking about scooters and the difficulties in Australia to get them safely on our roads. Like the article above, this one is concerned with looking at scooters could be congestion busters in a COVID-normal scenario. ‘Melbourne has not been a welcoming place for shared transport options,’ says the article. One problem is the roadblock on addressing the questions regarding speed limits and scooter power output. There is some movement on this, as ‘The Department of Transport is waiting for a review led by the National Transport Commission to investigate the use of scooters before recommending any law changes.’

An insight into the UK shared e-scooter trials

In the UK there has been some new regulations put in place for e-scooter share schemes. This overview takes a look at the new regulations, and at some of the new trials of this mode of transport. The overall vibe? I think we could peg it all as hopeful, rather than successful. So far.

Sydney’s eastern suburbs in a twist over return of share bikes

Did I mention that in Australia there is/has been trouble in share micromobility land? Share bicycles are back on Sydney streets, and the same old issues are being debated. And let’s just say that one Sydney suburban mayor has not exactly welcomed the mode back.

City of Melbourne identifies key outdoor dining precincts to help businesses recover from coronavirus shutdowns

We may have covered this, or parts of this, in earlier editions of ITS Monday, but how we allocate space on our streets is an important discussion to have, and it’s a discussion that has been advanced because of the pandemic. This article outlines the places for which change is slated, along with this big statement from a City of Melbourne spokesperson: “There is no public space that we won’t look at. If it makes sense to use it then we’ll be making it available.”

Warrnambool’s free parking trial backfires as motorists ‘overstay their welcome’

Parking is another hot button issue in space allocation on streets. In Warrnambool after pressure from local shop owners the council trialled free parking. How did it go? The headline may give the outcome away …

Lazy economics uses planning as a scapegoat

A response to the NSW Productivity Commission Green Paper, and its arguments on losening zoning. ‘The decisions we make now will have a lasting impact. We cannot afford to throw away the processes that make our urban and regional economies strong, protect our environment and keep our communities healthy and engaged. There hasn’t been a more challenging time for NSW in living memory and as we rebuild a functioning economy, we need a functioning planning system to support it.’