Help us make it easier, safer and more enjoyable for people to move around Melbourne as our city grows. Share your feedback on our draft transport strategy by 19 June.
By 2030, the number of people travelling to and within our city each day will grow from more than 900,000 today to more than 1.4 million.
As a City of Progress, we want to create a transport system that enhances city life for people and businesses.
Councillor Nicolas Frances Gilley MBE, Chair of the Transport portfolio, said the draft Transport Strategy 2030 will deliver a healthier, calmer and more spacious city for people to enjoy.
‘I used to drive my car or ride my scooter into the city. Now I cycle most days. Just by doing that – and I don’t go very fast – I can beat the traffic and the trams,’ Cr Frances Gilley said.
‘I’m fitter too, without spending money on a gym membership. Our plan for the city prioritises walking, cycling and public transport, and all these things are actually good for us.
‘Some people need to drive, but 43 per cent of vehicles entering the central city are simply travelling through, holding up hundreds of pedestrians waiting to cross the road. This is not delivering productivity.’
Melburnians are walking and catching public transport in the city more than ever before, and the proportion of private car use continues to decline. Eighty nine per cent of trips within the central city are made on foot, yet footpaths make up only 26 per cent of street space.
The draft strategy sets clear directions for Melbourne to 2030 so our transport infrastructure and street design keeps pace with changing travel behaviours.
‘Moving around more on foot has also made me realise what gets in the way, like people parking their scooters on the pavement. For people with prams and wheelchairs, it’s a huge impediment,’ Cr Frances Gilley said.
‘We want to create more space for people to walk, cycle, and drink coffee with friends on the pavement, under more trees, in one of the most beautiful cities in the world. If we’re not careful, we’ll lose that quality.’
The draft transport strategy proposes that by 2030 we will:
- repurpose the equivalent of 20 Bourke Street malls worth of public road and on-street parking spaces to create more space for pedestrians, cyclists, greening, trading and other important uses
- reduce congestion for all users by encouraging through traffic to avoid the central city
- convert central city ‘little streets’ into pedestrian priority shared zones
- create more than 50km of protected on-road bicycle lanes on key routes in the heart of the city
- work with the Victorian Government to deliver world-class, welcoming and safe public spaces around central city stations
- provide 300 additional motorcycle parking spaces to declutter our footpaths
- maintain access for essential car trips, especially for people with a disability, trade, service and emergency vehicles.
Visit Participate to provide feedback.
Tricia from Ringwood drives into the city and sometimes uses accessible trams
Your stories
We spoke to some everyday Melburnians – all of whom use more than one mode of transport – about their transport experiences and ideas.
Holly from Northcote rides her bike to uni and into the city. She has to be hyper-aware when she is riding on unprotected bike lanes to avoid car dooring and merging cars. She supports the City of Melbourne introducing more protected bike lanes to make Melbourne a safer city for bike riding.
Tricia from Ringwood needs to drive into the city as she has a disability and sometimes uses the accessible trams. She supports the City of Melbourne reforming car parking to improve access for those who need it, and the Victorian Government providing more accessible tram stops.
Victoria from North Melbourne walks to her work in Docklands. She avoids the main streets and intersections as she finds them overcrowded, and instead enjoys discovering the laneways. She supports the City of Melbourne transforming ‘little’ streets for pedestrians to link the laneways.
Matthew from Altona commutes to Parkville by train and bus. He finds public transport quicker than driving, but thinks it is frustrating when the trains are overcrowded. He would like to see a public transport system that is more frequent and more reliable.
Lucy from Kensington rides her motorbike to work in East Melbourne and also catches the tram around the city. She would like to see more dedicated on-street motorbike parking as she finds these safer and less obstructive to pedestrians than parking on the footpath.
