Posts Tagged ‘public transport’
Sustainable Cities, Sustainable Transport Public Forum
Posted in Events by Virginia on March 25th, 2009
Do we understand the extent to which global change will shape our cities? How liveable will our cities be in the future? What will they look like? How many people will be living in them by 2050 and 2100? Where will the food come from to feed them? What resources will be available to maintain and operate city services and its infrastructure? How much of the infrastructure we are building today will have value in the future? Do we really know what future we should be planning for? – These are critical questions that should be reflected in government policy yet almost all of today’s planning policies continue to be based on business as usual approaches. This forum aims to address these questions and consider the implications for city and transport planning.
Complete and return Registration Form and Payment by Monday 23rd March 2009 by fax, mail or as outlined below:
Fax: 03 95318748
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Public Transport and the Elderly
Posted in Policies by Ferne Edwards on January 16th, 2009
The section below is republished with permission from the Going Solar Transport Newsletter #92, 5 January 2009, compiled by Stephen Ingrouille. Going Solar newsletter provides an excellent commentary on local sustainable transport issues in Melbourne.
“Victorias public transport will be adapted for the elderly – including better staying healthy. Aged Care Minister Lisa Neville promised the Government would act on some of the report’s recommendations, including an education program for bus, train and tram drivers to accelerate and brake smoothly to prevent seniors falling. The minister said she would work with hospital administrators to establish better transport links between Southern Cross Station and public hospitals, with a senior bus service one possibility.â€
Ref: Marika Dobbin, The Age, 18/12/08
The Call for Lower Speed Limits
Posted in Research by Devin Maeztri on December 10th, 2008
The section below is republished with permission from the Going Solar Transport Newsletter #87, 25 November 2008, compiled by Stephen Ingrouille. Going Solar newsletter provides an excellent commentary on local sustainable transport issues in Melbourne.
“Roads Minister Tim Pallas has dismissed calls to cut car speeds across Melbourne that proponents say will improve road safety for pedestrians and cyclists. Research released yesterday by the Safe Speed Interest Group, a coalition of councils and the Heart Foundation, found that dropping speed limits to 30km/h on suburban streets would cut pedestrian injuries. And it would improve community health by encouraging more to walk and cycle, the research found. ‘The evidence is incontrovertible: lowering speed limits increases safety, said Yarra councillor and the coalition’s spokeswoman, Jackie Fristacky.
People Plan for Melbourne
Posted in Policies by Devin Maeztri on November 7th, 2008
The Australian Greens Victoria have just launched a new Melbourne transport website and discussion paper called The People Plan. Also watch the The Brumby Mole YouTube video to see more about this plan!
This would cost $4 billion less than the Eddington proposals and deliver a massive increase in public transport usage, right across Melbourne. The website contains a map showing the train, tram and bus lines/extensions/ services we propose. Rationales and costings are in the supporting document. A massive effort is needed from to help communicate this plan to the general public, and ensure it is seen as the positive alternative to driving-as-usual proposal.
Please talk to your workmates, family, friends, neighbours and others about it, and send the website address to everyone who might be interested i.e. everyone who lives in or visits Melbourne, or cares about people and the planet.
Download the Discussion Paper on the Future of Melbourne’s Public Transport System for more information about The People Plan.
In the news on cars and climate
Posted in Policies by Ferne Edwards on August 20th, 2008
The section below is republished with permission from the Going Solar Transport Newsletter #73, 19 August 2008, compiled by Stephen Ingrouille. Going Solar, www.goingsolar.com.au/transport. This newsletter provides an excellent commentary on local sustainable transport issues in Melbourne.
Love in a Car Climate
“There seems to be an idea rattling around, driven by concerns about global warming, that we need to stop building roads and using cars, and take to public transport to save the planet. Governments are expected to underwrite this change by creating a public transport system that would obviate car use. Essentially, the formulation is: public transport good, automobiles evil. We don’t need that sort of mania. There’s no doubt that public transport has to keep improving and becoming more attractive, not just for environmental reasons, but for our economy to function more effectively. And socially, public transport has positive effects. Anything that can bring people together in a shared purpose is good, and that’s really what happens on a bus or a train or a tram. … But there’s no turning back: we’re a car-based society. The choice was made a long time ago.
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