WalkSydney Sydney

Improvements coming for Sydney CBD

View of Hunter St, Sydney, after being pedestrianised

The City of Sydney is planning to make certain streets in the north of the Sydney CBD more walkable. This is a very promising step forward. Soon, two new Metro train stations will open in this part of the city. Along with other major projects nearby, this will lead to even more people on footContinue reading “Improvements coming for Sydney CBD”

WalkSydney submission on the Draft Climate Change Policy and Action Plan

To the NSW Environmental Protection Agency, This is the WalkSydney submission on the Draft Climate Change Policy and Action Plan. WalkSydney is the peak advocacy group working to make it easier, safer and more pleasant to walk in Sydney. WalkSydney’s vision is that “Walking will be convenient, accessible, safe and enjoyable for everyone.” In particular,Continue reading “WalkSydney submission on the Draft Climate Change Policy and Action Plan”

Mapping Sydney Billboards: Every QMS advertising panel in Sydney

Through August and October I visited every QMS advertising panel in the City of Sydney. I surveyed their location and ref code to add to OpenStreetMap, an open geospatial database that powers many maps worldwide. I uploaded photos of many displays to Mapillary, which you can view by clicking on pins in the map above.

Halloween in our streets

People walking along residential street during Halloween

In Australian suburban streets, Halloween is the day that shows us what is possible. Neighbourhoods become places where people take priority over cars. On this day, people get to see what a truly walkable suburb looks like, as throngs of families flood their local streets to explore, admire decorations, door knock, catch up and eatContinue reading “Halloween in our streets”

Access and place improvements: The Grand Parade – Kyeemagh to Sans Souci

[A submission I made personally to the Bayside Council, but it might be of general interest] When asked to “Have Your Say” on “Access and place improvements: The Grand Parade – Kyeemagh to Sans Souci”, input is requested based on the proposed changes without any evidence provided about the justification for, or consequences of theContinue reading “Access and place improvements: The Grand Parade – Kyeemagh to Sans Souci”

Western Distributor Road Network Improvements (from Anzac Bridge to the Sydney Harbour Bridge) Review of Environmental Factors

Rob Sharp Secretary, Transport for NSW 20-44 Ennis RdMilsons Point NSW 2061 Cc Trudi Mares, Deputy Secretary Greater SydneyCc Camilla Drover, Deputy Secretary, Infrastructure and Place Cc Simon Hunter, Chief Transport Planner, TfNSW Dear Rob Sharp, This is the WalkSydney submission on the Western Distributor Road Network Improvements (from Anzac Bridge to the Sydney Harbour Bridge) Review of Environmental Factors (Sep-Oct 2022). WalkSydneyContinue reading “Western Distributor Road Network Improvements (from Anzac Bridge to the Sydney Harbour Bridge) Review of Environmental Factors”

Objection to the removal of automated pedestrian crossings

25th October 2022 WalkSydney Incorporated http://www.walksydney.org Level 4, 68 Wentworth Ave, Surry Hills NSW 2010 Rob StokesMinister for Cities Infrastructure and Active Transport 52 Martin PlaceSYDNEY NSW 2000 Cc Rob Sharp, Secretary, Transport for NSWCc Trudi Mares, Deputy Secretary Greater SydneyCc Camilla Drover, Deputy Secretary, Infrastructure and Place Cc Simon Hunter, Chief Transport Planner, TfNSW Dear Minister, We are writing to objectContinue reading “Objection to the removal of automated pedestrian crossings”

Don’t penalise non-drivers

In a number of situations in life it’s necessary to provide photo identification. The most common way for people to do this in NSW is with a Driver Licence. What do people who don’t drive do? I’m one of them. Allow me to explain. We have to provide a Photo Card which costs $57 forContinue reading “Don’t penalise non-drivers”

Walking Sightless – an Experience

954 likes poppitheguidedog Warning this post is triggering and involves the near death or injury of Poppi and myself. I have been left feeling shaken, helpless and a like Poppi and I don't matter. Poppi was guiding me through the main street in our home city of Parramatta. We were on the foot path (or so we thought) when suddenly I heard heavy breaking and discovered Poppi and I were in the middle of the road. Poppi tried to get me off the road and we ended up in another road. Before this, we had also crossed a busy street with NO idea. How did this happen? Our state has introduced a new design of major cities with light rails running through them. They have created a "boulevard" look that makes everything from the tram lines, roads and surrounds look like one giant foot path. There is no difference between the road and foot path from looks, levels, materials. NOTHING. Why did they do this? It looks pretty and gives a sense pedestrians can walk for miles. Poppi who is a great guide dog no longer has any clue where the footpath ends and a road begins and nor do I. The state designers say this is ok beause they have put down dots that are meant to tell me there is a hazzard. Now I have to find the dots, then guess what they mean. To be honest I'm not very good at ths game. I also have a wide walking gait and can easily walk straight over them. I can also barely feel them and well.... Suprise but I CAN'T SEE THEM. I feel so sad that I literally can not go into my main city independantly. Worse still, they love this design and don't want to change so I won't be able to go to many major cities anymore. Sydney CBD included. I've never felt more disabled. This is a picture of Poppi looking really sad and confused as industry professionals (blindness, council and project leads) try to test if Poppi and I can recognise the new dots to tell us there is a road. We failed. (Or perhaps, the designers failed.) #GuideDog #GuidedogsAustralia #Dog #Labrador #Parramatta #ParramattaLlghtRail #Disability #Death #Cruelty #TransportNSW #PawGust2022 view all 88 comments

This a repost from Instagram with permissionpoppitheguidedog 954 likespoppitheguidedog Warning this post is triggering and involves the near death or injury of Poppi and myself.I have been left feeling shaken, helpless and a like Poppi and I don’t matter. Poppi was guiding me through the main street in our home city of Parramatta. We wereContinue reading “Walking Sightless – an Experience”

Better Transport for Sydney

We asked our Twitter readership what they would do to make transport in Sydney better. Below we synthesise and organise their responses below. Note, no one said “build more motorways”. The general sentiment was to prioritise those making shorter trips, prioritise safety, and prioritise people throughput above all else. We don’t endorse all of theseContinue reading “Better Transport for Sydney”

Walking and cycling should lead mobility post-social distancing

The COVID-19 (coronavirus) pandemic has shown us that we need to look differently at the way we go about our day-to-day lives and offers a great opportunity to rethink our mobility for more livable and safer cities. Many cities around the globe are turning to walking and the trusty bicycle to help them navigate theContinue reading “Walking and cycling should lead mobility post-social distancing”

WalkSydney Gets Results: Whose turn? The strange case of Golden Grove Street and Darlington Road — Resolved

In March 2020 we wrote “Whose turn? The strange case of Golden Grove Street and Darlington Road“. (You can see details there) We are pleased to report that the intersection, which connects the Darlington Campus of the University of Sydney with Newtown, has been improved for pedestrians. There is now a raised pedestrian crossing (aContinue reading “WalkSydney Gets Results: Whose turn? The strange case of Golden Grove Street and Darlington Road — Resolved”

International Energy Agency calls for more walking, and car-free Sundays

The conflict in the Ukraine has led to huge price spikes for oil, devastating many people across the world. The International Energy Agency (IEA) has released a ten-point plan for advanced economies to “lower oil demand by 2.7 million barrels a day within four months – equivalent to the oil demand of all the carsContinue reading “International Energy Agency calls for more walking, and car-free Sundays”

Pedestrian fatality in Ashfield

Image shows missing barrier along pavement under the railway underpass on Frederick St, taken 3/3/21.

The news that a pedestrian was struck and killed by a driver in a vehicle while on a zebra crossing on Frederick St in Ashfield on March 13 is terrible. We would like to extend their sympathies to the family and friends of the victim, and also to the driver. This is a horrible burdenContinue reading “Pedestrian fatality in Ashfield”

Peter Norton: Autonorama: The Illusory Promise of High-Tech Driving

On March 12, 2022, (March 11, 2022 where Peter was speaking) Peter Norton talked to WalkSydney, EcoTransit, and Friends of Erskineville … A recording of the talk is here: https://www.facebook.com/walksydney/videos/652985232452991 Bio: Peter Norton is associate professor of history in the Department of Engineering and Society at the University of Virginia, where he teaches history ofContinue reading “Peter Norton: Autonorama: The Illusory Promise of High-Tech Driving”

Open Streets in Greater Sydney

It’s always good when people take to the streets. Below are some official street festivals, markets, and the like that take place in Greater Sydney in 2022. While COVID did a number on these over the past two years, the city is awakening from its pandemic slumber. If you know of other active open streetContinue reading “Open Streets in Greater Sydney”

Australian children score low on mental and physical wellbeing

There is a perception that Australia is a great country for children to grow up in. While certainly, Australia has some of the best nature and weather on offer, not all children are benefitting equally from this. Unicef published a report on children’s wellbeing from rich countries. Australia scores 32 out of 38 on childContinue reading “Australian children score low on mental and physical wellbeing”

UK Highway Code Commences

On 29 January 2022 changes to The UK Highway Code came into effect. The Highway Code is the UK’s version of the road rules. A hierarchy of road users assists all road users and guides decision-making in situations where there are a variety of road users in the same public space. Changes to the UKContinue reading “UK Highway Code Commences”

Summer Streets Series Sydney

If you have time and are in the area today, go check out car-free Redfern Street (Sunday 23 Jan)! It’s really exciting to see City of Sydney transforming local streets into car-free zones for a series of special events, an initiative to support small business, and provide outdoor entertainment for residents. Some observations from peopleContinue reading “Summer Streets Series Sydney”

Secrets of Successful High Streets

Committee for Sydney has mapped 120 of Sydney’s high streets On analysis it was found that these attributes make a high street work: Prioritise pedestrians; Allow cars; Reduce speed (to 30km/h) Narrow carriageways; Frequent zebra (pedestrian) crossings; Continuous retail; Critical mass of local customers; Relatively short; North/south orientation; Awnings; Victorian Buildings (not too high). AspectsContinue reading “Secrets of Successful High Streets”