FAQ

Almost every trip we make requires walking and it is the cheapest, fairest and most sustainable form of transport. Council identified, various walking trips are occurring daily. A walking trip can originate from various places; home, school, shop, church, bus stop or parked vehicle etc. It is important that related infrastructure allows pedestrians to navigate walking in a safer manner.

This Pedestrian Access Plan proposes ways to have better connected and safer pedestrian walking within a shopping strip and around schools.  The investigations were undertaken through collection of data, observations, consultation with some users and stakeholders.

A draft Pedestrian Access Plan is prepared in the early stages of a project to develop and test measures to increase pedestrian safety and accessiblity. A Draft Plan can be changed or modified based on the testing results. Once a Draft Plan is agreed, a Final Plan will be developed.

The main types of crossing facilities are:

• Pedestrian refuge island

  

• Marked (zebra) crossing at road level

  

• Marked (zebra) crossing on a raised threshold (also called as a 'wombat crossing')

  

• Children’s crossing (operates only during morning and afternoon peak times during school days)
• Signalised crossing

Selection of a type of crossing appropriate for a site primarily depends on number of pedestrians crossing in and around, number of vehicles travelling through and site configuration. All pedestrian crossing design requires approval from Roads & Maritime Services and Local Traffic Committee which is a technical committee.

Generally, the installation of pedestrian crossings result in loss of kerbside parking.

For pedestrian refuge islands and marked (zebra) pedestrian crossings, it is necessary to provide up to 20 metres of No Stopping zones on the approaches and 10 metres of No Stopping on departure to the crossing to ensure motorists have good visibility of pedestrians in and around the crossing. These No Stopping zones can be reduced by extending the kerb line. 

Roads & Maritime Services approval is required to change a speed limit of a public road.

To reduce speeding, the installation of raised thresholds, speed cushions and slow points with kerb extensions are commonly used. In addition to the speed and traffic volume data, existing road width, potential loss of parking and landuses are also taken into account when assessing which measure is more appropriate for the location. 

The installation of traffic signals is managed and controlled by Roads & Maritime Services. There are number of factors influencing the provision of traffic signals, including traffic and pedestrian volumes, accident statistics, cost, and practicality etc.