MEDIA RELEASE

Community Group ‘Walk On Moreland’ Seeks Improvements to Unsafe Pedestrian Crossing on Munro Street, Coburg

Release: Friday, 30 March 2012

Pedestrian advocacy group Walk On Moreland is raising community awareness and promoting action on improved infrastructure to improve the safety and enjoyment of walking in Moreland.

The group’s catchphrase ‘Walking in freedom is the essence of human dignity’ sums up their stance on pedestrian advocacy as an issue of democratic rights.  

“The dangers in our streets [from cars] are present for all of us” says coordinator and local resident Nataniel Wolfson “however as a community we generally leave it to the pedestrians to take responsibility for avoiding these dangers.  The most vulnerable is responsible for avoiding the most dangerous.  And this is where Walk On Moreland draws the link between pedestrian advocacy and democratic rights.”

“Walking is fundamental to our wellbeing and happiness, yet almost everywhere we turn in our neighbourhoods, pedestrians feel like second class citizens” said Mr Wolfson.

The group especially highlights the experience of more vulnerable community members, such as children, the older people, or people with difficulty walking quickly or for long distances.  

To illustrate the point, Mr Wolfson suggests an experiment:  “Leave your house on a nice stroll during the day.  See how long it takes until you need to look out for your own personal safety, for fear of being hit by a car.  Or to have to negotiate your way around a light pole, a driveway, or a bin.  Then put yourself in the shoes of someone who could only walk half your speed, had trouble with steps, or couldn't anticipate a car's movements.  Now, try to cross a road.”

The group’s current focus is advocating for urgent safety improvements at the intersection of Munro Street, Railway Place and the Upfield Bike Path, in Coburg.  Walk On Moreland has identified this location as a major safety problem spot, with recent observations by the group showing that every hour each afternoon about 200 pedestrians and cyclists attempt to cross between 1,500 cars.  

To demonstrate the high level of community support for improvements here, the group recently collected 150 signatures from concerned community members, which they have used to seek support from Council and local representatives.

A roadside community gathering will be held at the Munro Street railway crossing on Wednesday 11^th April to promote the need for urgent safety improvements.  The goal is to raise community awareness and support for installation of a safe crossing such as traffic lights at this intersection.  Walk On Moreland invites all interested community members to drop past and add their support.

Join Walk On Moreland at the intersection of Munro Street, Railway Place and the Upfield Bike Path on Wednesday 11^th April 2012 from 3.30-5.30pm or visit our website walkonmoreland.blogspot.com.au or Facebook page for further details.

Media Contact: Nataniel Wolfson, Coordinator, Walk On Moreland,walkonmoreland@gmail.com, ph 0405354570.