The map shows Walk On's 'Walking Improvement Hotspots' around Moreland. This is where we'll identify the Crossings, Footpaths, Streets that need urgent improvement. Hotspots are the rallying points for our vision to promote a culture of walking in Moreland.
How Walk On Hotspots Work:
- NOMINATE. To nominate a hotspot you would like to see improved, make a comment at the bottom of the page. Be sure to include the location, specific problems, and an indication of the level of pedestrian activity.
- DISCUSS. To discuss your hotspot with other people, make a reply to the hotspot nomination. Use this discussion to gather support for your hotspot, and form ideas about what needs to be done.
- SUPPORT. Show your support for a hotspot by signing a petition or supporters list. We will use the votes to form Walk On's priority hotspots list.
- ACT. Adopt your Hotspot, and act to improve it. Team up with your Walk On buddies to monitor it, research it, write to MPs and Council, get media exposure, and hold community actions.
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Nominated 'Walking Improvement Hotspots':
Click to see details and status
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View Walking Hotspots in a larger map
Our focus is on Hotspots in Moreland - ie Coburg, Brunswick, Fawkner, Hadfield, Pascoe Vale, Glenroy, Oak Park and surrounding suburbs.
I'm nominating a Crossing HotSpot at the intersection of Munro Street and Railway Place. This intersection is always busy with people walking to and from the Coburg shops and the station, and with people on bikes using the Upfield Bike Path. It's dangerous because there is poor visibility due to a rise at the railway crossing, and cars come flying down the hill into Coburg.
ReplyDeleteRe-posting of original reply by user 'mickofcoburg' 15/3/12
Deletemickofcoburg writes:
The Railway Place / Munro St intersection is becoming increasingly dangerous and I fear it is only a matter of time before a pedestrian, cyclist or motorist is seriously injured or killed.
The new appartments built on that corner have added to the problems. Traffic has increased as has parked cars which is reducing visibility. We also have cars parked illegally outside those appartments reating an obstacle for cars and cyclists.
Add to that the number of people using Railway Place as a rat-run (often at excessive speed) and the fact Upfield cycle path users are funnelled into that traffic on Railway Place (because the bike path simply stops) and you have an increasingly dangerous mix.
Not only should a crossing be installed at the intersection but stop lights should halt traffic at the end of Railway Place to discourage the rat-runners.
I also thing there is a strong case for Railway Place to be a one-way street from after the apartments back to Sargood, Baxter or even Reynard St. The space this would free up would allow the council to put in better pedestrian access (currently two people can't pass on parts of the street because the light poles get in the way), a proper bike path could be located, and the currently dangerous car parking situation along the street could be addressed.
The intersection of O'Hea Street Coburg and the Upfield Bike/Pedestrian Path is also a very dangerous intersection. The raised and painted speed hump crossing is ambitious and confusing. Although it may not technically be a legal pedestrian crossing, where cars must give way, it is often treated as one. Some cars slow down and invite pedestrians to cross, others slow down then speed up over the railway line. Some cyclists approach the intersection at speed expecting cars to give way. At some point i fear that the confusion will lead to someone getting hurt. The Council should fix all dangerous intersections on the Upfield Bike/Pedestrian Path that cross roads that are their sole responsibility (incl. O'Hea & Munro Streets) as a budget priority.
ReplyDeleteI'd like to nominate the corner of Lygon Street and Brunswick Road, especially crossing Brunswick Road on the western side of Lygon Street. Cars approaching this intersection from the south to turn left into Brunswick Road have a lot of difficulty seeing past/ through the posts/ tram stop, etc, and rush around at high speeds. It's hard to avoid them, and increasingly dangerous.
ReplyDeleteI'd like to nominate Moreland Road between Queen Street (on the north side) and Cornwall St (on the south side). This is a designated informal bike route, a route commonly used by families travelling with their kids to schools on either side of Moreland, and also by people from the north side accessing the convenience store located on the south side. The traffic speeds on Moreland Rd are very fast, there is a rise that blocks views to the west, and the nearest alternative pedestrian crossings are several hundred metres in either direction. I have to cross at this point most days on bike or foot and it is pretty hairy.
ReplyDeleteHello,
ReplyDeleteThis is a great initiative.
Ewing Street in Brunswick running down to Brunswick Road is a major north south thoroughfaire for both pedestrians and bikes.
For children on foot,bikes or scooters the cross overs are hard to negotiate causing them to stop on the busy roads. That is not a great situation. I have kids struggling to cross over at the round-abouts. Additionally the visibility is pretty poor when you are 2.5 feet high with cars parked about 10 metres back making it very difficult to seeing on-coming traffic. The car parking needs to be set a greater distance so that kids can see the ongoing traffic which is currently obscured by cars and trees.
This is a route for at least 2 primary schools, Princes Hill and Brunswick South Primary and Princes Hill High.
With 100's of apartments going up in this block, the volume is only going to become more intensive.
The cross-over should be fixed and smooth over, the speed reduced to 40km in the morning, and pedestrians island installed at the roundabout.
For cyclists at the intersection of Ewing St and Brunswick St, the parked car should be removed in the morning enabling more room for the bikes which is very busy in the morning.
See you later
Paul
Hi Everyone,
ReplyDeleteIt's great to see this page generating some nominations and discussion. We use these nominations to broaden our discussions with Council and other decision-makers. I'd encourage people to use the 'reply' feature to get some discussion going on the issues at these locations.
Cheers, Nataniel.
Hello,
ReplyDeleteThe council has done a pretty good job on Ewing St, although there are a few footpath cross-overs to still get fixed that prevent students quickly crossing roads due to high lips on the cross-overs. A three year on a push scooter will still find this hard to negotiate. For a parent commuting to school with 2-3 on bikes or scooters, this extends the amount of times on the road bad crossing over. This risk is minimized by being able to roll on of off quickly. The council needs to continue and fix all the Ewing St Cross-over, and a few signs flagging it as a school commuter route and reducing speeds to 40kms between 8-9am & 3-4pm would be even better.
Nominate Pro-active fix of street crossing on Weston St and Lygon St in East Brunswick.
ReplyDeleteGood Evening,
I would like to nominate the corner of Weston St and Lygon St in East Brunswick. This is a main commuting route for students on bike and on foot to BS Primary School. With the soon to be opening of 100's of apartments at the Tip Top site and likely many cars leaving the site, this will become a more dangerous walking/cycling spot. Suggested improvements include fixing the footpath cross-overs for ease of roll on/off, fixing the centre island as a well protected pedestrian refuge in the middle of the street, painting zebra lines on the crossing, and reducing traffic speeds to 40km between Glenlyon and Lygon St between 8.30-9.00am Monday-Friday. It would be prudent for the council to get in front of the development curve before traffic on Weston increases exponentially when the apartments open, greatly increasing pedestrian/bike hazard particularly to primary school students who generally have reduced road awareness.