Community debate needed on traffic-calming devices

13/3/94

Transport Minister Eric Charlton wants community debate on the design of traffic-calming road treatments.

Mr Charlton said badly-designed traffic calming devices posed a hazard to cyclists and pedestrians as well as traffic movements.

He drew attention to the problem while launching Bike Week at a Ride for Leukemia in Sir James Mitchell Park today.

'Bike It - You'll Like It' is the theme for this year's Bike Week, which will see eight major events culminating on March 20 with a Cycle Against Want event for Community Aid Abroad.

Mr Charlton said he was setting up a working party to liaise with local government authorities and the community to establish guidelines for appropriate traffic calming designs.

"Although the intention to slow down vehicles in built up areas is admirable, the design of many of the treatments used have created traffic hazards," the Minister said.

"Not only should traffic calming slow-down cars, it should provide safe streets for other road users, and it is clear some designs fail to do this.

"Many of the traffic calming methods are dangerous because they introduce additional hazards onto the street system.

"The use of chicanes or roundabouts, for example, can narrow the road width significantly, creating the potential for bringing vehicles into conflict with cyclists or pedestrians."

Mr Charlton said the working group would be headed by South Metropolitan MLC Barbara Scott and would include representatives from Main Roads, the Department of Transport, Bikewest and local government.

The group would examine the need for increased control over approvals for the design, installation and funding of traffic calming systems in the Perth metropolitan area, and the practicability of establishing a central funding pool to finance the program.

Mr Charlton said the economic side of the issue was important also.

In the current climate of limited road funding, an ever-increasing demand for new and improved roads and with many roads reaching the end of their serviceable life, the Government had to ensure funds were spent to the best advantage of all road users.

The group will report to Mr Charlton in August.

Media contact:  Dean Roberts 321 7333