Suburbs adjust to life in the slow lane

By Alannah May

After the success of Yarra City Councils Thanks For 30 initiative, the Department of Transport and Planning have approved trials to expand 30km/h zones to cover most roads in Collingwood and Fitzroy suburbs.  

In an effort to promote safer road standards for citizens, Yarra City Council has been trialling 30 km/h zones to replace 40km/h zones in select areas of Collingwood and Fitzroy.

These trials initially began in 2018 and were supposed to last for 12 months, however the success of them led to permanently installing the 30 km/h speed limit, and has now subsequently led to the expansion of these zones.

Collingwood and Fitzroy locals have expressed their support for this initiative, pushing for the Department of Transport and Planning to extend these 30 km/h zones to reach almost all streets in Collingwood and Fitzroy. 

Johnston, Nicholson and Hoddle Streets, and Alexandra and Victoria parades will not be included in these trials as they are major roads. 

According to the Transport Accident Commission (TAC), cyclist and pedestrian deaths occur more often in metropolitan areas, Collingwood and Fitzroy’s status as suburbs in metropolitan Melbourne pushes the need for more accommodating roads for cyclists and pedestrians, in hopes of reducing accidents.

The 10 km change may not seem significant and life changing to some, however Research by the Yarra City Council suggests that fatal injury of pedestrians is twice as likely when vehicles are at the speed of 40km/h versus if they were at the speed of 30km/h. 

Healthcare professional and local of Fitzroy, Corinne op’t Hoog is passionate about the issue of citizen safety.

“It’s a win win for everyone,” she said. 

“I like the idea of supporting pedestrians and cyclists.” 

Ms op’t Hoog does not believe that these new limits will affect her daily commute times. She said the structure of many Fitzroy and Collingwood roads meant that “when you’re on those roads, it’s unlikely you go any faster”. 

First year university student Pyper Prosen, a Collingwood local, is sceptical. 

“Knowing these roads and the people in my community, I have little faith that anyone will actually follow these limits,” she said. 

“I’m worried that people will drive even faster to protest these limits, and this initiative will end up being counterproductive.”