Imagine Traffic Taking A Breather

Sydney Morning Herald

Tuesday November 13, 2007

Sunanda Creagh Urban Affairs Reporter

NO CARS in the CBD. It may sound radical, but it is a regular practice in more than 1500 cities around the world, according to the World Carfree Network.

"Milan has one car-free day a month," said the pedestrian activist Harold Scruby.

"Of course Sydney should have one. We had one when the Olympics was on and didn't that show how fantastic Sydney was without all these private cars?"

Mr Scruby says the Lord Mayor, Clover Moore, told him "she would love to do one" in Sydney, where stalls and activities were planned alongside extra public transport for the day.

"We should celebrate walking. All the great cities of the world are walkable," said Mr Scruby, adding that the retail sector stood to benefit from the extra pedestrian traffic.

"What's the most valuable commercial real estate in the city? Pitt Street Mall. Why? Because it's walkable."

The executive director of the Sydney Chamber of Commerce, Patricia Forsythe, said that making the city car-free could present problems for shop owners.

"There is no other point by which you can deliver boxes to retail traders. You would have some resistance from businesss," she said.

Christi Brooks, of the Czech-based World Carfree Network, says no Australian group was registered with her organisation but noted that Freemantle and Bendigo have had car-free days.

"We have seen the political and social climate changing in recent years, and we believe car-free days can be a great platform for encouraging widespread changes in the way we design and use urban space," she said, adding that permanent change was the real goal.

Public reaction to car-free days varied, she said.

"Some people might assert that it is their right to drive to work, complaining that alternative forms of transport are less convenient. However, we would point out that pedestrians, cyclists and skaters all have the right to breathe clean air and walk, cycle or skate in a safe environment.

"The actual atmosphere in the centre of the city on a car-free day is quite interesting and exciting, because organisers typically set up street fairs, markets and other activities."

CITY ANGST

Some comments from Herald readers online

Get rid of the cars. Period. Congestion tax them. Ban them. Restrict them to certain hours. Fine them. - Alex

Why not extend [Pitt Street Mall] down to the Quay, and on the other end, down to Central. - Shirley Doust

Inhospitable and antisocial. Just try and go for a coffee after work any night of the week in the CBD. Forget it, 'cos you're wasting your time. - Dido

Charge people to enter the city and perhaps people will start using public transport a bit more. - David Haynes

The cars have to be controlled. German cities seem to be able to do this but not us ... Traffic lights need to give pedestrians a fair go. - Alan

© 2007 Sydney Morning Herald

Back to News Index | Back to Home