The ACT Government is planning to redevelop a key roadway in the Canberra CBD called
Bunda Street. At present this corridor is heavily choked during weekdays, with numerous pedestrian crossing points, almost continuous streams of pedestrians moving between major destinations, and car drivers who simply can't get it into their skulls that this is a really dumb place to try to drive through at lunch time...
It's not clear from the documentation on the
Community Consultation website, and the terms of reference for the design competition are not given, but the public announcements made by the Government at the launch time indicated that a
Shared Zone solution was desired.
Following is my submission. I've also taken the opportunity to pass on my thoughts about the design of the rest of the Civic Cycle Loop that is currently under construction (has been for many months, dragging on endlessly...).
You can also comment on the proposals—by 5pm Monday 4 March 2013.
GTA consultants: The Bunda Street shareway.
The GTA concept is the most faithful implementation of the Shared Zone concept. However, it fails to incorporate footpath and roadway blended seamlessly, with traditional kerbing removed. Only through such treatment will car drivers realise they do not have right of way and treat it as a traditional roadway. The proposal to raise the "roadway" to the footpath height will present flooding risks. The solution is to instead remove the kerbs and blend the entire corridor from facade to facade into one unbroken line, with central drainage.
This new paving treatment should go from building to building and not stop at the lot line as is happening around Moore Street, leaving jumbled paving treatments. Implement a benefited area levy to cover additional costs if necessary, with agreement of building owners.
The idea of actually placing tables and chairs in the choke points is silly and dangerous and fails to recognise that there will still be cars and cyclists on this corridor.
The stick-on stencilling could be subject to early failure and expensive maintenance.
The concrete embossing is interesting but it is likely the indents will hold dirt etc as well as presenting a significant trip hazard for people in heels. Overall, this treatment may be overpowering over such a large area.
There remains a risk that cyclists and pedestrians will not respect or notice each other enough, with incidents highly likely. A segregated bikeway would resolve this.
Spackman Mossop and Michaels: The separated cycleway.
