People put in danger by fenced-off paths

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Posted on 19 May 2025 by Gill King

MEDIA RELEASE

People put in danger by fenced-off paths

Paths closed around a major construction project occupying a whole block on Northbourne Avenue have created a serious public safety problem.

People who used the paths on this major transport corridor are now walking on busy roads because safe pathways have been closed to them.

The ‘Botanical Turner’ website promotes its connections to the local area – yet its developers have done the opposite for its construction.

They have been allowed to fence off the whole of the ‘Botanical Turner’ block including paths.*

The pathways are heavily used, particularly by people walking to and from Civic and ANU. The adjacent roadways are also busy with people riding bikes as well as a lot of motor vehicle traffic. Northbourne Avenue is one of the roadways now being used by people walking because the paths are fenced off.

Poor lighting increases the risk of conflict and collision. This is because it makes it difficult for people using faster moving vehicles to see people walking on the roadway.

In contrast, other jurisdictions require building owners and people involved in the construction and demolition industries to keep pathways open (with new, temporary pathways as needed) and pay for any damage to paths they incur.

Local community groups have recommended the ACT implement an Asset Protection Scheme to keep paths open and save the government money. It was one of the proposals in the ACT for Safe, Healthy, Active, Inclusive Streets non-partisan platform of priorities sent to parties and candidates ahead of the 2024 ACT election.

Matthew Cullis has experienced the danger first-hand:

“I was in the bike lane on Northbourne Avenue the other day, coming home from work, when I came across someone walking in the bike lane.

“Luckily I saw them in the poor light and there was a gap in the traffic that enabled me to move safely into a motor vehicle lane. I hate to think of what would have happened otherwise. It really has me worried for my local community.

“The paths around Botanical are heavily used and need to be kept open as a matter of urgency.”

Gill King, Convenor of Living Streets Canberra said:

“This situation is not good enough.

“For the safety and convenience of everyone, the paths must be re-opened to the public as a matter of urgency.

“The situation around the ‘Botanical Turner’ site is simply a symptom of a broader problem in the ACT. As far as I am aware, the ACT is the only Australian jurisdiction that does not require pathways to be kept open and in good condition during construction works.

“Other jurisdictions require that any breaches of their requirements to keep pathways open and in good condition be remedied within 24 hours. They also use substantial bonds to be lodged to encourage compliance. The net result is Budget savings as well as pathways kept useable.

Paris Lord, Founder, Canberra by Bike commented that:

“The ACT Government continually cowers when developers say they have to close footpaths for their construction projects, such as in Civic, Braddon, and Turner. This cowardice puts people in danger from preventable traffic violence.

“Governments in other cities like Adelaide and Copenhagen use shipping containers to ensure public access is maintained for people who walk or roll. Why can’t the ACT Government?”

Simon Copland, Executive Director, Conservation Council ACT pointed out that:

“Promoting active travel is essential as we continue to reduce transport carbon emissions in the ACT. However, we know that people will not get on their bike, or scooter, or walk, if any part of the trip is dangerous.

“It is therefore essential that the Government improve construction practices so that companies can’t just block access to footpaths without providing a safe alternative. Issues such as this are easy ones to fix, and it is time the Government gone on with doing so.”

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Take Time to Get Safety Right Before Allowing E-scooters etc – Submission

Posted on 29 July 2019 by Gill King

E-scooter parked so it is a trip obstacle on a city footpath

When it comes to new (transport) technology, it pays to do things the right way around: put in place the safety measures (including appropriate laws and infrastructure) *before* letting the technology loose on the general public.

Riding electric personal transportation devices can be fun. They may increase people on the streets, making them more ‘living streets’. They may encourage people out of cars for short trips, though care is needed to ensure that they do not displace walking and, to a lesser extent, cycling.

However, there need to be substantial, carefully thought-through changes to our infrastructure, laws and behaviour to allow the ACT to accommodate these devices safely.

In our submission for Regulating the Use of Electric Personal Transportation Devices (Electric Scooters and Similar Devices) in the ACT, we express our concerns about safety of people on our streets and in our public places, whether they are riding electric personal transportation devices or not. Of particular concern is the danger associated with:

devices and the people riding them becoming obstacles to people walking, and
mixing people and vehicles of different speed, manoeuvrability and noise.

There are big questions about liability and other costs to the ACT Government, users of the devices, and others into whom they crash.

We note that most paths in the ACT are not wide enough for two people to walk side by side, let alone also accommodate people on electric devices. Furthermore, the current state of most ACT pavement, be it on paths or the side of roads, is not conducive to vulnerable road users travelling at speed using small wheels. On the other hand, streets and/or paths could be dramatically improved as a way of preparing for safe use of these devices while prioritising active travel. While they are micro-mobility like walking, electronic personal transportation devices are (a) not active travel modes, (b) travel at speeds much greater than walking and more akin to bicycles, and (c) are less manoeuvrable than walking, again, more like bicycles.

It is therefore appropriate that modes of transport either be separated based on their speed and manoeuvrability or that most of our roads have their speed limit reduced, by law and design, to a maximum of 30km/h so that all modes can share single transport spaces safely. Behavioural and attitudinal campaigns for people using each mode of transport should run be ahead of allowing electronic personal transport devices to be used in public spaces.We point out that walking is a basic human right and various Commonwealth and ACT Discrimination Acts make it against the law for public places, services and facilities to be inaccessible to people with a disability or on the basis of age.

Such places include public footpaths and walkways and public transport (and public transport is generally accessed by path or walkway. Care needs to be taken to ensure that paths and other public places do not become inaccessible because they are frequented by people using electronic personal transport devices.

We also point out that every journey involves some walking yet walking is the weakest link in Canberra’s transport system, and so walking must be given top priority and prominence, in accordance with the well-accepted transport mode hierarchy. Electronic personal safety devices belong in a lower category than walking.

Weakest Link in Canberra’s Integrated Transport Strategy Needs Strengthening – Our submission

Posted on 2 April 2019 by Gill King

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Living Streets Canberra welcomes the ACT Government’s vision of an integrated transport network that ‘will enable people in Canberra to plan and enjoy seamless, multi-modal travel’.

‘Seamless, multi-modal travel’ can be thought of as a chain of travel modes. A chain, though, is only as strong as its weakest link. Walking is the weakest link in Canberra’s transport system and in the draft Integrated Transport Strategy.

The reality is that, both on the ground in Canberra and in the draft Strategy document, walking is given the least priority.

Every journey involves some walking, and so walking must be given priority and prominence.

In our latest submission we provide feedback on the draft Strategy document, advise on priorities and make some suggestions. Read more here.