Active transport
We need to make cycling and walking easier especially in Melbourne’s middle and outer suburbs and across Victoria’s regional centres by investing in behaviour change programs and improved infrastructure.
Did you know around 40% of car trips in Melbourne are less than 2km. And nearly 80% of children who live less than 2km from their school are driven both ways every day. Funnily enough, it's the children who actually stand to benefit the most from communities walking more.
Walking keeps them active, reduces the pollution they breathe and helps them feel connected with and aware of the community they live in. Walking and cycling to work, school or the shops is not only good for our environment, but it’s also a simple way of fighting health problems like obesity, diabetes and heart disease. It helps you feel fitter, healthier and more energetic.
Local businesses also benefit enormously when people walk around their neighbourhoods because people who walk:
- have more time to take in what’s on offer in a local business;
- often stop for a drink or a snack along the way; and
- shop locally, so they don’t have to carry their goods too far.
The Victorian Government is currently developing an active transport policy which we hope will help us walk and cycle more right across Victoria.
The Victorian Government promised $115 million for cycling in its Victorian Cycling Strategy. While a great start, road building still gets the lion’s share of transport money – a trend that must be reversed.
Walking and Cycling need to be given the attention they deserve, making it easier to get to the train or bus without needing to drive. Bicycle and pedestrian routes must integrate into the established public transport network, making it more accessible to more people and reducing parking problems around suburban train stations. And with the right infrastructure we could even be like the Netherlands where almost 40% of train passengers cycle to their train station.
Click here for more information about jumping on your bike or letting your legs do the walking.
Want to run your own project to get people walking and cycling? Check out resources for running active transport projects (and all kinds of other projects).
Take action for a more sustainable transport system here
Other recommendations
Planning Melbourne and Victorian towns for accessibility and sustainable transport
