Pedestrians

The RTA recognises that the community will benefit from improved pedestrian safety standards and has a number of key pedestrian initiatives to facilitate and promote walking as a safe and healthy alternative to the private car. Changes in RTA operations, along with greater customer and government demands, require us to review the way we work and manage our initiatives and activities. Innovative development and the management of pedestrian facilities will help the RTA achieve the NSW Government's goal of encouraging alternative modes of transport to the private car and contribute to: making NSW a leader in integrated pedestrian system planning; improving access to the number and quality of transport choices available to the people of NSW; maximising the capacity and effectiveness of existing pedestrian infrastructure; and minimising the impact on the environment. To achieve these objectives for pedestrians, the RTA is addressing the following key issues: providing more facilities to help people cross roads safely and conveniently; enhancing traffic signal timing for pedestrians in areas of high pedestrian concentration; ensuring that all RTA pedestrian facilities satisfy the needs of all users; properly facilitating pedestrians in the design of all roads and traffic management facilities; improving pedestrian links to public transport; improving the safety of pedestrian behaviour; improving pedestrian links around schools to ensure children's safety; ensuring that Traffic Management initiatives are integrally linked to Road Safety initiatives; providing road crossing facilities for recreational walking, for the elderly and people with disabilities; and educating pedestrians and other road users about how pedestrian facilities operate.

The RTA has recently run a number of educational campaigns to educate all road users regarding the correct use of pedestrian traffic control signals and pedestrian refuges.

Campaign Objectives
The campaign objectives were to: Improve pedestrians' knowledge of pedestrian facilities, specifically the use of pedestrian refuges; Improve pedestrians' knowledge of how to use pedestrian signals, particularly to properly understand the flashing red phase; Improve driver/cyclist understanding of pedestrian entitlements during flashing red phase; and Improve tolerance between drivers and pedestrians at signals. Improved planning for pedestrians is the focus of a new initiative being trialed by the RTA called PAMPS, short for Pedestrian Access and Mobility Plans. This initiative is designed to encourage councils to develop, in partnership with the RTA, plans which integrate pedestrians into the wider transport system.

Footway parking
The purpose of this paper is not to provide guidelines but to present information for discussion about the issues associated with footway parking. The paper also presents a number of concepts or options for ways in which parking could be managed in roadside areas including dimensions for footways, related roads, kerbs and boundaries. Pedestrian safety is an important issue for both State and Local Government agencies. It is also important that the particular needs of people who use guide dogs, canes, wheelchairs or other aids to assist their mobility. All pedestrians using footways, especially those with disabilities, need an unobstructed, clear path of travel. This need must be considered a priority when reviewing the issues covered within this paper.

How to be a Safe Pedestrian

1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. Cross the road at pedestrian (zebra) crossings or traffic lights if one is available. At traffic lights cross the road only when the pedestrian signal is green. When the flashing red light is on, finish crossing. Do not start to cross. Before crossing the road, think about whether an approaching driver can see you. Never assume that an approaching vehicle will stop for you. Avoid crossing between parked cars or in front of buses. If no footpath is available, walk facing the oncoming traffic and keep as far to the right or left side as possible. Keep to the left side on shared bicycle/pedestrian paths. Wear bright coloured clothing at night or in reduced visibility conditions.

10. Children up to eight years old should hold an adult's hand on the footpath, in the car park or when crossing the road. Children up to ten years old should be actively supervised in the traffic environment and should hold an adult's hand when crossing the road.

Motorised Wheelchairs
The "Information for Motorised Wheelchair Safety" document incorporates the introduction of the Australian Road Rules in December 1999. These rules state that the motorised wheelchairs (3 and 4 wheeled) used as a mobility aid that cannot travel over 10 km per hour have been defined as a pedestrian. Topics covered include: Licensing & Insurance Driver Skills & Abilities Planning a Safe Route Operating Your Motorised Wheelchair Transporting Your Motorised Wheelchair Checklist for Prospective Buyers Further Information Extract "Australian Road Rules, Part 14 - Rules for Pedestrians" See the Information for Wheelchair Safety publication for further information.

Pedestrian Access and Mobility Plans

New Plans to Address the Needs of Pedestrians
Improved planning for pedestrians is the focus of a new initiative being trialed by the Roads and Traffic Authority in association with local government in recognition that all road users need to be considered. The trial recognises the need to consider all road users during planning and will help provide pedestrians with safe and accessible facilities to encourage walking. It is important to remember that walking is a convenient and healthy way to get around. The Roads and Traffic Authority has devised a trial scheme which involves a partnership with local councils to develop pedestrian-friendly initiatives. Councils in the Sydney metropolitan area have been invited to work with the RTA to prepare special Pedestrian Access and Mobility Plans for urban areas with high concentrations of pedestrians. The RTA is funding the preparation of the plans on a dollar for dollar basis and Bankstown, Burwood, Marrickville and North Sydney councils have taken up the opportunity to prepare plans this financial year.

The plans are designed to recognise the particular needs of commuters, school children, the elderly, people with disabilities, recreational walkers and tourists. The plans will identify existing facilities and proposed pedestrian infrastructure such as marked footcrossings and traffic lights and determine where access and mobility need to be considered to improve facilities. Safe crossing opportunities on major roads will be considered as well as ways to improve safe and convenient facilities for seniors and people with disabilities. The RTA's role in the trial is to encourage councils to develop pedestrian plans and offer advice on how each plan can be integrated into the wider transport system. The plans will ensure that State and local governments' future infrastructure planning will enhance safety for pedestrians. The State Government is spending more than $6 million this financial year on pedestrians throughout the State. Having Pedestrian Access and Mobility Plans in place under this trial will help significantly to ensure future initiatives continue to be relevant to the community's needs.

Pedestrian Safety Action Plan

This document sets out the objectives, strategies and actions of the Pedestrian Safety Action Plan for 20022004. While the Pedestrian Safety Action Plan has been developed by the RTA, the road safety program in NSW is substantially a whole-of-government program. Accordingly, although RTA is the lead agency and has primary accountability for most of the actions, many other agencies and community organisations will play important roles to ensure the Plan can be successfully implemented. The development process of the Pedestrian Safety Action Plan involved a comprehensive program of consultation.

Pedestrian safety
Pedestrians are a highly diverse group ranging from children, joggers and seniors to people using mobility aids. They are also vulnerable road users. An average of 104 pedestrians are killed in road crashes each year and between 1997 - 2001 one in five persons killed in fatal road crashes was a pedestrian.

When
More than half of pedestrian fatalities occur in darkness or dusk. Of all accidents in which a pedestrian is killed, nearly a third occurred between 5 p.m. and 9 p.m. The months of April, May, June and July when the length of daylight hours is relatively short have a higher number of fatal pedestrian crashes than other times of the year. Pedestrian fatal crashes are more likely to occur on weekdays.

Who
More than two-thirds of pedestrians killed are male.

Better health - Cleaner air - Less traffic - Improved transport

Get off the bus, train or tram a few stops earlier and walk the rest of the way to work.
Walk to Work Day is an annual, national event where the community can become involved in a healthy and environmentally friendly celebration. Community leaders, mayors, councilors and celebrities from the entertainment, social, sporting and political arenas act as ambassadors for the event.

Walk to Work Day promotes:

Walking as an important transport mode and healthy activity. Reduced reliance on the private motor vehicle. Increased use of public transport. Improved air quality by reducing unnecessary vehicle emissions.

Walk to Work Day 2004

Will be held on Friday November 5. For further information about this event, visit the Pedestrian Council of Australia website.