Critical Mass Yarra: public support for Albert Street and Elizabeth Street protected lanes on Friday 31 January 2025, read more at Yarra for safe streets. Photo credit: Aella Miskit

Infrastructure Victoria

First up Victoria’s draft 30-year infrastructure strategy makes 43 draft recommendations and provides 7 future options to the Victorian Government on the state’s infrastructure priorities. This includes housing, energy, transport, health, social infrastructure and the environment.

Victorians told us they want transport infrastructure that better connects them with opportunities. People preferred more space for public transport, cycling lanes and walking paths over road space for cars.

Infrastructure influences how Victorians live: Victoria’s draft 30-year infrastructure strategy, page 16

Of immediate interest is Draft Recommendation 14 for 30km/h speed limits, which aligns with Yarra City Councils long term 30km/h trial within Fitzroy and Collingwood.

Make local streets safer for children and communities
Reduce speed limits to 30km/h on local streets, starting in places that children often visit including around schools, playgrounds, childcare centres and kindergartens.

Also of note is Draft Recommendation 15:

Build safe cycling networks in Melbourne and regional cities
Continue building protected and connected cycle corridors across Victoria. Publish updates to the strategic cycling corridor network.

Inquiry into the impact of road safety behaviours on vulnerable road users

After a lengthy wait after being tabled in May 2024, the Inquiry into the Impact of Road Safety Behaviours on Vulnerable Road Users Report has been accepted by Victoria Parliament: ‘in its response the government welcomed the report and supported 54 of the recommendations, 17 in full, 25 in principle and 12 in part.’

Of immediate interest for our Yarra for Safe Streets campaign, Recommendation 31 is accepted in full:

Recommendation 31: The Department of Transport and Planning continue to promote the installation of protected bike lanes in inner and middle Melbourne.

Disappointingly the Legislative Assembly Economy and Infrastructure Committees recommendations for government to adopt a ‘road user hierarchy’ where road users who can do the most harm to others have a duty of care to reduce the danger they pose to more vulnerable road users, was only accepted in ‘in principle’, although the Victoria governments response ‘committed to investigating the UK approach to road safety highlighted in the Committee’s final report.’

The Victorian Government notes the Committee’s finding of the UK Highway Code introduced in 2022 which prioritises and guides road users based on their level of vulnerability in traffic. Department of Transport and Planning will work with the road safety partners to investigate this approach for a Victorian context,’ it said.

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