As a city, Melbourne has the potential to be a leader in innovative and sustainable urban design. Let's hope that future development projects prioritize livability and sustainability. #urbanism #sustainability #melbourne
@finneh It does, but its suburbs need a *lot* of retrofitting.
@ajsadauskas yep… a *lot*.
If I could get rid of my car and live on public and active transport in the suburbs without massively sacrificing the time factor, I would do it in a heartbeat. Currently the quickest way for me to get to work (I work a few suburbs away) is 2 hours by public or active transport but 20 minutes by car.
Not to mention how unreliable public transport is out here as well. Can’t rely on it unless I was headed into Melbourne CBD
@finneh @ajsadauskas I am exceedingly lucky not to need a car in #naarm , but this needs to be a lot easier for everyone. Our orbital transit system is a joke and our active transport network is not nearly a joined up and comprehensive as it needs to be. All layered on the kind of low density sprawl that isn't conducive to a BCR that encourages investment in either. It will take some bold policy.
How Melburnians are being taken for a ride on a broken bus network

The state infrastructure adviser has released a report that says Victoria gets poor value from the $800 million it spends running the network every year.

The Age

@finneh @EdLynchBell I tend to think of Melbourne as being almost two completely different cities in terms of its urbanism. The CBD and inner suburbs could absolutely be a shining example of great urbanism. Yes, there's work to do, like turning some of the major shopping streets (Lygon St, Smith St, Brunswick St, Chapel St, Swan St, etc.) Into pedestrian-only zones, better dedicated bike lanes in some streets, and getting cars off the tram lanes would make a world of difference. But there's at least a solid foundation.

The outer suburbs, on the other hand...