Article: City of Yarra Greens mayor Alison Clarke's plan for car ban

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City of Yarra Greens mayor Alison Clarke's plan for car ban

City of Yarra Greens mayor Alison Clarke's plan for car ban

    John Masanauskas
    From: Herald Sun
    August 17, 2011 12:00AM

AN inner-city council might hold a car-free day under a traffic management proposal.

But a councillor from another municipality wants a crackdown on speeding cyclists.

City of Yarra Greens mayor Alison Clarke said that the council was looking at banning cars from a major road for a day to promote alternative forms of transport.

"One plan is to have a car-free Sunday," she said.

Car-free days have been controversial in Melbourne, with the Labor government quashing a bid by the City of Melbourne to have one in the CBD in 2007.

Cr Clarke said an event held by Moreland Council in 2008 was not very successful, so a lot of planning was needed.

"If it happens in a shopping strip it will involve extensive consultations," she said.

Cr Clarke said Yarra would also consider a proposal to ban cars from using a rat run between Abbotsford and Clifton Hill.

The Herald Sun revealed a push by councils for 30km/h speed limits in some residential streets and parts of the CBD.

Melbourne Lord Mayor Robert Doyle said the lower limit in smaller streets could save lives and would have minimal impact on trip times.

But Melbourne councillor Ken Ong said a 30km/h limit was a bit too slow and 40km/h was more acceptable.

Cr Ong said he was keen to slow down cyclists.

"The majority of cyclists ride pretty well in the city without racing down the streets," he said. "But there are some who race down the streets, which is not appropriate."

Yarra's transport plan calls for its 40km/h limit zones to be gradually replaced by 30km/h limits and for the council to lobby VicRoads to provide "less roadspace for passenger cars".

A Yarra council meeting was told last night that parking fees and traffic infringement revenue had reaped an extra $2.2 million than budgeted for.

Cr Clarke said the car-free day could one day become a regular event.

"If it works and people like it, then for sure, it might, but at the moment we're just talking about trialling it," she said.

Monash Council mayor Greg Male said he didn't see the need for a 30km/h limit in his municipality.

Read more: http://www.news.com.auhttp://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/more-news/melbourne-councils-want-30kmh-speed-limit/story-fn7x8me2-1226116276527