Article: Melbourne University forum to be told that cars must be abandoned ...

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Melbourne University forum to be told that cars must be abandoned as population grows

Melbourne University forum to be told that cars must be abandoned as population grows

   * Ashley Gardiner
   * From: Herald Sun
   * November 25, 2009 12:00AM

IF you're fit and well enough to walk, you will be better off leaving the car at home in future.

That's the message for Melbourne as the city's population nears five million.

A University of Melbourne forum, Melbourne@5 million, will be told on Wednesday that there is no other option but for cars to make way for the three Ps: public transport, pedestrians and pushbikes.

Prof Nicholas Low said the inner city of the future would have to change.

Shopping strips such as Chapel St, Brunswick St, Sydney Rd and High St, Armadale, are likely to be overhauled.

"If you're healthy and fit you can walk the distance, you can catch public transport," Prof Low said.

"You're probably better off on a tram than sitting in a car, looking for a park and not finding one."

Busy shopping strips needed to be overhauled to accommodate high-speed trams and more pedestrians. "I wouldn't expect to keep the cars out entirely, but just sort of keep them under control," Prof Low said.

"People on foot have a lot less space per person than people in a car."

But cars would still be an important form of transport for the elderly and disabled.

"Of course, there have to be cars. Some people need them," he said.

"Many people using a car can actually do well by another mode."

Prof Low, director of the university's Centre of the Governance and Management of Urban Transport, said the inner city would develop along existing tram lines.

In the outer suburbs, more effort would be needed to co-ordinate trains and buses. Trains should run exactly every 15 minutes.

"So people can always say there will be a train at such-and-such past the hour," Prof Low said.

"You can't run very frequent trains in a low-density environment. It's not economically viable."