Euro trip prompts Geelong road planning rethink

ONE-WAY or cyclist-only streets, slower car travel and promotion of active transport awareness are among potential solutions to Geelong’s reliance on cars that were identified in an international study trip.

Cr Belinda Moloney visited Utrecht, Amsterdam and Windhoven Dutch Transport Innovation Study Tour to learn more about European initiatives that could be adapted for use in Geelong.

Cr Moloney paid her own way to the trip, electing not to request ratepayer funds.

She said the purpose of the trip was to build her knowledge as the city moved further towards active transport models, and how Geelong could implement “best-practice” models from the progressive European country.

Cr Moloney tabled a report prepared for councillors and officers at last month’s council meeting that outlined her findings.

“I travelled by boat, bus, train, plane and car, and also on foot for various implementations of the transport solutions,” she said.

“I visited some commuter confluence hotspots where there were tricky problems in the past, and I also looked at street calming implementations.

“I witnessed bidirectional bike lanes that worked like clockwork and streets transformed from busy thoroughfares to one-way streets with bikes and flowers alongside them.

“There are multiple modes of transport in flight, and I think that those options would be a wonderful addition to our Geelong constituents.”

Cr Moloney said local government had also increased trust among its constituents by listening to feedback and correcting mistakes – such as Utrecht paving over a 900-year-old moat to create a motorway, before ripping up the unpopular road and re-creating the waterway.

Councillors roundly praised Cr Moloney for her initiative and findings at the meeting, and said they looked forward to seeing options about how the findings could be implemented into future city planning.

The report comes after the G21 Geelong Regional Alliance released its long-awaited Integrated Transport Strategy in July, which highlighted an urgent need for investment in transport options to accommodate Geelong’s growing population.

It found traffic delays in Geelong could be up to five times worse within the next 20 years without substantial improvements.

The report’s top priorities included improved public transport options, more foot and bike traffic in city centres and between local areas to reduce car dependency.