Walking in the City of Yarra

The City of Yarra recognises that walking is not only a means of transport, it is also important as a means of improving individual health and is a major form of recreation for people of all ages, regardless of their income levels. The council’s efforts to encourage and increase walking involve improving the amenity of public space and making it attractive to walkers and promoting the benefits of walking to Yarra residents.

Yarra Programs and Projects

Yarra Group 1

Access 3121 Live Life Local

This project seeks to engage residents, businesses and schools in the North Richmond area about their travel habits and encourage behaviours that will reduce single occupancy car use.

A project officer is working with the Richmond Estate community to encourage the development of walking / cycling / public transport connections amongst neighbours and to increase knowledge of the infrastructure and amenities available to residents who choose to walk, cycle and use public transport. The Access 3121 project features a number of Travel Experience Days throughout 2009-10 for residents on the North Richmond Estate.

Please contact the project officer for further information on email or use the contact details below.

Abbotsford, Trinity and Yarra Primary Schools are involved in the project and are being helped to develop Travelsmart plans for their teachers and students.

Traders along Victoria Street and in Victoria Gardens will be made aware of research showing a greater spend by walking shoppers as opposed to those in cars and will be encouraged to link promotions in their retail area to provide incentives for customers walking, cycling and using public transport to access the shops.

Infrastructure

Council's pedestrian projects are guided by both the Strategic Transport Statement (which places pedestrians at the top of the hierarchy used to make decisions about infrastructure projects) and the Encouraging and Increasing Walking Strategy (see: Yarra's Transport Policy ).

Council has several ways of increasing and maintaining infrastructure that supports walking. They can be categorised in the following ways.

  • Pedestrian Provisions.  Each year the Transport Unit is allocated a ‘pedestrian provisions’ budget to undertake works to make walking easier in the City.  These works are things like; pram ramps, at-grade crossings, increases in footpath widths, kerb extensions and pedestrian crossings.  Within this budget there is an allocation towards ‘safety around schools’ which is specifically used to make walking and cycling safer and more attractive for parents and children accessing Yarra’s schools.
  • Local Area Traffic Management Studies (LATMS).  Council divides the municipality into 21 Local Areas and undertakes about 2 LATMS a year.  This involves all kinds of traffic management and where possible includes projects that increase walkability.  One of the key things the LATM process has achieved for walking has been a reduction in speed for areas where LATMS have been completed.  Council has been able to apply to VicRoads to make these areas 40km zones – that is, all streets in the area are 40km unless otherwise signed.
  • Council’s Road Management Plan outlines the way footpaths are maintained and renewed.  Footpaths in the municipality are scheduled for maintenance or replacement through regular inspection.  Council undertakes the following inspections;
  • Six Week Drive Through Inspection – undertaken every six weeks and checks both footpaths and roads.
  • Road Reserve Inspection Program – a rolling program which inspects each of the LATM areas every two years on foot and looks at every footpath to a very high level of detail.
  • Park Paths and Shared Paths Inspection – undertaken annually on foot or by bicycle for all park and shared paths and twice annually for paths nominated as high use or signfiicant.
  • In addition to the above, Council has a Reactive Maintenance provision which allows Council to fix problems with footpaths and roads as the need arises outside of the scheduled maintenance.
    See Council’s Road Management Plan for more information.

 

Walking Maps

A selection of walking maps have been developed to raise awareness of the facilities and services within easy walking distance for Yarra residents and include:

  • Heritage maps are shown on the City of Yarra website and focus on walks to the City’s many historical features.
  • The TravelSmart map for the City of Yarra highlights walking, cycling and public transport routes above the arterial road network. Contact City of Yarra (details below) or email for a free copy.
  • Sustainable Neighbourhood Walking Maps have been developed to help residents learn about practical environmental initiatives in their local area. Contact council for a free copy or see them on the City of Yarra website.
  • Council has also installed fixed Way-finding maps in key locations in shopping precincts in Richmond, which aim to assist pedestrians and public transport users move within Yarra, and beyond to the City.

 

Community Walking Groups

Yarra Walking 2

Finbar Walking Group

Time:    9 - 11am Thursdays
Meeting Place:  Finbar Neighbourhood House 143 Kent St. Nth Richmond
Cost:    Free. See notes.
Notes:    Walks to Studley Park Boat house for morning tea

Finbar Pram Walking Group

Time:    10am - midday Thursdays
Meeting Place:  Finbar Neighbourhood House 143 Kent St. Nth Richmond
Cost:    Free. See notes
Notes: Walks to Collingwood Children’s Farm. Farm entry is $5 for children to pat animals. Pack a sandwich or buy at the Café.

Coming Up

Yarra strategic planning public consultation

Council uses Structure Plans and Urban Design Frameworks (UDF) to set a planning framework for design and development in specific areas. These frameworks involve several rounds of public consultation and include consideration of the walkability and safety of the pedestrian environment. Regular consultation is undertaken on these Structure Plans. For details of the Victoria St Structure plan and others see the Yarra City Strategic Planning webpage or use the contact details below.


Walktober activities

There are an array of activities available for community participation throughout October each year.  From pram walks to historical walks to walk to work day and everything in between.  See ww.yarracity.vic.gov.au during October or use the contact details below for more information.

Contact us

For further information about walking in the City of Yarra -

Phone:  9205 5555
Email:  info@yarracity.vic.gov.au
Website: http://www.yarracity.vic.gov.au/home.asp