Pedestrian crossings, garden beds, park benches – all lovely. But where do you ‘go’? Photo: City Renewal Authority (CRA).
A $4 million makeover of the gritty inner suburb of Braddon was said to be all about the people – improving the safety of pedestrians by calming motorists – but it seems the designs left out something important to us all. Facilities to answer the call of nature.
Construction crews are adding the finishing touches to the garden beds and paintwork on Lonsdale Street, a year after they set out on what the City Renewal Authority (CRA) described as an “exciting milestone”.
“From landscaping and street furniture to better pram and wheelchair access, the upgrades will encourage more people to enjoy Braddon’s array of retail shops, cafes, bars and restaurants,” CRA Acting CEO Craig Gillman told Region in May 2023.
The plans, with input from some 300 locals, included new median works near the Cooyong Street intersection, an upgrade of the Girrahween Street intersection, and raised pedestrian crossings north and south of the ‘rainbow roundabout’.
Up to 25 car spaces along the middle and shoulders of Lonsdale Street were also exchanged for a mix of garden beds and footpaths (including bike racks and park benches).
Lonsdale Street a year apart. Photo: City Renewal Authority (CRA).
In a Facebook post on 29 May, the CRA said early signs were good.
“New raised pedestrian crossings have calmed traffic travelling along the street and prioritised pedestrians, making it easier to get between Braddon’s renowned shops, cafes, restaurants, and bars,” it read.
“Wider paths, new furniture, and improved lighting have provided a better street experience with informal gathering spaces, and more outdoor dining opportunities.”
The raised pedestrian crossings are said to have slowed down motorists. Photo: City Renewal Authority.
Susan Davidson, from local community group The Braddon Collective, agrees and says the local community is “very happy” with the changes.
She says trying to cross Lonsdale Street on foot used to be a game of Russian roulette, especially on Sundays, when throngs of people would descend on Braddon for the Haig Park Village Markets.
The speed limit was always 40 km/h, but Susan says the raised pedestrian crossings have forced cars to slow down and not push the limit.
The result feels far safer.
“It feels like it’s gone from being a place where traffic dominated to one where you can actually walk comfortably, particularly for people with strollers, the elderly and people with disabilities … It’s a lot more pleasant to sit outside and enjoy a meal or drink too.”
The idea of removing many of the street’s precious few car parks had many local businesses worried about whether Canberrans would judge Braddon all too hard and take their money elsewhere.
But Susan argues any effect of this would be “pretty minor in the big scheme of things”, and the number of cars that could actually park on Lonsdale Street before never came close to replicating the number of customers needed to keep the area’s businesses thriving.
“And if it makes the streets more friendly for people, it attracts more people to use those streets as well.”
She expects the Summernats Fringe Festival to go ahead as normal in January 2025, but car owners may like to double check their ride heights before tackling the street’s new raised crossings.
Susan Davidson and Nick Seefried from the Braddon Collective have argued for a more pedestrian-friendly Braddon for years. Photo: James Coleman.
However there is one glaring omission, and no word on when it might be fixed.
“There are very few public toilets.”
There are exactly two in Braddon, both based in Haig Park at the northern end of Lonsdale Street and out of the way of many shoppers. Susan says this results in a cost for local businesses who are left to cover the inevitable – and often inexplicable – vandalism.
“I know one building on Mort Street – frequently used by the public – is replacing toilet seats every week, and often the whole toilet – I don’t know how they do it, but people even break toilets – every month,” she says.
“You spend time in Lonsdale Street, and if you’ve got to walk to the Canberra Centre or Haig Park to use a public toilet, it’s ridiculous. There’s a desperate need for public toilets in that commercial area.”
The CRA says work is underway on the next stage of the project at the intersection of Elouera and Mort streets. The existing roundabout has been removed to make way for a new raised intersection which will feature pedestrian crossings, lighting, wider verges, and new garden beds.
Loading ...
