Making Civic Pedestrian Unfriendly

You’re really upset that CC have taken some action to regulate the extra pedestrian traffic due to Xmas? Really? Does that extra 15 seconds of shopping time really mean that much to you?

I think it’s sad that we have to be corralled like sheep – you’d think we’d be observant and considerate enough to manage this situation on our own. HA!

Close the whole lot down I say – access for loading vehicles only. The main shopping district has in many ways moved away from Garema Pl & City Walk but the pedestrian mall concept hasn’t. Just don’t do what they did on Childers St – that half-arsed attempt at making a shared zone failed miserably.

I thought it odd that the Canberra Centre didn’t design the shop fronts on the street to take advantage of the seemingly inevitable conversion of Bunda St to a pedestrian mall. At least that part of Bunda St actually gets some sun, particularly in the morning. Why people persist with that noisy, dank and dingy cafe up the street that’s perpetually in shade is beyond me.

You people are weird!

ChrisinTurner said :

Woody Mann-Caruso said :

Just curious – do they have any legal authority to direct people on the crossing? What could they do if you ignored them?

According to RoadsACT it was/is very unlikely that they had/have any authority to direct traffic.

But they’d be perfectly within their right to call you an idiot.

It’s pretty obvious that they’ve been put there to help with pedestrian/traffic safety during the Christmas Crush, so is the 10 seconds you save by ignoring them really that important to you over trying to streamline traffic/pedestrian flow and frustration for everyone else?

bd84 said :

Bunda street (from guses onwards) and the surrounding streets should be closed off to traffic, except delivery vehicles in certain areas (shared access).

I am against shutting off this area as bd84 proposed. Civic already has what seems like endless pedestrian only areas that basically don’t work. I think the reason why Bunda Street has a bit of city vibe is the very presence of cars. One way is fine, and would help with the traffic management.

I’ll happily wave a few cars through if im not in a hurry (which im usually not) but if some yellow jacket bozo with a sign tries to tell me I can’t cross there and there is no construction works, ill be dammed if id be paying any attention to him. Stopping ppl try to cross at a zebra crossing is mind blowingly stupid, why is the zebra crossing there then? As said the whole section should be closed to all but delivery vehicles anyway. Only in canberra though would someone try to stop people using a zebra crossing… madness it is, madness!

Woody Mann-Caruso said :

Just curious – do they have any legal authority to direct people on the crossing? What could they do if you ignored them?

According to RoadsACT it was/is very unlikely that they had/have any authority to direct traffic.

Morgan said :

Something has to be done with those crossings, either put in traffic lights or block them off completely.

The cars bank up into Bunda St. and create a mess.

In my opinion Bunda St should be one way going West from Glebe Park to the ATO with angle parking by the side of the road.

I’d be happy with any of those solutions.

I think it is fair enough that pedestrians should have the best of the outcome at the crossings linking the shopping centre, so perhaps blocking off one or two of those roads is the best solution.

However, if cars are going to continue to be allowed to use the road then something needs to be done to alleviate the issue of getting through those crossings.

Like Ryan, as a pedestrian there I will generally wave a car or two through if possible.

Morgan said :

Something has to be done with those crossings, either put in traffic lights or block them off completely… snip…

…snip… In my opinion Bunda St should be one way going West from Glebe Park to the ATO with angle parking by the side of the road.

Amen!! or even just parallel parking on the left and give the extra space to pedestrians or cafes. I think angle parking would be a little too dense.

Next divert Scotts Crsg onto Narellan St and cover over the undercover part of Scotts Crsg with space for shops/pedestrians. Then add lights to Petrie St at the crossing. Finally to top it off remove the crossings around the intersection of Genge St and Bunda St and replace them with lights.

Im sure you could make the canberra centre pay for it all somehow. 😛

Bunda street (from guses onwards) and the surrounding streets should be closed off to traffic, except delivery vehicles in certain areas (shared access). There is no longer any reason for cars to use those streets and the businesses along there do not rely on vehicle access. Personally if I was in the city and wanted to cross there I would, despite any lollypop men. Too bad i’m on holidays.

Just curious – do they have any legal authority to direct people on the crossing? What could they do if you ignored them?

Something has to be done with those crossings, either put in traffic lights or block them off completely.

The cars bank up into Bunda St. and create a mess.

In my opinion Bunda St should be one way going West from Glebe Park to the ATO with angle parking by the side of the road.

The Canberra Centre have put them there.

A great idea, given the huge number of people who cross the crossings each day (particularly on Scotts Crossing) – speaking as someone who uses them daily, its often a crush at lunchtime.

When I’m in a car I avoid that street like the plague because you can often sit there for quite some time. When I’m a pedestrian I’ll often stop to let the cars through if it looks like they’ve been there a while.

Then you get the taxis that just plow on through regardless.

Definitely a safety issue on that crossing, and I reckon we’ll see lights there before long.