Page 3390 - Week 11 - Tuesday, 21 October 2014
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“Active transport” means travelling in a way that involves physical activity. Primarily, this is walking and cycling. It also refers to public transport where it is effectively integrated with cycling and walking. Beyond that, it is a concept that considers things such as the planning of our city, traffic and safety, the built environment and the way all of these influence people’s transport choices.
“Active living” is a term that basically overlaps with “active travel”. Sometimes it is used more broadly to also refer to recreational activities. It is important that we support recreational activities as well through facilities such as public open space, sporting fields and dog parks.
There are enormous benefits to promoting active travel in Canberra, and in designing our city to support and prioritise active travel—better health, better safety, an improved environment, improved social and community outcomes and even improvements to the economy.
When we spoke on this topic recently, I quoted some evidence from other Australian and international cities showing that slow speed and highly peopled environments are good for business because they create an environment where people like to linger. When people stay, they bring their business. There is a good summary of national and international literature on this topic in the Heart Foundation report Good for busine$$: the benefits of making streets more walking and cycling friendly. The contrast to this approach is to build a car-dominated city, and we should all be aware of the detriments to the community that can result from this approach.
I am encouraged at the changes and improvements that we have made in Canberra over the last few years. Some members may remember that the ACT Greens launched a major active transport plan for the ACT over four years ago, in March 2010, which we released to the community and tabled in the Assembly.
One of the key issues flagged in the Greens’ 2010 plan was the issue of funding priorities. It noted the historical discrepancy in transport funding, with sustainable transport traditionally receiving limited funds. The focus, of course, has been on road building and on providing infrastructure for cars, providing space for car parks and increasing the sprawl of our city.
I think it is fair to say that this situation is changing. The light rail project, of course, is the most obvious example. The government’s major infrastructure spend in this area will help deliver a sustainable public transport option that will help create a city that is environmentally sustainable, healthy, active, less congested, more social and more vibrant. I think it is an excellent and welcome change in approach that looks to the long-term future of our city. Of course, it has incensed the Liberal Party because their vision is the exact opposite: think far enough ahead to reach the next election; lock us into roads, congestion and pollution; ignore “pretend” threats like climate change; and never mind the social disadvantages that grow in a car-dominated city.
That is the vision of the Liberal Party. I feel slightly sorry for Mr Coe that he is going to spend the next several years of his life simply having a lifestyle that is all about
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