In a first for the Illawarra, three schools are hoping to trial 30km/h zones later this year. Here’s how three determined parents met and are making it happen. 2515 reports
Ever since Frank the lyrebird was killed in a hit and run on the back streets of Coledale in July 2020, the forces of change have been gathering. Now a series of serendipitous meetings has brought together the dream team of local road safety advocates.
30please.org founder Lena Huda was at the Buttenshaw Drive meeting last July when Cr Mithra Cox heard residents’ road safety fears. Mithra introduced Lena to Jon Lindley, founder of the working action group, Safe Streets to School. Then the pair met Kelly Andrews, CEO of Healthy Cities Illawarra, at a Zoom meeting late last year.
Now the trio – all parents of school-aged children who know the hazards first-hand – have joined forces to lobby for change.
“We’re looking holistically at community attitudes and behaviours and infrastructure to make active transport, walking and cycling, to schools safer,” Kelly tells 2515.
In February they started on the paperwork – applying for grants and preparing a joint submission for NSW Treasury for Wollongong to become a pilot city in a $10 million Active Transport Project.
They are determined to seize the momentum generated after Wollongong was chosen to host the UCI Road World Championships in September 2022 and are applying for UCI legacy grants.
“One idea that we are putting together is working with three school communities in the Figtree area – Figtree Heights, Lindsay Park, and Mount St Thomas public schools,” Kelly says.
This project would have three components. Firstly, advocating for infrastructure improvements (like pedestrian crossings) and educating children (eg, with a bike safety workshop at schools).
“Then the third part, which would be more challenging, would be trialling, just for one day in that school area, to slow down to 30km/h. It’s called a Slow Down Day and it’s modelled off of a World Health Organisation event. Going 30 is much safer than 40 if you have a collision.”
It’s a fledgling plan but already principals and P&Cs are on board. The trial may take place in term 4 and would be a first for the Illawarra.
“We’re trying to get less kids driven to school,” Kelly says, “because about two-thirds get driven when they live within 1 or 2km of the school, so you get all that congestion too, which is unsafe.
“It will increase physical activity, and the kids will get all the health benefits from that.
“It’s got so much going for it, but it’s really difficult to make it happen. It’s just quite fascinating, the dominance of the car.
“Motorists think that they’re in control. They think that the car has more right to be on the road than a cyclist or a pedestrian.
“One advantage in slowing down and piloting just slowing down is that it doesn’t cost anything.
“It’s not a huge infrastructure change that has to go through a capital works project. It’s literally just residents having a change of mindset and behaviour, to make it a safer environment for kids to walk and cycle to school.
“It’s really controversial. But it can be changed.”
Visit healthycities.org.au; safe-streets-to-school.org and 30please.org
