13 Jan 2025 09:38

History of ACT Transport policy since 2004

HISTORY

Policy work in the ACT has gone around in circles since 2004. The recommendations of the ACT Transport strategies and consults reports are all too often never implemented – it is not for lack of reports. Here is the history of cycling transport policy in the ACT.

ACT Transport does enough studies. ACT Transport appear to be very good at that. The slow pace of improvement of our cycling infrastructure in the ACT would indicate the that we have a problem translating what we know into actions.

Relevant documents and reports, ordered by release date

Compliled by canberrabike, 22 August 2021.

ACT Strategic Cycle Network Plan 2014

The early hsitory in the above table above was compiled from the SMEC report, ACT Strategic Cycle Network Plan 2014 (26 September 2014, 5-6), obtained through TCCS FOI 20-030. The report includes a summary of early policy documents.

2.1 Existing Transport Planning Assessment

2.1.1 National and Local Strategy and Policy Plans

2011 National Cycling Strategy

The National Cycling Strategy sets out a series of actions that are intended to result in doubling the number of people cycling in Australia over the next five years.

This Strategy promotes the idea that bicycles are considered to impose 95% less traffic congestion than an average car. Many people tend to overestimate travel times by bicycle, and when travel time is measured door to door, distances up to 5km on congested roads are often quicker on bicycle than in a motor vehicle. The Strategy highlights that increased cycling offers benefits to both society and individuals, and is a more sustainable mode of transport and provides an outline for priorities and objectives to meet the five year objective.

2012 ACT Planning Strategy

The 2012 ACT Planning Strategy brings together the 2004 Canberra Spatial Plan and 2004 Sustainable Transport Plan to form the transitional planning strategy for the ACT. This strategy informs decisions on the land uses, metropolitan structure, and growth of Canberra.

There are two primary strategies from this strategy that are relevant to this cycle network feasibility plan.

Strategy 2 identifies improving everyone’s mobility and creating more choices in travel by integrating investment in Canberra’s transport networks with the land uses it serves. This will be done through augmenting the commuter cycle network and facilities.

Strategy 5 identifies building the capacity for everyone to participate in community life by improving the quality of the public realm, access to services and information. This will be accomplished by encouraging people to walk or cycle to schools, shops or community halls as the trip will be safe and pleasant. Canberra’s neighbourhood planning principles placed these services at the heart of every suburb.

Additionally, there are three principles in the ACT Planning Strategy 2012 that need to be considered as part of this cycle network plan as well:

– Principle 1: Provide for accessible and pleasant places to live, work and play
– Principle 2: Design for community resilience and the lowering of natural resource consumption.
– Principle 3: Provide choice in safe convenient modes of travel.

2012 Transport for Canberra Policy

The actions in Transport for Canberra will help create a more sustainable city. This will be implemented through the following:

– Provision of a variety of transportation choices for the Canberra community that provides safe, comfortable frequent and reliable public transport that connects with high quality walking and cycling networks.
– Encouraging mixed land uses to include a mix of retail, commerce and residential uses. Single-use districts make life less convenient to access local facilities, thereby forcing people to drive more frequently to destinations.
– Fostering walkable, compact and close knit neighbourhoods that offer opportunities for recreational walking and cycling on a convenient network of paths, as well as locations to walk or cycle to, whether it be the shops, transport, work or school. A compact, walkable neighbourhood benefits both business and safety and will help tip the choice towards active travel, particularly for shorter journeys.
– Promotion and education to encourage healthy and sustainable mode choices where possible.
– Continued improvements to the safety of all transport modes to reduce the number of accidents.
– Building on our existing community assets to focus on getting the most out of, and building on, the existing transport system.

Transport for Canberra ideally wants Canberra to be a city where active travel is the easy choice, with more people of all ages, cycling and walking for work, school and a variety of other trips.

2008 Integrated Transport Framework

The need for creating the Integrated Transport Framework stems from the strong relationships between each of the components of the transport system that includes: roads, parking, public transport, cycling, walking and supporting infrastructure.

In addition to public transport, cycling and walking are key elements of integrated transport solutions. This framework builds upon the 2004 Masterplan covering the necessary infrastructure for pedestrians and cyclists, with a focus on establishing a network for use by commuting cyclists both on and off-road. An on road cycle policy has also been developed and will continue to be implemented over the coming years.

2004 Sustainable Transport Plan

The Sustainable Transport Plan, as part of the Canberra Spatial Plan, proposes intensification of the existing area creating an urban form that has shorter trips and encourages people to walk and cycle. It also encourages development at town centres and Civic and at activity nodes along transport corridors, which will support the development of public transport.

2014 ACT Strategic Cycling Network Plan, September 2014, 5-6. Source: FOI 20-030