Chatswood pedestrian mall extension proposed after teen injured in crash
A plan to promote pedestrian safety in Chatswood by extending the town centre’s pedestrian mall has resurfaced after a teenager was struck by a car on Victoria Ave on Tuesday.
North Shore
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Plans to boost pedestrian safety on Sydney’s north shore have resurfaced after a teenager was struck by a four-wheel drive during the peak hour rush in Chatswood.
Embedding traffic lights in the middle of footpaths and extending the Chatswood pedestrian mall are among ideas planners are considering to promote road safety in the town centre.
It comes after a 14-year-old boy was rushed to hospital with head and leg injuries after jutting out between two buses on Victoria Ave just 8.30am on Tuesday.
NSW Ambulance said the teenager was treated by paramedics at the scene and taken to Sydney Children’s Hospital in a stable condition.
North Shore Police said multiple witnesses reported seeing the teenager “running across the road” before he “collided with the vehicle”.
“At this stage the incident is being viewed as the fault of the pedestrian based on the version of half a dozen witness accounts,” a police spokesman said.
Latest crash figures show the incident was far from isolated with two pedestrians killed and 22 injured in 13 separate crashes on Victoria Ave between the Pacific Hwy and Chatswood Chase between 2014 and 2017.
Willoughby councillors on Monday voted through a range of upgrades on the busy thoroughfare including a new pedestrian crossing at the intersection with Stanley St.
Councillor Hugh Eriksson said the council was also considering additional measures to promote pedestrian awareness in the town centre.
“Generally quite often people are quick to blame motorists but in Chatswood we’re seeing a lot of incidents involving pedestrians being distracted by their mobile phones or headphones,” he said.
“The focus always seems to be towards motorists, putting in speed cushions or dropping speed limits but I do think there should be more emphasis towards pedestrian education as well.”
Cr Eriksson said ideas under consideration by the council included extending the Chatswood pedestrian mall from Anderson St to Chatswood Chase in daytime periods and embedding traffic lights into pavements.
“People quite often laugh when you talk about putting lights in the footpath but I think it would encourage people who are looking down at their phones to be aware of their surroundings,” he said.
“There’s also talk about extending the pedestrian mall during the day and then opening it up in evenings for delivery trucks. It’s certainly an option that would encourage pedestrian safety but still ensure businesses can get their deliveries.”
Other upgrades on Victoria Ave planned by the council include pedestrian upgrades at the intersection of Betram St.
The works are due to begin this financial year.