New data shows many customers still walk to Melbourne’s busy retail strips
Fed up with busy traffic around shopping precincts and the stressful hunt for parks, shoppers at Melbourne’s busiest retail strips are opting for alternative forms of transport.
VIC News
Don't miss out on the headlines from VIC News. Followed categories will be added to My News.
Shoppers at Melbourne’s popular retail strips are just as likely to arrive on foot as by car, with a new report showing Victorians are still walking to their local store.
A study released on Monday by Victoria Walks and funded by VicHealth has analysed previously unavailable travel data to paint a picture of how Melburnians move.
It found a third of customers in busy areas such as Sydney Rd, Brunswick and High St, Northcote were choosing walk to stores rather than spend time hunting for a park.
“Many business owners drive to work so they assume their customers travel the same way
they do, which is often not the case,” Victoria Walks executive officer Dr Ben Rossiter said.
“Even in walkable inner suburbs there is often fierce resistance from retailers to remove parking to accommodate streetscape improvements that both walkers and drivers want.”
“Business owners or planners who work on the assumption most people want to drive are
actually doing everyone, including themselves, a huge disservice.”
The report also found nearly half of train commuters walked to railway stations in Melbourne compared to the 21 per cent who drove.
MORE NEWS:
TRADERS FEAR LOSS OF SYDNEY RD CAR PARKS
THE BUSY BRUNSWICK ROAD CYCLISTS FEAR RIDING DOWN
MELBOURNE’S TOWAWAY HOT SPOTS REVEALED
Dr Rossiter said this showed recent commitments for parking at train stations could be better spent.
“We should do more to ensure parking is oriented to those who really need to drive and
focus on getting other people using sustainable transport,” he said.
“VicHealth reports that less than a third of Australians are getting enough physical activity to
benefit their health.
“Getting more people moving in the course of their everyday activities should be a top priority for all levels of government.”