Revealed: What makes Melbourne CBD’s pedestrians’ blood boil

Mobile phone use has been an issue on our roads for some time. But people walking too slowly while glued to their phones are also flaring tempers on the footpath. See what other gripes we have about walking in Melbourne’s CBD.

People driving or cycling while using mobile phones has been an issue on our roads for some time.

But people walking too slowly while glued to their phones is also flaring tempers on the footpath.

Meandering and inattentive pedestrians have been identified as a key problem in Melbourne’s CBD.

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A crackdown on cars and wider footpaths are among measures flagged to make the CBD more pedestrian friendly.

Melbourne City Council research, based on almost 3000 responses from the public, reveals poor pedestrian behaviour is a concern for a quarter of people who responded about conditions for walkers in the CBD.

“Pedestrians can be prone to poor etiquette, especially when using mobile phones,’’ the report notes.

“Inattentive pedestrians are a frequent source of frustration to many.

“They are seen to impede other travellers by walking slowly or meandering erratically.’’

Gripes about walking in the CBD also included;

PEDESTRIANS who don’t keep to the left;

FOOTPATHS which are too narrow or poorly constructed;

RECKLESS and aggressive drivers;

CYCLISTS riding on footpaths;

DINING tables, street performers and queues impeding pedestrian traffic; and

TOO many people smoking.

Forget driving on the other side of the road the big issue is I continually find myself walking on the wrong side of the sidewalk in the states. It’s becoming quite the issue for me. I’m always drifting left. I gotta be better. That’s on me

— Dane Swan (@swandane) November 30, 2018

Widening footpaths — especially in ‘Little’ streets like Little Collins, creating car free zones, reducing the availability of parking and longer times for pedestrian to cross at the lights were among top suggestions to make the CBD more pedestrian friendly.

Council transport portfolio chair Nicolas Frances Gilley said: “We have prioritised walking as the most important travel choice in our city, supported by cycling and public transport.”

“Residents, workers and visitors to our city are telling us they are feeling overcrowded,’’ Cr Frances Gilley said.

“Now we have solid data that quantifies that experience and more importantly, suggests how we can tackle it.”

The community overwhelmingly said the Hoddle Grid was struggling to cope with Melbourne’s population growth — making drivers increasingly impatient, confused and prone to risky behaviour.

The council’s research followed the release of several discussion documents flagging possible ways to improve transport in the CBD.

Sofia catches up on her social pages using her mobile phone while the world moves around her. Picture: David Caird

Car-free “superblocks” spanning several streets, reducing streets to a single lane each way and slashing the speed limit for vehicles to 30km/h were among ideas.

Cycling in the CBD was deemed a danger.

“While we received overwhelming support for many of the ideas raised in the discussion papers, we also received criticisms and concerns,’’ Cr Frances Gilley said.

“All feedback will shape the new Transport Strategy we’re releasing early next year.”

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