Identification of problems

This section looks at identifying the problems which relate to cycling in Tarneit by drawing on the community input received from Stage 1 and field observations. The assessment of the input and site visit findings against Forsyth and Krizek’s (2010) matrix on the efficacy of different strategies at increasing cycling in a neighbourhood (Table 3) identifies the performance of Tarneit overall in its strategies of community design, infrastructure availability and quality, programs, pricing and convenience and combined strategies as ‘low’ or poor.

Strategy

Community design

overall design or layout of the neighbourhood Infrastructure availability such as the Infrastructure of high quality design and infrastructure Programs

Ability to increase cycling

Medium High Medium Insufficient robust evaluations

Performance of Tarneit ���� High, medium and low ☹

Land use: limited mix- limited local destinations, long distances to shops/activities (Nanayakkara et al., 2018ab) Urban design: limited consideration of the human scale experience (Figure 2) Street network: disconnected cycling network (Figure 3), long and winding routes and presence of cul-de-sacs. Need direct and short routes especially to the station (City of Wyndham 2017d; Figure 3) Disconnected cycle network (Figure 3) and absence of bicycle lanes at roundabouts Need toilets and drinking fountains along major routes and well-lit routes (City of Wyndham, 2017d) Need secure bike parking (City of Wyndham, 2017bd) Need greater connectivity –a connected bicycle network (City of Wyndham, 2017bd) Basic infrastructure provided such as bicycle lanes demarcated by paint and no real separation from motorised traffic lanes. Improve shared paths –wider path, clearly identifying that path is shared (City of Wyndham, 2017d) Need safe routes to destinations and work (City of Wyndham, 2017d) Ride2School initiative and Active Travel Schools Program aim to encourage children to use active transport to commute to and from school (City of Wyndham, 2017b) Maps for cycling and walking are available (City of Wyndham, 2016a) Need programs on how to cycle safely and courteously (City of Wyndham, 2017d) “Enforcing bike lanes are NOT for parking” (City of Wyndham, 2017d p14) “Education program for cyclists, pedestrians, vehicles to understand each other and encourage sharing” (City of Wyndham, 2017d p14)

Overall performance

availability of cycling and pedestrian paths

attractiveness of the

activities such as education and marketing

Low Low

Low

Low

Pricing and convenience time and monetary costs associated with the mode of travel

Combined strategies combination of multiple approaches (e.g. pricing, infrastructure provision and education)

Low

High Cycling is inconvenient. Pricing may tempt the low income and younger people to cycle. Based on observations and journey to work data the preferred mode of travel however is the car (Profile.id, 2016).

Bicycle lanes, related signage and bicycle racks were observed. Need signs ‘keep left’ signs to encourage pedestrians on shared paths to stay left, reduce speed signs and signs reminding pedestrians and motorists of existing cycle way (City of Wyndham, 2017d) Low

Low

Table 3: An assessment of the cycleability of Tarneit using an adaptation of Forsyth and Krizek’s (2010) matrix on the efficacy of different strategies at increasing cycling using site visit observations and feedback received from local cyclists (See City of Wyndham, 2017bd)

Figure 2 Feedback from Wyndham cyclists and observations which gauge the extent to which the urban design caters to cycling in Tarneit (City of Wyndham, 2017d)

Figure 3 Tarneit’s existing bicycle network and specific problems identified by the community (City of Wyndham, 2016a; City of Wyndham, 2017d)

Figure 4 Community needs regarding the street network, layout and design of the neighbourhood relevant to Tarneit (City of Wyndham, 2017d)

Figure 5 Community needs related to infrastructure availability and quality (City of Wyndham, 2017d)

Based on field observations and community input received from local cyclists the following can be identified as the key barriers to cycling for transport in Tarneit:

Limited diversity and mix in uses and provision of local destinations to travel to for everyday needs. Disconnected bicycle network making cycling inconvenient and unsafe. Direct routes to local destinations are needed such as Tarneit Station and neighbouring suburbs. Bicycle lanes along major roads are needed and the improvement of difficult intersections. Improvement of bicycle paths is needed and additional consideration for the safety and amenity of cyclists. Additional bicycle parking is needed at destinations such as the shopping centre. Need education programs to teach pedestrians, cyclists and motorists how to share the road and travel safely.