News & Discussion: Adelaide City Council

[metro]

whoever made that first picture put the cycling lane in the wrong place. like: road -> cycling lane -> parking -> footpath.. (that's how it is now).. it should be: road -> parking -> cycling lane -> footpath!! and the councils and governments think thats the only way to do it

as a cyclist i hate seeing visions of the future where the cycling lane is still the same width and in the same spot between parked cars and the road. but it's painted green because clearly green paint has the magical ability to stop cars, trucks, and buses from blocking it

[Wayno]

whoever made that first picture put the cycling lane in the wrong place. like: road -> cycling lane -> parking -> footpath.. (that's how it is now).. it should be: road -> parking -> cycling lane -> footpath!! and the councils and governments think thats the only way to do it

I agree, and they tried this on Sturt st (road/parking/bike lane/footpath) but it failed as many cars entering from side streets ignored stopping at the bike lane. Why, i don't know - perhaps poorly marked, or drivers needing an education? Compare road/parking/bike lane/footpath (Oct 2010) vs road/bike lane/parking/footpath (Oct 2011). 1 big step backwards.

as a cyclist i hate seeing visions of the future where the cycling lane is still the same width and in the same spot between parked cars and the road. but it's painted green because clearly green paint has the magical ability to stop cars, trucks, and buses from blocking it

Yes, and bike lanes should be positioned so they are protected from 'suddenly opening car doors' - slammo!

[Waewick]

potentially dumb question

but wouldn't it be better to have the cycling lane in the middle of the road?


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wouldn't that put them front and centre of the cars vision and out of the way of parked cars and or pedestrians?

the only issue with this is the Cyclists having to obey the road rules....

[Waewick]

potentially dumb question

but wouldn't it be better to have the cycling lane in the middle of the road?


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wouldn't that put them front and centre of the cars vision and out of the way of parked cars and or pedestrians?

the only issue with this is the Cyclists having to obey the road rules....

oh and turning left or right.

[crawf]

Don't get me wrong there is some good ideas in Picture Adelaide. But where is the money going to come from?, what incentive's are there in place to attract this type of development along the parklands and laneways?. What about the hyped up plan for Chesser Lane?, it's been a year and nothing has been done or said. North Terrace is still not finished, neither is Rundle Street. There have also been plans for Bank Street, but again nothing. And let's not get started on Victoria Square...

Instead of coming up with another talk feast or uncosted vision, the council should actually focus their attention on things that will attract investment and make the city more attractive. The main priorities should be beautifying and upgrading key city streets aswell as overhauling the 1920s low-rise pyramid plan by relaxing height restrictions, so Adelaide can take full advantage of these growing boom times. Our key financial strips are embarrassing and a safety hazard, with ugly street furniture, dirty cracked and uneven pavers. Imagine what interstate business officials must think of our city, when they visit an office along say Grenfell Street or Gawler Place

Redeveloping Rundle Mall should definitely be a main priority aswell.

[Wayno]

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There's many configs that work - really depends on the situation at hand, and connections to the broader network. There's also U turning cars, traffic lights & pedestrian considerations. There's many good examples & designs out there such as here and here and here if you want to learn more. I simply hope the ACC is working to building expertise in this field. Adelaide streets are broad and we have a great opportunity to set aside adequate real estate for cyclists.

[SRW]

I still think Victoria Square is an absolute priority, but my gosh that looks fantastic!

[ml69]

+1.

Where did those Grenfell st pics come from?

[JamesXander]

Another day another preacher filled mall. Sales drop by thousands around the sites of these protests. I know acc staff read and post here. Forget about talking about pretty sustainable offices and special trees and do something about this. As I have said before you are pissing all your hard work building up Rundle mall by skirting around this issue (I know your doing something about it... But it's clearly not working and not getting out in the public area). We are looking like an absolute joke at the moment. It's very frustrating . I suggest you stand out in the mall during the protests and see what passing shoppers say.

[david]

Firstly, the simulations of Grenfell Street I think you will find came from the Integrated Design Commission and they certainly look pretty good.

Secondly, I can assure you that the Lord Mayor and I and other Councillors together with our staff have been down Rundle Mall and experienced the preachers first hand and they are certainly not a pretty sight.

But it is also not an easy problem to solve because our By-Law No 6 which covers activities in Rundle Mall was disallowed on the grounds that it denied people their constitutional right to freedom of speech!!!

I can assure you that through the support of the Government and the Opposition we are about to get a legislated solution which will give us powers to control certain aspects of behaviour in public places and in particular the power to stop the use of amplification, platforms, stages etc not only in the Mall but in other public places throughout the state. I understand that this will be passed into law before the end of the current Parliamentiary sitting.

David Plumridge
Deputy Lord Mayor.

[david]

Let me say to Ben that as far as I am concerned we need BOTH Rundle Mall and Victoria Square to revitalise both of these important public spaces. I believe Council can hold its funding for the Square whilst also finding the $30m or so that is required to regenerate the Mall.

Oh and by the way Ben, have a look at the plans for Victoria Square - it is a hell of a lot more than 'just a few trees' as you are suggesting. The design won a high commendation at the recent AILA Awards and it has been acclaimed by many leading designers as well as the broader community. Adelaide needs a great meeting place and one that is located in the heart of the city.

David Plumridge
Deputy Lord Mayor

[arki]

But it is also not an easy problem to solve because our By-Law No 6 which covers activities in Rundle Mall was disallowed on the grounds that it denied people their constitutional right to freedom of speech!!!

Last time I checked the Australian Constitution never outlined any provisions for freedom of speech.
I will also never understand what people mean when they say we need a "meeting place". I had the same feelings towards the 'Rundle Convergence'. If I am to meet up with friends to see a movie, or have dinner, or catch up for a coffee ill either meet them at the cinema, the restaurant or the cafe. Come to think of it, considering Vic Square is far from all three of these things I doubt that I would ever even think about using it as a 'meeting place'.

Unless the square becomes a destination in itself in which I would be interested in visiting then I don't see what would ever be able to attract people.

[Vee]

I will also never understand what people mean when they say we need a "meeting place". I had the same feelings towards the 'Rundle Convergence'. If I am to meet up with friends to see a movie, or have dinner, or catch up for a coffee ill either meet them at the cinema, the restaurant or the cafe. Come to think of it, considering Vic Square is far from all three of these things I doubt that I would ever even think about using it as a 'meeting place'.

Unless the square becomes a destination in itself in which I would be interested in visiting then I don't see what would ever be able to attract people.

I have to agree with arki on Victoria Square as a 'meeting place' - not my idea for a place to meet with friends, even if it was redeveloped as per the plan. It still seems like an island, encircled by busy roads and relatively disconnected from nearby spaces such as the hospitality strip on Gouger St. and the Central Market.

I would prefer that the ACC puts its funds and energies into one or two priority projects and get these completed sooner. Rundle Mall needs to be revamped as soon as possible and I would like to see the Rundle Street extension improved to be more pedestrian friendly and with a few more trees to increase shade and aesthetics.

Victoria Park upgrade needs to be finished sooner.

The redeveloped Riverside precinct looks exciting. Any extra Council funds to complement this project? eg. landscaping and amenities - Elder Park, riverbank, walkways, improved cycle paths, toilets, sculptures etc and extending the improvements past the Boathouse and Uni footbridge in one direction and beyond the weir in the other.

Dare I say .... pitch in some funds towards the much needed footbridge across the Torrens?

[ghs]

Councilors, I have a suggestion. the money put aside for Victoria Square in this years budget could be put forward to complete the upgrade of Rundle Street and also to complete a makeover of Grenfell Street as per the below design, with trees and wide footpaths etc. this would make much more impact then a few trees in vic Square

Surely having only 1 lane on each side of grenfell street would cause major traffic problems.

[arki]

The plan is to close it off to all traffic except buses so in effect, we will have a second mall running parallel to Rundle only this one will for the most part be empty and lifeless.