Can Perth have infill without cars spilling onto our streets?
According to research last year from the EAFIT University in Medellin and the Complexity Science Hub, 82 per cent of commuters use cars, 12 per cent use public transport, and 4 per cent walk or cycle.
Loading
So how do we put the brakes on our perverse attraction to monstrous SUVs and 4WDs?
According to WA Greens MLC Brad Pettitt – a keen bike enthusiast – well-designed infill could almost make the car optional.
'Infill should be around little hubs; around our train stations, around our activity centres, but the idea that our definition of infill in Perth is just to kind of double the density of our suburbs is the worst kind of infill,' he said.
'Smart infill ideally doesn't demolish every tree in a suburb, which we've seen especially in places like Stirling, which has lost 80 per cent of its canopy cover due to poor infill over the last few decades.
'We've got to get smarter about where we do with our infill and have a better plan rather than this weird ad-hoc approach.'
High-density living is also seen as a way to address the housing crisis, but given the real estate market has been on Viagra for the past two or so years, it's making it harder for young people to buy homes or rent.
So, with the kids bunking down with their parents longer, almost every home in Perth now is a two-car household.
And you can't blame motor-mad Millennials and Gen Z for not wanting to scurry around on bikes, given the cycling network around Fremantle looks like it was designed by a depressed East German urban planner from the 1970s.
Fittingly, the only people using these dour Eastern Bloc-style paths are men over 40 riding their kids' mountain bikes because they've lost their license for drink-driving, and teenagers on stolen pushies.
You also need the survival skills of recent Alone Australia winner Shay Williamson to endure travelling on a bus or train across the world's longest city, given Perth's transport network is often ranked as one of the worst on the planet.
A report released by the RAC just two weeks ago revealed only 13 per cent of people felt comfortable riding on busy streets alongside traffic.
It probably has something to do with the fact Perth motorists can barely tolerate other drivers, let alone some Lycra-clad loner, hogging half a metre of road.
You've got more chance of a motorist merging with the cosmos than letting another lead foot move an inch in front of him.
Loading
RAC's general manager external relations Will Golsby said increased investment for better infrastructure could increase cycling uptake and help manage congestion.
'WA has some good cycling infrastructure, but it can be disconnected so driving becomes the default option which contributes to congestion and diminished air quality,' he said.
'We need to make active travel an attractive option to entice people – of any age or ability – to walk or ride for short trips rather than take the car.'
Pettit said more money was needed for the construction of the crucial bike network.
But Australian governments have a love affair with highways and byways, with around $714 spent per person on roads every year. Only 90 cents goes to walking, wheeling and cycling.
'Funding for neighbourhood-scale or local cycling infrastructure projects is relatively low at an average of $5 million a year and currently this must be 50 per cent co-funded by participating local governments,' Pettitt said.
'The Office of Auditor General's December 2021 report into Viable Cycling in the Perth Area notes while the state has added 85 kilometres to its network of principal paths, completing the remaining 100 kilometres will take time, with only 21 kilometres planned to be built by 2025.'
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The car's strong bike focus has been done to celebrate the company's history. Skoda began life as a bicycle manufacturer in 1895 as Lauren & Klement, named after founders Václav Laurin and Václav Klement. Car making began a decade later, and the company was bought by Skoda, an arms manufacturer, in 1925. Both the interior and exterior are finished in red, gold and black trim that's inspired by the original L&K emblem. 3D printed L&K badges are used both inside and out in place of Skoda's fast-disappearing winged arrow logo. The Superb's plug-in hybrid drivetrain is left untouched, and makes a combined 150kW and 350Nm from its 1.5-litre turbocharged four-cylinder petrol engine and electric motor combo. The 25.7kWh battery pack has WLTP range rating of 100km. MORE: Everything Skoda Content originally sourced from: The Skoda L&K 130 ute concept is designed to be a support vehicle for a professional cycling team. 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According to research last year from the EAFIT University in Medellin and the Complexity Science Hub, 82 per cent of commuters use cars, 12 per cent use public transport, and 4 per cent walk or cycle. Loading So how do we put the brakes on our perverse attraction to monstrous SUVs and 4WDs? According to WA Greens MLC Brad Pettitt – a keen bike enthusiast – well-designed infill could almost make the car optional. 'Infill should be around little hubs; around our train stations, around our activity centres, but the idea that our definition of infill in Perth is just to kind of double the density of our suburbs is the worst kind of infill,' he said. 'Smart infill ideally doesn't demolish every tree in a suburb, which we've seen especially in places like Stirling, which has lost 80 per cent of its canopy cover due to poor infill over the last few decades. 'We've got to get smarter about where we do with our infill and have a better plan rather than this weird ad-hoc approach.' High-density living is also seen as a way to address the housing crisis, but given the real estate market has been on Viagra for the past two or so years, it's making it harder for young people to buy homes or rent. So, with the kids bunking down with their parents longer, almost every home in Perth now is a two-car household. And you can't blame motor-mad Millennials and Gen Z for not wanting to scurry around on bikes, given the cycling network around Fremantle looks like it was designed by a depressed East German urban planner from the 1970s. Fittingly, the only people using these dour Eastern Bloc-style paths are men over 40 riding their kids' mountain bikes because they've lost their license for drink-driving, and teenagers on stolen pushies. You also need the survival skills of recent Alone Australia winner Shay Williamson to endure travelling on a bus or train across the world's longest city, given Perth's transport network is often ranked as one of the worst on the planet. A report released by the RAC just two weeks ago revealed only 13 per cent of people felt comfortable riding on busy streets alongside traffic. It probably has something to do with the fact Perth motorists can barely tolerate other drivers, let alone some Lycra-clad loner, hogging half a metre of road. You've got more chance of a motorist merging with the cosmos than letting another lead foot move an inch in front of him. Loading RAC's general manager external relations Will Golsby said increased investment for better infrastructure could increase cycling uptake and help manage congestion. 'WA has some good cycling infrastructure, but it can be disconnected so driving becomes the default option which contributes to congestion and diminished air quality,' he said. 'We need to make active travel an attractive option to entice people – of any age or ability – to walk or ride for short trips rather than take the car.' Pettit said more money was needed for the construction of the crucial bike network. But Australian governments have a love affair with highways and byways, with around $714 spent per person on roads every year. Only 90 cents goes to walking, wheeling and cycling. 'Funding for neighbourhood-scale or local cycling infrastructure projects is relatively low at an average of $5 million a year and currently this must be 50 per cent co-funded by participating local governments,' Pettitt said. 'The Office of Auditor General's December 2021 report into Viable Cycling in the Perth Area notes while the state has added 85 kilometres to its network of principal paths, completing the remaining 100 kilometres will take time, with only 21 kilometres planned to be built by 2025.'
Sydney Morning Herald
3 days ago
- Sydney Morning Herald
Can Perth have infill without cars spilling onto our streets?
According to research last year from the EAFIT University in Medellin and the Complexity Science Hub, 82 per cent of commuters use cars, 12 per cent use public transport, and 4 per cent walk or cycle. Loading So how do we put the brakes on our perverse attraction to monstrous SUVs and 4WDs? According to WA Greens MLC Brad Pettitt – a keen bike enthusiast – well-designed infill could almost make the car optional. 'Infill should be around little hubs; around our train stations, around our activity centres, but the idea that our definition of infill in Perth is just to kind of double the density of our suburbs is the worst kind of infill,' he said. 'Smart infill ideally doesn't demolish every tree in a suburb, which we've seen especially in places like Stirling, which has lost 80 per cent of its canopy cover due to poor infill over the last few decades. 'We've got to get smarter about where we do with our infill and have a better plan rather than this weird ad-hoc approach.' High-density living is also seen as a way to address the housing crisis, but given the real estate market has been on Viagra for the past two or so years, it's making it harder for young people to buy homes or rent. So, with the kids bunking down with their parents longer, almost every home in Perth now is a two-car household. And you can't blame motor-mad Millennials and Gen Z for not wanting to scurry around on bikes, given the cycling network around Fremantle looks like it was designed by a depressed East German urban planner from the 1970s. Fittingly, the only people using these dour Eastern Bloc-style paths are men over 40 riding their kids' mountain bikes because they've lost their license for drink-driving, and teenagers on stolen pushies. You also need the survival skills of recent Alone Australia winner Shay Williamson to endure travelling on a bus or train across the world's longest city, given Perth's transport network is often ranked as one of the worst on the planet. A report released by the RAC just two weeks ago revealed only 13 per cent of people felt comfortable riding on busy streets alongside traffic. It probably has something to do with the fact Perth motorists can barely tolerate other drivers, let alone some Lycra-clad loner, hogging half a metre of road. You've got more chance of a motorist merging with the cosmos than letting another lead foot move an inch in front of him. Loading RAC's general manager external relations Will Golsby said increased investment for better infrastructure could increase cycling uptake and help manage congestion. 'WA has some good cycling infrastructure, but it can be disconnected so driving becomes the default option which contributes to congestion and diminished air quality,' he said. 'We need to make active travel an attractive option to entice people – of any age or ability – to walk or ride for short trips rather than take the car.' Pettit said more money was needed for the construction of the crucial bike network. But Australian governments have a love affair with highways and byways, with around $714 spent per person on roads every year. Only 90 cents goes to walking, wheeling and cycling. 'Funding for neighbourhood-scale or local cycling infrastructure projects is relatively low at an average of $5 million a year and currently this must be 50 per cent co-funded by participating local governments,' Pettitt said. 'The Office of Auditor General's December 2021 report into Viable Cycling in the Perth Area notes while the state has added 85 kilometres to its network of principal paths, completing the remaining 100 kilometres will take time, with only 21 kilometres planned to be built by 2025.'
