NEWCASTLE council has committed to reducing speed limits across suburban streets as part of a new transport strategy.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
On December 9 Newcastle councillors endorsed the revised Newcastle Transport Strategy unanimously, which aims to encourage people away from their cars.
The strategy prioritises the needs of pedestrians and cyclists and suggests reducing speed limits to 40km/h in some residential areas.
The latest figures from the Australian Bureau of Statistics (in 2011) reveal that 65 per cent of Novocastrians drive their own car as their main method of transport.
This figure has jumped up from 63 per cent in 2006 and 61 per cent in 2001.
One of the main targets of the new transport strategy is to increase the number of public transport commuters to 20 per cent during peak hours by 2016.
However, this statistic is at odds with the recent decision by the state government to truncate heavy rail into the city and eventually replace it with light rail.
State government reports predict there will be 23 per cent loss of patronage to public transport during the two-year construction phase of the light rail, with buses set to replace them.
Just five submissions on the new transport strategy were received from the public, including one from the University of Newcastle and one from the Newcastle Cycleways Movement.
The university said it was keen to see more park and ride programs rolled out as well as express buses.
Newcastle Cycleways Movement said an extension of 40km/h zones in residential streets would reduce the number of and severity of crashes.