WALKING through Perth is about to get a whole lot better following Tuesday night’s council decision to adopt a “Walking in the City 2025-2035” plan.

According to the plan, “walking is a vital component of city life… [which] allows people to connect with others and to the rich layers of the city environment”.

A major focus of the plan is how the city intends to limit pedestrian-motorist incidents, particularly on William Street where there have been 382 crashes in the past five years, 8.4 per cent involving pedestrians. 

The council has looked to the National Road Safety Strategy 2021-2030 for guidance, as it has a “Vision Zero” aim with the intent of having zero deaths or serious injuries by 2050.

• Too many clashes between pedestrians and cars will see William Street a priority in the City’s walking plan.

Vision Zero outlines nine priorities to protect pedestrians by implementing safe road environments, promoting alternative transport, developing a national best practice for road speed and education in motorist behaviour.

The development of the Edith Cowan University city campus as part of the Perth Plan is touched on in the plan however it is not discussed how the increase in commuters will be dealt with.

ECU city will bring over 10,000 staff and students upon opening adding to the 200,000 commuters the city already has on a daily basis.

“As we don’t open until 2026 we are still in operational planning,” ECU city director of external communications Carolyn Hamilton said.

A survey was completed in September 2023 by 330 road users which showed that pedestrians have had negative experiences with e-scooters, the time allocated at pedestrian crossings, motorists not giving way, cyclists and the inconvenience of construction work on footpaths.

The city is challenged with an ageing population of one in eight Western Australians aged 65 and older which is expected to increase to 18 per cent by 2050.

“This demographic shift suggests a significant increase in elderly visitors to the city in the coming years,” the plan notes. 

by IMOGEN WALSH