Open letter to NPSP.
Relinquishing some of the space dedicated to cars to green space is positive climate action.
Here is a copy of the letter that I've written to the Norwood, Payneham, and St Peters Council about implementing woonerfs in my suburb. Feel free to take it, modify it, edit it, and send your own.
I would also love to hear your thoughts on it - either in the comments below, or hit me up on the Cycling Gorilla Cinema instagram account DMs.
Dear Mr Bria
A proposal to improve safety and amenity for residents, pedestrians and cyclists in the city of Norwood, Payneham and St Peters.
I write to encourage the Council to investigate the benefits of implementing Dutch style "woonerfs" in the suburbs of Norwood, Payneham, and St Peters Council area. In particular, my suburb of Kensington.
A woonerf is a Dutch word that literally means "residential area", but it implies a lot more. In the Netherlands, an area that is defined a woonerf prioritises pedestrians, cyclists, scooter riders, and other types of active transport, and while cars can enter the streets, they are not the priority. Cars need to move slowly, and carefully, and give way to all other modes of transport. Because of the lower speeds, woonerfs improve the safety of everyone who uses the streets - particularly children and the elderly, reduces tyre and engine noise, and improves the air-quality in the immediate area.
There are too many successful woonerfs in the Netherlands to list here, but there are also several examples of successful woonerfs from around the world. Here is a small selection from the USA and one from New Zealand.
- Argyle Street, Chicago was designed with "woonerf principles". The before and after images shown here are quite striking: https://www.landscapeperformance.org/case-study-briefs/argyle-shared-street
- Fort Street, Auckland is a shopping street, so a little different to what I am proposing for the suburbs around Norwood, Payneham, and St Peters Council area, but very interesting nonetheless. (Look out for another letter from me some time in the future where I suggest that the Parade between Osmond Terrace and Portrush Road be completely pedestrianised) https://globaldesigningcities.org/publication/global-street-design-guide/streets/shared-streets/commercial-shared-streets/case-study-fort-street-auckland-new-zealand/
- Bell Street Park, Seattle is praised in this article: https://www.seattlemet.com/news-and-city-life/2014/02/pedestrian-chronicles-february-2014
Woonerfs bring many benefits to their communities. I have already mentioned the improved safety of non-car users thanks to the lower speeds that cars need to travel at, but there is also an improved public health benefit that comes with active transportation, and reduced noise and air pollution. More people moving at "human speed" in the neighbourhood improves feelings of safety, and social and community cohesion.
Relinquishing some of the space dedicated to cars to green space is positive climate action by reducing heat islands and improving biodiversity.
While I would love to see the car removed completely from Kensington, I acknowledge the need for cars and delivery vehicles in our suburb, and with it parking and loading zones. I believe it would be possible to maintain the current level of street parking, while also introducing the woonerf principles into our suburb. The changes could also be implemented gradually, giving those who might be resistant to the changes time to adapt and realise how much better this will be.
I propose you begin in my street - Regent Street.
Suggesting Regent Street is not entirely a selfish suggestion. I think it is a perfect pilot project location considering it is used daily by children walking from the McKellar Stewart Kindergarten to Marryatville Primary School for OSHC, and that it is a very popular street for school drop-offs.
If it works in Regent Street, it will work in any street in Kensington, and wider Norwood, Payneham, and St Peters Council suburbs.
Transforming the suburbs into woonerfs aligns with broader goals for sustainable urban development, safety, and citizen wellbeing.
Please take the lead in creating modern and people-centric urban spaces, which are completely compatible with our rich suburban heritage, showing the rest of Australia that it can be done.
Yours sincerely,
Karloskar Hall
