“We note four main areas of the 100 Day Review that we wish to draw attention to:
- Assess connectivity and integration – elevating the integration between venues and public and active transport supports walkability for everyone, in all weather and all times of the day or night.
- Transport infrastructure – guaranteeing that priority is given to active and public transport provisions and good universal design principles are used to ensure that everyone can access and participate.
- Legacy-focused – enabling the whole community who walk in or near the local footprint and businesses to benefit from the investment in the short and longer term due to improvements made to walkability and the uptake of public and active transport.
- Integrated Planning – applying universal design and best practice to every master plan framework ensuring high quality integration between active and public transport.
– Queensland Walks submission.
We offer key recommendations to improve walkability:
- The spaces between the venues are as important as the Olympic and Paralympic venues
- Embracing a pedestrian-first approach (like London & Paris) will see transformative change to our Queensland cities and venues
- We recommend significantly improving walkability and prioritisation of the spaces for walking
- Design for legacy infrastructure such as a signature ‘Great Walk’ that improves the way we move around the venues, as well as the potential for signature ‘Great Queensland Walks’
- Encouraging more people to walk more every day through programs and infrastructure
- Support high quality conditions for walking to local and nearby businesses so they benefit from The Games before and after events, and for future events and activities
- Provide accessible pedestrian-first options with universal design and selecting venues that are located closest to transit, active corridors and major centres.
Where can we start? - Improve footpath quality, conditions and widths - Upgrade our streets with pedestrian friendly crossings, including mid-block crossings, and at-grade crossings such as Raised Priority Crossings - Designing responsive pedestrian buttons (short cycles for people waiting and walking) and safer crossings that are designed to prioritise pedestrian flow rather than private vehicle movement - Provide separated cycling and e-scooter infrastructure connections for riding, and parking facilities - Provide high quality shading and green grids along active corridors and lanes - Provide and increase shaded seating options and waiting areas to reduce heat risk impact and improve comfort (tree canopy and structural shading). More recommendations for improving walkability can be found with our Queensland Walking Alliance (QWA) Call to Action Accessibility and Inclusion, and Safer Streets for Walking Now documents.
“Many of whom that were lucky enough to attend the Paris Games noted that it was not the venues that left the greatest impression, but the streets that connected them.” Glen Power, AILA
AILA QLD Chapter President, Urbis Director of Design, and Landscape Architect Glen Power has called for professionals in the design industry to take proactive steps in contributing to a greener, more sustainable future for the state.
In his article ‘Planting Seeds for Queensland’s Green Future: A Call to Action for Design,’ Power emphasises the critical role of design in shaping a sustainable future for Queensland. He advocates for innovative approaches that integrate environmental considerations into urban planning and architecture.
Power also highlights the importance of collaboration among designers, policymakers, and communities to create spaces that are not only functional but also environmentally friendly.
