THE FACTS

Bridge Road, Richmond, is a famous shopping strip that is popular with tourists and is home to shops housing the wares of emerging designers.

During peak hour travel times, the road can become highly congested because of its proximity to the Melbourne CBD.

Both trams and cars travel on Bridge Road, with many of the cars filled only by single occupants.

In April 2008 the Victorian Premier John Brumby announced a plan to extend clearway times on all busy roads within 10 kilometres of the CBD.

A clearway is a traffic lane that is allowed to hold parked cars, except during nominated times.

The plan was to make uniform clearway times for the busy roads from 6.30am to 10am and from 3pm to 7pm on weekdays.

Bridge Road shop owners revolted at the plan, arguing that it would drastically reduce their business.

In March 2009, the Victorian Government changed the 3pm to 7pm clearway stipulation so that it only applied to lanes within 100 metres of main intersections.

THE VIEWS

Stonnington Mayor Claude Ullin, as quoted in The Age:

“All the research suggests that extended clearway hours are not the solution to traffic congestion, and that the vibrancy of Melbourne’s shopping strips should be protected at all costs.”

Victorian Roads Minister Tim Pallas, as quoted in The Age:

“Having listened to the community and concerns of local traders it is appropriate to act in the way we have… We won’t get the full efficiency of the (road) network that we would otherwise have got. But this is a step in the right direction. I admit this is a compromise.”

BREAKING IT DOWN

A) Enhancing clearways is not the best option for reducing traffic congestion; making public transport more appealable is.

Businesses don’t want to suffer from the lack of convenience of parking for customers, but they would also be better served in the long run by more people visiting by public transport.

B) Clearways all over Melbourne are only a temporary, inefficient solution.

Public transport is the best inner urban option in the long run.

WHAT’S YOUR OPINION?

Should clearways be established in areas like Bridge Road?

Is enough being done to promote public transport as an attractive option?

Is traffic congestion a serious problem in inner city areas?

What could be done to satisfy both businesses and traffic needs?