A Melbourne council is trying to marshal support to extend a truck ban
By Ruza Zivkusic | September 20, 2011
A council in Melbourne is trying to marshal support to extend a truck ban on an arterial road and will also seek permission from VicRoads to reduce speed limits.
In a move it says is designed to improve safety for cyclists, motorists and pedestrians, Bayside Council wants to extend a truck ban implemented as a trial a year ago. It has written to its neighbouring Kingston and Port Phillip councils seeking support for the proposal.
The results of the 12-month trial prohibiting trucks from stopping along Beach Road on weekends will be released in November. The road runs through Bayside, Kingston and Port Phillip.
“Council has resolved to write to Kingston and Port Phillip city councils requesting their support to negotiate with truck operators and industry representatives to extend the existing truck ban to include Saturday mornings,” Bayside Council states.
“It was also agreed to seek the agreement of Bayside’s neighbouring councils to develop a business case for a submission to VicRoads for the reduction of speed limit to 50 km/h.”
The council’s Mayor, Alex del Porto, says the strategy was developed from strong community engagement and believes important road safety gains will be made over the coming years.
“Now that this strategy has been adopted, it will become council’s ‘blueprint’ for negotiations with VicRoads for its implementation.”
