100 MORE GREEN ACHIEVEMENTS

MALL MEETINGS
Achievement	Target Date	Progress	Description	Further Information

ACHIEVEMENT: People use pedestrian malls as a place to meet and do things together.

TARGET DATE: September 2004.

PROGRESS: Some.

DESCRIPTION: This idea is for people to think of pedestrian malls as places they can meet and do things. Because cars dominate so much of our life, this is a reminder that there are places were people do not have to compete with cars for space.

Transport infrastructure has historically been to support motor vehicle traffic, often with indifference to other forms of lower impact transport such as walking or bicycle riding.

I have been a long standing promoter (and defender) of buskers and street activity in the Bourke St mall and surrounds, amidst pressure from some of the major retailers and more conservative elements in the city who frequently threaten the ability of buskers to work in the area.

As part of Melbourne City Council we have approved the redevelopment of the Bourke St Mall and maintained it as a place where pedestrians have priority.

A little bit of work has been done on marketing the mall as a place to go, but it is mainly related to getting people to spend money in retail outlets. This idea would like to see that focus to celebrating public spaces as a place to enjoy in their own right, and something the people claim as their own.

FURTHER INFORMATION: This idea came from Rob Moodie of VicHealth, talking about the health benefits of people being involved in social activities.