A CITY YOU CAN MOVE THROUGH

WHAT WE STAND FOR Giving residents and visitors more opportunities to move around safely and enjoyably, especially through public and active transport that is accessible for all. Delivering an integrated public and active transport system that’s equitable for people across the ACT and sets us up for a carbon-neutral future. Joining up the missing links in our pedestrian and cycling networks. Accelerating footpath works and ensuring our paths are accessible for wheelchairs, prams, bicycles, and other mobility devices. Adding separated bike lanes when resurfacing roads wherever possible. Making Canberra a city where our kids can walk and ride safely to school.

WHY WE NEED CHANGE

Canberra is one of the few cities in the world that was entirely planned before it was built. Its design incorporates wider roads, green spaces and a radial layout. This planned origin provides a unique opportunity for developing public and active transport infrastructure. The city was designed around a series of town centres connected by arterial roads, making it easier to establish efficient public transport routes and promote active travel, like cycling and walking. Yet we are hearing from people all across Canberra that public transport is vastly inadequate and many people do not feel they have access to safe, efficient active travel routes. The ACT needs a comprehensive, integrated public and active transport plan for the future.

A September 2024 report from the Climate Council found that only 3.1 per cent of Canberrans travel using public transport or shared cars, which is the lowest percentage of all the capital cities in Australia. The proportion for Sydneysiders is 13.1 per cent.
Transport produces 60 per cent of the ACT’s carbon emissions but, despite a strong mandate for climate action in Canberra, there was an alarming decline in the proportion of trips taking using public and active transport between the 2016 and 2021 census results.
Two thirds of Canberrans undertake their daily commute in a car. The 2021 census found that only 6 per cent used public transport, and 6 per cent used active transport.
A recent study by Monash University demonstrated that over 75 per cent of commuters would elect to use active transport if conditions were safer in terms of separation from motor vehicle traffic.
For many people, affordable housing is on the outskirts, and they tell us they would rather use public transport but have to drive because of limited public transport options. 59 per cent of North Canberra residents travel by car while 83 per cent of people living in Tuggeranong travel by car.
Canberra has been ranked the least walkable major city in the country.