Whose footpath is it?
Graeme Pattison
In the last Newsletter Brian Smith from WSP shared his on-going concern regarding new demands for using our footpaths such as bikeshares, scooters and Uber deliveries. I see this problem growing as more and more obstructions restrict pedestrians, taking away their available space.
AusPost has expanded its street equipment from just the simple letterbox to express post bins as well as many storage boxes where posties pick up local mail batches.
Telstra has built a network of large telecommunications street cabinets allowing it to downsize telephone exchange buildings but at the public cost of footway space. Other telecommunication companies followed suit and the NBN has in recent years rolled out its own huge on-street network. No doubt the cost of real estate for off-street equipment locations influenced the extent of on-street placement. Electricity suppliers may be doing the same with their large transformer substation cabinets.
Intelligent Traffic Systems generally need road side equipment cabinets for communications, local processing, control systems and power supplies. There has been a surge in their use for motorways, smart arterials,VMS, speed and red light cameras and other systems such as light rail. As CCTV systems for traffic control and security have grown so too has their need for footway equipment space.
In the early days of SCATS the signal controller designers planned to build large and tall cabinets with plenty of access room. I am told that Harry Camkin (of DMT and an AITPM founder) directed the designers to make more compact cabinets that would allow adult pedestrians to see over the top. Unfortunately this now seems to have been forgotten and many ITS cabinets have become visual and physical obstructions.
When Australia was announced as host for the 2000 Olympic Games the City of Sydney committed to improving its city core streetscapes. A main feature of this was the introduction of Multi Function Poles (MFP) that provided for traffic signal lanterns, street lighting, signage, banners, mobile phone base stations, CCTV and more. Despite installation difficulties and liaison problems in bringing the various user agencies together these "Smartpoles"TM were a success in rationalising street utilities.
My observation is that agencies are now rolling out infrastructure on footways without integrating the different but related functions together. An example is signal controllers next to traffic CCTV controllers next to uninterruptible power supplies (for the signals) next to ITS cabinets (for bus priority or light rail etc). Further, it seems footway space is taken as free to use without constraint.
Australia Post Boxes
An NBN cabinet
A large ITS cabinet in suburbia near WestConnex
Cabinets with "Please Move Me" graffiti
Four cabinets in a prime city centre location
Lack of cleaning makes these an eyesore
This kerb ramp is partially blocked by a not too temporary signal post
ITS, electricity, waste bins, lighting, pillars and a mystery cabinet
You don't need a pedestrian fence when there are this many cabinets
The pole is important but so are pedestrians
Bike Hire and a waiting Uber Eats cyclist narrow the passageway
Five cabinets plus various poles
This pole is not going to move
