I make the ten minute journey to Epping Station, twice a day. Some days, it’s quite pleasant. It’s those 40^oC days, or when the rain soaks through to your bones, however, that I and my fellow commuters offer each other looks of condolences. You see, while Epping Station is a junction of three major train lines which connect people to education, recreation and employment, the space outside the station has a great impact on its commuters.

How does Epping Station have it so wrong?

In the next four decades, the population of Sydney is expected to grow to 8 million (Greater Sydney Region Plan, 2018). As our population increases, there is going to be an increasing need to connect people to public transport services. The usual car-centric commute to work negatively impacts society through increased air pollution, poor health outcomes and traffic congestion.

Sydney’s urban sprawl means that Epping has a legacy of large house blocks and a mentality that everybody should own a car, or three. The roads have been designed, albeit poorly, with cars as a priority. As a result of this legacy, the walkability around Epping Station is drastically reduced.

Epping Station is surrounded by four-lane roads, and I make that awkward eye contact with people trapped in their cars on my walk, for there are no barriers between me and the road. There is no vegetation, and no protection from the elements – rain or too much shine. In addition, there’s no way through the park that bypasses stairs, meaning you’re a little stuck if you rely on wheels. Once you’ve trekked up the hill, you wait at the traffic lights. And you wait. And you wait.

What are the opportunities?

The solution to this seems so simple! By focusing on putting people first on the commute to public transport, we can remove some of the barriers to its use, and enjoy its benefits for society and the environment. I suggest that local councils:

1. Map the ‘commute to your commute’ routes. What paths are people taking? Are they protected from traffic, physically accessible for all and have clear lines of sight (for safety)? Are they vegetated and protected from the elements, both heat and rain? What is the wait like at traffic lights? Once we understand the way people get to these sites, we can improve them.
2. Block all vehicle access (except emergency) to the streets directly surrounding public transport hubs, to increase their safety; and
3. Reactivate this newly created people-only space around train stations, with cafes, pharmacies and other things you need on your commute.

Long-term, there’s an opportunity to ensure density around these transport routes, ensuring the above principles are captured.

Sydney is a sprawled city and the outer-suburb legacy of the car-first mentality is reducing the uptake of our public transport services. By putting people back at the heart of public transport, most importantly for the journey to transport hubs, we can have better outcomes for human health, air quality, traffic congestion and the local economy. Come on City of Parramatta, let’s do this!

Thanks for joining me for my first post. Stay tuned for more musings!

Reference:
– Greater Sydney Commission. 2018. Greater Sydney Region Plan: A Metropolis of Three Cities. Viewed 2.3.19 at https://www.greater.sydney/