'bold leadership' needed on traffic

Kent AcottThe West Australian Perth's congestion woes can be fixed relatively easily and cheaply - it just needs bold leadership and a political will, according to a leading traffic

congestion consultant. Rachel Smith said Australian cities were in crisis because they were created, managed and designed around the car. "It's killing us, our communities and our

economy, but most of all it's robbing us all of our money and our precious time," she said. "The average family now spends more time sitting in the car than they do around the

dining table." Ms Smith, who has been implementing traffic congestion solutions in Britain and Australia for 15 years, said the solution needed a clear vision and bold leadership. In

her book Decongestion, Ms Smith said many cities lacked the strong leadership needed to radically transform urban transport. "Many decision-makers are unwilling to change the status

quo, are more reactive than proactive and are more focused on the now than the future," she said. "Furthermore, many priorities are focused on politically orientated agendas or

special interests rather than the right solution." Ms Smith said government and council leaders should not be afraid to experiment with "temporary urbanism", where ideas and

potential solutions were tested. She said temporary infrastructure and projects were inexpensive and non-binding. For example, several North American cities including New York, Memphis,

Portland and Calgary have used temporary bike lanes to test whether bicycle facilities were an advantage or a disadvantage to their city. She said congestion could be alleviated by

restricting car use and car parking, building infrastructure for all modes of transport and getting businesses to stagger working hours. Queensland-based Ms Smith was a specialist traffic

congestion adviser to the British Government for six years. GET THE LATEST NEWS FROM THEWEST.COM.AU IN YOUR INBOX. Sign up for our emails