Shopping streets recover from COVID

Writing in The Age newspaper, Simon Johanson reports that Melbourne’s shopping streets are bouncing back from COVID.

Image source: The Age
Image source: The Age
Image source: The Age

Our view

This is great news, and we suggest that shopping streets could recover faster if they were upgraded to make it easier for people of all ages and abilities, using all modes of transport, to access the street and shops. A good example of the way forward for Melbourne’s tram-based shopping streets is the ‘Melbourne Shopping Street‘ reference design, based on Carlisle Street in St Kilda:

Level access tram stops, wider footpaths, protected bicycle lanes and more trees on Carlisle Street. Image credit: Google Maps.

Published 3rd August 2021