Many streets in Yarra have narrow, non-existent or obstructed footpaths. A narrow footpath is one that can’t be used by a person in a wheelchair, which needs a width of 1200 mm. Austroads and VicRoads guidelines recommend a minimum footpath width of 1500 mm, so that a person in a wheelchair can pass a person pushing a pram:
Streets with narrow, obstructed or non-existent footpaths have two basic options:
- Remove parking to enable wider footpaths, or
- Convert the street to a 10-30 km/h shared zone, so people can walk or roll on the street.
This page collates images of streets in Yarra with narrow footpaths. Please send us images of any narrow footpath that you find.
Blanche Street, Cremorne
Footpath blocked by parked cars. Footpath too narrow for a wheelchair.
Chapel Street, Cremorne
Footpath too narrow for a wheelchair.
Fitzgibbon Street, Cremorne
Footpath obstructed on both sides by poles. Even without obstructions, the footpath is too narrow for a wheelchair.
Brady Street, Richmond
Footpath often blocked by parked cars. Footpath too narrow for a wheelchair.
Gwynne Street, Cremorne
Footpath is blocked by vehicles and poles, causing people to walk on the street.
Studley Street, Abbotsford
Footpath is obstructed by cars parked on the footpath.
Yarra Street, Abbotsford
Footpath is obstructed by cars parked on the footpath.
Conclusion
Many footpaths in Yarra are narrower than the recommended 1.5 metres. Council should adopt a policy targeting an unobstructed footpath width of 1.5 metres, and that when a footpath is narrower than 1.5 metres, it should not be permitted to narrower it further (e.g. by adding a pole, tree or other obstruction).