Greg Bisinella, president of the East Melbourne Group residents association, said his organisation supported a 30km/h limit across the suburb, which emerged during discussions about other traffic-calming measures proposed by the council such as speed bumps.
Bisinella said a lower speed limit could combat chronic rat-running in the area and make it safer and more comfortable for locals to walk and cycle.
“The minimal time that people lose may well save somebody’s life,” he said.
Infrastructure Victoria, the state government’s independent adviser, earlier this year called for speed limits to be cut to 30km/h around schools, playgrounds and other areas frequented by children, followed by all suburban streets statewide, to encourage walking, cycling and improve safety while having little effect on travel times.
About seven children were killed in the state every year and nearly 300 were seriously injured, mostly on local streets with 50km/h speed limits, Infrastructure Victoria said at the time.
The 30km/h trial in Fitzroy and Collingwood started on local streets north of Johnston Street in 2018 and was expanded south to Victoria Parade in May 2024. The City of Merri-bek has also proposed a 30km/h trial on local streets in Brunswick, Brunswick East and Coburg.
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The City of Melbourne cut speed limits in East Melbourne and Jolimont to 40km/h in 2022 and is gradually applying that limit across all neighbourhoods within the council area. Some local streets in Carlton, Parkville and Princes Hill and South Yarra will be reduced to 40km/h next month.
A 20km/h speed limit is in place along the one-way sections of Flinders Lane, Little Collins Street, Little Bourke Street and Little Lonsdale Street in the CBD.
The state government has been contacted for comment.
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