Recap: all the issues discussed by The Urbanist in April

Paris

Including Turnbull’s Cities Plan, safe cycling, heritage, schools, dogs, HSR, public transport, Fairfax, bottle shops, railway stations, and autonomous vehicles

How should our cities prepare for self-driving vehicles?

City managers aren’t doing much to get ready for self-driving vehicles yet the signs are they’ll be ready to use on public roads very soon – as autonomous buses and trams

Would building this new rail station be a sensible idea?

There’s pressure to expand the proposed Melbourne Metro project to incorporate a new station at South Yarra; but the Government insists it can’t be justified

How important is public transport?

New data provides valuable and possibly surprising insights into how Australian city dwellers use public transport and its potential to change the nature of urban travel

Will capping the number of bottle shops contain family violence?

A Melbourne Council opposes a new Dan Murphy’s packaged liquor outlet because its concerned it would increase the number of family violence incidents within the municipality

Is there anyone left at Fairfax to do the editing?

Fairfax ran an article on High Speed Rail yesterday that shouldn’t have survived even a basic credibility test. It’s as if all those who used to do the sub-editing have been ‘let go’

Why do we say public transport is so important if so few of us use it?

Improving the experience of occasional users of public transport – those who might use it only to go to the footy – is a key way of building community support for system improvements

Is High Speed Rail our National Boondoggle?

The Prime Minister’s embrace of east coast High Speed Rail and his spinning of value capture removes any doubt he’s just as cynical and opportunistic as Labor and the Greens

How important is cycling in Australian cities?

New data shows cycling is already much more important than policy-makers recognise. More trips are made by bicycle on a weekday in Melbourne than are made by either tram or bus

Why are Australians downsizing their dogs?

The shift towards higher density living seems an obvious reason why Australians are apparently downsizing their dogs; but there are other possible explanations too, like fashion

Surely the 30-minute city makes sense for primary school trips?

Malcolm Turnbull’s 30-minute city idea might look easy at first glance, but even delivering on primary school trips will require a level of commitment and political courage he can’t manage

Does this historic building require more “breathing space”?

Critics say a proposed new residential tower to be built next door to Brisbane’s historic former Customs House will endanger the heritage values of the old building

How safe is cycling on roads in Australian cities?

Cycling on roads in large cities like Melbourne is much more likely to get you killed than driving, but the risk is still extremely low and the individual and social benefits are high

Has Turnbull’s cities rhetoric radicalised the Liberal Premiers?

Comments by Australia’s conservative Premiers indicate the PM isn’t alone in his embrace of new urbanist philosophy. It seems traditional political understandings might need to be revised