The pedestrianisation of inner city Toowoomba

Abstract

[Abstract]: This research project aims to find out if the city of Toowoomba (1.5 hours inland from Brisbane in Queensland) can be changed into a ‘pedestrian’ city similar to Copenhagen and other cities which have already pedestrianised. Toowoomba has started, in the last few years, to experience slower travel times through the CBD area combined with less pedestrian activity. This project determines if the pedestrianisation of inner city Toowoomba is really the cure to the current problems. Surveys were taken that included pedestrian and vehicular traffic to ensure that the information used was of a current ‘snapshot’ of the city centre. Business owners and shoppers were also spoken to in another separate survey to gauge public reaction about the proposal. Other forms of reducing the city centre congestion will also be looked at to assess their effectiveness and could also be applied to Toowoomba. These include the provision of Park and Ride terminals and more effective public transport.