SMART THINKING

Yes, we can now order whatever food we want, whatever time of day ... but is it safe to do so?

Australian towns and cities struggle with increasing cycle and scooter traffic.

In many Australian cities and towns, the COVID-19 lockdown has meant a rapid rise in the number of app-based food delivery services and delivery riders bringing meals to residents unable to go out for a meal. UNSW City Futures Research Centre’s Professor Christopher Pettit says although the booming business is a positive, our towns are largely not equipped to deal with the corresponding increase in cyclists and electric scooter riders.

“There hasn’t been a significant increase in cycle infrastructure, but we have seen a substantial increase in these delivery services over the past five years,” he says. Pettit says riders are forced to either ride on the footpath (which is illegal in some states) or take their chances in the traffic on roads that are not designed to accommodate them. “We’ve got very narrow footpaths in a lot of areas, which is bringing about some of the conflict with pedestrians, and it’s putting these riders in a very precarious position.”

Pettit says the COVID-19 pandemic has only accelerated the demand for app-based delivery services, and their popularity won’t be waning any time soon.

“There were questions about how many people were dining in … before COVID … but now you’ve got an even greater increase in these sorts of services in a time where people can’t eat in restaurants,” he says. “On the one hand, it is fantastic because it’s keeping those local restaurants and eateries going. But the infrastructure isn’t there. We’re not seeing the right level of support from government to make this form of cycling, or any form of cycling, safer.” Pettit says local, state and federal governments need to work together on the issue. “We seem to be investing significantly in public transport, which is great. It would be good to see the same level of support for active transport such as walking and cycling.”