In response to advocacy from the local community the ACT government recently installed a new pedestrian crossing on Canberra Avenue. This announcement follows the near fatal stabbing of two students from St Edmund’s College out of Griffith. On March 28, Aiden Stuart and Aaron Way were both hit walking to school by an allegedly stolen car. This announcement comes at a time of increasing concerns over the safety of Canberra Avenue. This east/west road serves as a major thoroughfare for the community.
In comments made by the principal of St Edmund’s College, Tim Cleary, he noted how historic this decision was. He noted that the crossing had always been a concern for parents. He welcomed the announcement as “overdue,” considering the road’s title as Canberra’s most dangerous and congested road. The new pedestrian and cycling crossing will be located upstream of Burke Crescent, subject to approval from the National Capital Authority.
Incident Overview
The incident that prompted this change unfolded when Aiden Stuart and Aaron Way were on their way to St Edmund’s College. Their journey would unfold in some surprising ways. Aiden’s brothers, Cooper and Bryce, remain optimistic. There’s a lot of uncertainty after the accident, but they hope Aiden will be discharged from the hospital shortly. Bryce noted the difficulty students encounter crossing the busy Canberra Avenue. He continued on to stress that, “It can take forever to cross Canberra Avenue,” and mentioned that kids have less than eight seconds to make it across two lanes of fast-moving cars.
In commenting on the episode that spurred this legislation, Mr. Way noted the perilous speeds of cars heading into the roundabout.
“The speeds that some people come off that roundabout at are just dangerous.” – Mr. Way
He too struck a note of cautious optimism about finally getting this new crossing installed.
“Something good has come from this. If it makes the crossing safer, then it’s great.” – Mr. Way
Community Reactions
The announcement has been met with widespread confusion and disappointment among community members and advocates for safe roadways. As shared by Tim Cleary, this new crossing represents a huge step forward. He said it was “a commonsense approach to safety and wellbeing.” He and others agree that wider measures are needed. These small but critical steps will make sure all students can get to school—and home—safely.
Gill King, convener of Living Streets Canberra, condemned the failure to lower the speed limit on Canberra Avenue. She is currently leading a campaign. Her stated ambition is to have 30kph speed limits on every road within a two kilometre radius of schools across the ACT.
“Every street to school should be safe,” said Gill King.
She added that while the crossing is a positive development, “the picture is wider than just one pedestrian crossing.”
Dr Ann Cleary, the head of St Clare’s College, supported this. She voiced fears for the safety of girls who have to cross Canberra Avenue every day as well.
“It’s a great start but we’ve got a long way to go.” – Gill King
She noted that most major highways in Canberra would be shut down at peak times every day. She advocated for a multi-modal and proactive approach to better protect all road users.
Government Response
ACT City Services Minister Tara Cheyne, in response to community pressure, responded to initial concerns at a press conference last week. She knew they had to improve their safety standards. She refused, claiming that it was not possible to lower the speed limit on Canberra Avenue at this time.
“There are plenty of Canberra roads that are disrupted at any point in time that are arterial roads.” – Dr. Ann Cleary
Despite differing opinions on speed regulations, there is a shared understanding among parents and educators about the necessity for safer crossings. Bryce Stuart got it right with the expression of the community’s sentiments. “This result is a win-win for everybody,” he concluded, emphasizing their mutual long-term interests in increased safety.
