Protecting Vulnerable Road Users in Council Spaces

Protecting vulnerable road users in council spaces is critical as shared road environments become more common across Australian towns and cities. These mixed-use zones—where pedestrians, cyclists, and vehicles interact—can be effective, but only when safety is central to their design.

For councils, this means prioritising children, older adults, and people using mobility aids. Without thoughtful infrastructure, these groups often avoid public spaces altogether—leading to isolation, reduced independence, and a poorer quality of life.

To address this, councils and urban planners must adopt clear, practical design principles that make shared spaces not just accessible, but genuinely safe for everyone.

Who Are Vulnerable Road Users?

Vulnerable road users include:

• Children, who may be unpredictable and less aware of traffic dangers.
• Seniors, who may have slower reaction times, impaired vision or hearing, or limited mobility.
• Mobility aid users, such as those in wheelchairs, using walking frames, or with vision impairments.

These users require infrastructure that accounts for their slower movement, increased space needs, and reduced ability to process complex or unsafe road environments.

Understanding the Risks

Before councils can design safer spaces, it’s important to recognise the dangers vulnerable users face in shared environments:

• Speeding vehicles: Even low-speed impacts can cause serious harm to the elderly or small children.
• Poor visibility: Lack of signage or visual cues can leave vulnerable users uncertain about where it is safe to walk.
• Uneven surfaces or barriers: These can obstruct or injure people with mobility issues.
• Lack of separation: In shared zones, cars and pedestrians sometimes use the same physical space, increasing the risk of collisions.

By understanding these risks, councils can implement specific design features that minimise hazards while promoting accessibility.

1. Traffic Calming to Reduce Vehicle Speed

Speed is the most significant factor in pedestrian safety. The risk of a fatality dramatically increases with vehicle speed, even in low-speed zones. Effective traffic calming is a cornerstone of designing safer shared environments.

Speed humps are a proven solution that physically slows vehicles and draws drivers’ attention to the shared nature of the space. They are especially useful near schools, aged care facilities, or shopping centres with high pedestrian traffic.

Learn more about effective traffic calming with speed humps.

Other physical calming devices include raised pedestrian crossings, chicanes, and narrowed traffic lanes. These measures send a visual and physical message to drivers that they are entering a pedestrian-prioritised area.

2. Visual and Tactile Cues

Consistent, sensory-based signage can make a big difference, especially for people with visual or cognitive impairments. When signage clearly communicates how space should be used and how people should move through it, it helps everyone feel more confident and secure, particularly vulnerable users who rely on these cues to navigate safely.

High-contrast marking and tactile pavement markers facilitate easier travel by people who are visually impaired. Transitions between roads, paths, and crossing points can be marked using textured surfaces or tiles.

Rumble bars are also used to warn pedestrians and cars that they are moving into a shared or transition space. A driver is guided to stay in their lane and to slow down and be careful by these sound and sensory alerts.

Explore the use of rumble bars to define shared space boundaries.

Clear signage and coloured pavement are also essential, especially in mixed-use precincts where the line between pedestrians, cyclists and vehicle space is blurred.

3. Safe, Separated Spaces

While it’s tempting to open up spaces visually and remove traditional barriers in modern urban design, this can have unintended consequences for more sensitive users. For individuals who rely on clear, predictable environments, such as older adults, children, or people with disabilities, spaces that lack contrast or definition can feel confusing or even unsafe.

That’s why councils should prioritise dedicated pedestrian paths, well-marked crossings, and safe waiting zones wherever possible. Simple, low-profile tools like wheel stops and bollards can make a big impact by clearly defining boundaries and preventing vehicles from encroaching into pedestrian zones.

Learn how wheel stops can help keep pedestrian paths clear.

Separating pedestrian areas from loading zones, car parks, or bike lanes is especially important for seniors and people using mobility devices, who may need more time and space to react.

4. Inclusive Design for All Ages and Abilities

Designing for accessibility benefits everyone, not just those with specific physical limitations. Council infrastructure should embrace universal design principles that support diverse needs without requiring adaptation.

Key features include:

• Gentle gradients and non-slip surfaces to accommodate walkers, prams, and wheelchairs.
• Seating and shade to offer rest spots for elderly users.
• Audible crossing signals and sufficient crossing time at intersections.
• Dropped curbs and ramps that align seamlessly with footpaths and roads.

By prioritising inclusivity, councils create environments that are easier and safer for all residents, not just the most mobile.

5. Prioritise High-Risk Areas

Not all council areas face the same risks, and limited budgets mean prioritisation is crucial. Councils should focus improvements on:

• School zones and childcare centres: Children are especially unpredictable around traffic, and safety infrastructure in these areas protects lives.
• Aged care and health precincts: Seniors may require longer crossing times and safer, slower traffic environments.
• Shopping districts and public transport hubs: These zones often see high pedestrian traffic and a mix of mobility levels.

Data collection, such as traffic counts, incident reports, and community feedback, can help councils determine which areas need intervention first.

6. Community Engagement and Education

Design changes are only effective if the public understands and respects them. Councils should pair physical infrastructure with community education to promote respectful behaviour in shared zones.

Initiatives may include:

• Public awareness campaigns about slowing down in shared spaces.
• School programs that teach children about road safety.
• Signage that clearly communicates pedestrian priority.

Protecting vulnerable road users in council spaces also means engaging with local seniors’ groups, disability advocates, and parent associations to gain valuable insight into what’s working—and what’s not.

7. Regular Audits and Maintenance

Even the best-designed infrastructure becomes dangerous if it’s not maintained. Councils must commit to regular audits of pedestrian facilities, including:

• Checking that tactile indicators are intact.
• Ensuring speed humps and signage remain visible.
• Addressing potholes, cracks, and obstructions on walking paths.
• Making sure wheel stops and bollards are secure and undamaged.

Including accessibility checks as part of broader asset maintenance plans ensures safety measures remain effective over time.

Designing Safer, More Inclusive Public Spaces

Creating safe and accessible shared spaces is vital for ensuring inclusion, fairness, and dignity for everyone in the community. Children, older adults, and those using mobility aids deserve the freedom to move confidently through public areas without barriers.

Protecting vulnerable road users in council spaces means more than just meeting minimum compliance—it requires proactive steps that prioritise safety, accessibility, and equity. Councils play a key role by incorporating tactile cues, traffic calming measures, clear separation of spaces, and inclusive urban design. With thoughtful planning and a community-first mindset, our shared spaces and multicultural centres can become safer, more inclusive, and better reflect the diverse needs of all residents. For councils seeking practical solutions, Car Park Safety Supplies and Speed Humps Australia offers products that support safer, more accessible environments.