A thread in the r/Adelaide subreddit illustrated that a survey conducted on that very site had been responded to by the Adelaide City Council Lord Mayor Jane Lomax-Smith on ABC Adelaide. The survey suggested that closing off cars to the Rundle Street/Hindley Street areas is a popular idea, but the proposal was readily dismissed by the Lord Mayor as it would have an "impact on the adjoining streets and properties" and that banning cars "does something somewhere else" (a very insightful analysis!). 

We are beginning this petition to take that successful Reddit survey a step further, by imploring the Lord Mayor to take this issue more seriously. Rundle Mall, Adelaide's most beloved and profitable shopping strip, is completely pedestrianised. This has not always been the case. For much of the 20th century, Rundle Mall and Rundle St constituted the same road strip, before it was wisely decided that Rundle Mall would be better off pedestrianised. It is time to return the Rundle Mall/Rundle St strip to its original state, as a continuous route, now completely safe for pedestrians and shoppers. It would also be wise to consider extending this policy to the Hindley Street area, an area notable for being treacherous to navigate on weekends with intoxicated pedestrians frequently having to dodge cars on a packed street. 

Adelaide's formerly car-packed Rundle Mall, before it was fully pedestrianised in the 1970's.

We believe that pedestrianisation would have many benefits. Studies, including this one in Spain, have shown that shops on pedestrian grids generate more revenue than non-pedestrianised grids. Studies in Europe also show that once such policies have been implemented, they are very popular with both tourists and locals. Beyond the economic benefits, there is also the issue of wellbeing. Pedestrianised zones promote active lifestyles, with more people walking and cycling than driving. They also foster the opportunity of increasing happiness thanks to the creation of green spaces, increased amenities, decreased crime, and the protection of architectural heritage - the possibilities are endless!

As such, we implore the Lord Mayor and the City Council to take our concerns very seriously, not least for reducing the likeliness of traffic accidents. Adelaide can become a city that has thrived more than it ever has before, and it's all down to policy choice. It is not good enough to throw your arms up in the air and say that it won't "happen in [your] lifetime", you are in power, you can shape the future of this great city.

We thus would like to begin with a modest proposal. Given the highly popular pedestrianisation of Rundle St during the Fringe season, we ask that the Lord Mayor seriously considers a trial run involving full pedestrianisation of the strip on Fridays and Saturdays. The effects can then be studied before moving towards a potentially permanent change in Adelaide's life - eventually extending to the Hindley St area.

Please consider our views with care.