Fremantle pedestrians have called on the city to address a 'dangerous' intersection at Amherst Street and High Street, where residents say too many people are taking risks to cross. High Street resident Lin Fritschi presented a petition to the February 25 ordinary council meeting, requesting a pedestrian refuge be installed.
Ms Fritschi described the challenges of crossing at the corner, with traffic approaching from a roundabout at speeds up to 70 km/h and a constant stream of vehicles from Fremantle. She noted that while Amherst Street is a left-turn only, illegal right turns are common, forcing pedestrians to watch multiple directions across four lanes.
Although traffic lights with a pedestrian button exist further up High Street, Ms Fritschi argued they are too far away. She said the underpass is 650 metres away, creating a 1.5 km detour, while a pedestrian refuge 250 metres away is in the opposite direction. 'People are going to take chances,' she told the council, noting that a small refuge at the intersection would be a simple solution.
Ms Fritschi launched a change.org petition on February 2, which received positive community feedback. Local businesses near the Fibonacci Centre also supported the idea, believing it would increase foot traffic. She urged the council to take the issue seriously for the safety of pedestrians and cyclists.
Councillor Melanie Clark backed the petition, stating the city would review it. She remarked that the roundabout installation made crossing more dangerous and compared the experience to 'playing Frogger with your life'. The council will now consider the proposal.
