Benefitting from the Euro experience

Sustainable urban mobility planning expert Dr Zbynek Sperat has been in Australia just a short time, but already plenty we do here has caught his eye.

Melbourne’s unique right-hand hook turn designed to ensure cars don’t block trams. Free city travel like Melbourne’s free tram zone and Perth’s red, yellow and green buses. Transit e-cards like Melbourne’s myki and Sydney’s Opal. In Melbourne, what he labels the “excellent infrastructure” for cyclists.

Dr Sperat works with ARRB’s corresponding organisation in the Czech Republic, CDV.

He is spending two months with ARRB, helping share his expertise in the sustainable urban mobility plan (SUMP) space with ARRB staff and stakeholders.

With a strong interest and expertise in bicycle transportation and how it fits into modern cities, he brings to Australia know-how, experience and practical knowledge in the SUMP area from an organisation plugged into the wider European Union and a European Commission committed to these concepts.

“The trends are different. In Eastern Europe, the amount of car trips is not so high but growing. In Australia, the amount of car trips is high, but getting less,” Dr Sperat said.

Initially based out of ARRB’s national headquarters in Melbourne, Dr Sperat has already presented to ARRB staff in Melbourne on key concepts that CDV and the wider EU have to offer.

He will visit ARRB’s Sydney and Brisbane offices in the final few weeks of his stay to give as much of the organisation possible the benefit of his knowledge.

And for Dr Sperat, so far, so good.

“This has been a great experience to work with great colleagues here in Australia. I’ve been welcomed in a perfect way.”