Former Sustainability Intern, Sophia Sahni, visited Melbourne, Australia as part of her gap year. She was intrigued with Melbourne’s commitment to sustainability – especially in the way citizens commute. Here are her reflections.
With a population of over 5 million, Melbourne is a vibrant city located on the southeast coast of the country. Melbourne boasts a rich diversity of ethnicities, which lends to a colorful, cosmopolitan mix in its culture, food and entertainment.
As part of my gap year, I visited family in Melbourne where I found particularly inspiring Melbourne’s attentiveness to sustainability. Along with its numerous parks and impressive waste management system, this thriving city has weaved environmental protection throughout its transportation network. I could not help but admire how these strides have allowed for clean and efficient transit around Melbourne.
Melbourne’s clean and efficient transit makes traveling fun. (Photo by Rail Express)
A Better Way to Travel
In not just Melbourne, but the entire state of Victoria, public transportation is extensive. The Public Transportation of Victoria (PTV), is an interconnecting network of trains, trams, and buses. The system is powered by renewable energy sources, and according to the PTV, large-scale solar plants have been powering the tram network, reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 80,000 tons each year.
The famous Flinders Station is powered by a 20kW solar array. (Photo by S. Sahnii)
After interviewing numerous Melbourne residents and students, it became evident that public transportation is indispensable, with many relying on its services to get to work, school, and most day-to-day activities.
Melbourne’s public transportation is a reliable alternative to driving. (Photo by S. Sahni)
Thanks to the far-reaching efforts of the PTV, public transportation is a reliable alternative to driving. Transportation is timely, efficient, and easy to navigate. A PTV app allows one to plan their journeys in advance, while numerous stations have helpful signage, kiosks to purchase tickets, and employees directing traffic and assisting people with their journeys.
Transportation is affordable and fares vary based on the zones that are traversed. The busy downtown area, where many of the office buildings and tourist sites are located, is a designated “fare-free tram zone”. In addition, at night, to ensure travelers’ safety, police officers are posted at many of the stations.
Melbourne trams and trains working in conjunction. (Photo by S. Sahni)
I had the opportunity to hear many Melbourne residents’ opinions on their public transportation.
Although no network is flawless, the PTV seems to have provided numerous crucial benefits.
For my grandmother, who lives in the heart of the city, her mobility is limited by the severe arthritis in her knee. However, with the PTV, she is never hindered in her independent exploration of the city. For myself, as a tourist, I found the public transportation system to be extremely user-friendly, clean and safe.
Orange Everywhere: Emission Free E-Scooters
Often, while walking around the city, one might see bolts of orange in every direction. Sometimes stationary in the distance, other times, zooming right in front of you; these orange dashes are the iconic e-scooters of Melbourne.
These emission free e-scooters are readily available all over the city. Their ease of use as well as the extensive protected bike paths all over Melbourne, make them very popular. In addition, as they can provide shorter travel durations when compared to biking, they are an efficient mode of transport.
Neuron, the major international company behind the e-scooters, hopes to be a more sustainable replacement for unnecessary car journeys. So far they have been quite successful. According to them, in 2022, “45% of all e-scooter trips replaced a car journey.” Neuron hopes to continue growing its sustainability initiatives and aims to be carbon negative by 2025.
A Neuron Scooter station in downtown Melbourne. (Photo by S. Sahni)
The diverse and well organized nature of Melbourne's transportation system allows for a society that is not solely dependent on cars. As we move towards more environmentally-conscious forms of transportation, it is essential to have an infrastructure that will allow for a smooth transition. Melbourne’s citywide planning sets them on an upwards trajectory for sustainable development, and I look forward to seeing their progress the next time I visit.
Article by Sophia Sahni, Former Sustainability Intern at Boyer Sudduth Environmental Consultants, Dartmouth College ‘28.
