Wauchope is undergoing a transformation of the main street as the town gets set for a prosperous future as the jewel of the Mid North Coast. Wauchope is already a beautiful town and now works are underway to widen the footpath, create shaded spaces within the main street for sitting and connecting and introducing fresh lighting for added safety.
The idea of slowing traffic and making the main street a place where vehicles, pedestrians and commerce can co-exist represents an impressive forward thinking vision for the community who were consulted from 2015 to bring the $2.686million dollar ‘complete street’ project to life.
In fact, the upgrade is so future thinking, the term ‘complete street’ was not even coined yet but the philosophy of the concept is imbued in every aspect of the town upgrade and the rest of the world might take note.
Wauchope, present day: Uber has now officially arrived in the region. The popularity of electric bicycles and scooters is on the rise and as pedestrians, we walk around interacting with the world on our smartphones while interacting with the real world in person.
Wauchope is already seeing an increasing number of community members getting mobile without their car and the main street upgrade underpins the wider vision to ensure all community members and our growing influx of visitors (RV, motorcycles, MTB, walkers, paddlers and boutique shoppers) Wauchope can move around the town safely.
More people, less cars, more shopping, more prosperity for the town.
The video below (produced by VOX and the University of California) explores the rise of the electric scooter in California and how it is providing a solution to ‘the last mile’ problem facing commuters everywhere. The commentators also explain the ‘complete street’ concept and it is an excellent video to help explain the direction Wauchope is taking by narrowing the street and replacing car parking in the main street with public spaces for pedestrians.
Meanwhile, electric scooters are being trialled in Brisbane this coming weekend so the future might be closer than you think.
Do you agree or disagree that the vision of the main street upgrade in Wauchope is to make Wauchope an even more enjoyable place to live or visit?
What do you think about dockless scooters and what would you do to make Wauchope more transport friendly. Do you think the arrival of Uber in Port Macquarie (official launch December 15) will be good for the community?
Do you have a comment to add about this article? Add your opinion and join the conversation below.
