Tensions mount over Oxford Street bike lanes

By ROBBIE MASON.

Opposition to proposed bicycle lanes in Sydney’s inner city has ramped up following the intervention of a Federal Liberal senator and outcry from concerned locals. So the Oxford Street East Cycleway saga continues, placing the city’s love/hate relationship with active transport under the microscope.

If the project goes ahead, the proposed two-way cycleway on Oxford Street will run from Taylor Square to Paddington Gates, reducing car traffic lanes on the historic queer beat from 4 to 2. These bicycle lanes will provide the missing link between the Oxford Street West Cycleway and the Centennial Park Cycleway.

The Transport for NSW (TfNSW) proposal is a move towards pedestrianisation and the prioritisation of environmental care, entertainment, dining and people over cars in an area plagued by heavy traffic and car emissions.

But Federal Liberal senator and Paddington resident Andrew Bragg told City Hub that the proposal is a “bad idea” that will hurt small businesses and disrupt Paddington’s heritage streets.
“I’m in favour of cycling and finding safer ways for people to cycle. But I don’t think that particular strip of shops are the right place for a cycleway,” he said.

Senator Bragg, who has created a petition opposing the Oxford Street cycleway, said he is standing up for small businesses “united” in opposition to the proposal.

“Someone needs to represent these small businesses. They’re going to get creamed if this goes ahead.”

Worried locals have raised numerous issues with the proposal including the length of the construction phase, the reduction in street parking, the inability of businesses to accept front-door deliveries, the reduction in bus stops, safety problems and increased car congestion. Many believe it will place financial strains on businesses along the glitzy strip.

Acknowledging that further community consultation is necessary, NSW Labor reopened the project to community input at the end of last month.

The Paddington Society, an almost 60 year old resident action group, has an alternative vision for Oxford Street which does not include the bicycle lanes. Senator Bragg met with representatives from the Paddington Society a few days ago.

A 16 page document, prepared by the Paddington Society this month, opposes the Oxford Street East Cycleway and advocates instead for a series of road safety measures such as wider footpaths, more pedestrian crossings and a 30 kilometre per hour speed limit. The counter-proposal also demands the installation of street trees and low level planting.

Describing the approach of TfNSW as “inconsistent”, Will Mrongovius, President of the Paddington Society, asserted that the state government agency is looking for solutions in the wrong places.

“Electric vehicles are the way forward to reduce emissions,” he stated.

In contrast to TfNSW’s “divisive” proposal, Mrongovius said the Paddington Society’s vision for Oxford Street “takes into account the needs of all user groups”.

“The Society is cognizant that the main driver of the change proposal is to improve safety for commuter cyclists,” Mrongovius wrote to City Hub. “The Society wishes to encourage the safe use of bicycles (and scooters) but not by reducing the efficient use of this strip as our village high street.”

Senator Andrew Bragg has met with a range of small business owners, resident action groups and chambers of commerce but claimed he couldn’t find anyone who supports the current proposal.

In April this year, Paddington Chamber of Commerce president Andrew Packham told the Sydney Morning Herald that a survey of Oxford Street businesses failed to find any which supported the bicycle lanes.

A petition started by local Philip Ingram has attracted 856 signatures at the time of publication. This quantity exceeds the number who responded during Transport for NSW’s initial community consultation period, laying bear the limitations of the state government agency’s pulling power. The project’s first consultation period generated 8 written submissions, 53 emails, 23 phone calls and 423 online annotations on an interactive map.

According to Senator Bragg, there is a “complete lack of data and evidence” for the need for a cycleway on Oxford Street.

But supporters maintain the urban renewal project is not just about installing bike lanes. Peter McLean, CEO of non-profit organisation Bicycle NSW, said, “this isn’t a cycleway project, it’s a street renewal project which includes a cycleway.”

“Oxford Street is well overdue for some attention, it’s tired and in dire need of some attention to bring it back to life.”

“The project will calm traffic and make Oxford Street a much more user friendly and inviting space,” he continued.

A TfNSW spokesperson said, “Australian and international experience shows cycleways boost local economies, encouraging people to stay in the area, rather than pass through.”

This spokeperson indicated that TfNSW has already spoken to more than 300 businesses on and around Oxford Street. The agency will also take on the feedback of local residents via letter-box drops, door-knocking and pop-up information sessions in the coming weeks.

Council support for bike paths 

Mounting community pressure on TfNSW – reflective of broader community resistance to bike paths across Sydney in recent years – comes despite data suggesting that cycling is an increasingly popular activity in the city’s central suburbs.

The City of Sydney Active Transport Survey 2021 discovered there were more people riding more regularly, with 18 percent of residents riding more than once a month, up from 7 percent in 2017. 53 percent of respondents classified as “infrequent riders” indicated that they were not riding more frequently due to safety concerns over dangerous roads.

The City of Sydney Council – and a raft of politicians across the political spectrum – have long supported the Oxford Street East Cycleway.

https://twitter.com/alexgreenwich/status/1655461162287529985

In March this year, Lord Mayor Clover Moore wrote on Twitter, “Oxford Street has the most reported bike accidents of any street in our area. Adding a separated cycleway will make it safer for cyclists, meaning riders won’t have to resort to popping up on the footpath.”

According to data published by Bicycle NSW last year, over 12,000 people have died on Australians road in the past decade.

A City of Sydney spokesperson said, “reducing speed limits on our roads and building separated cycleways is the best way to make our streets safer for all road users.”