Big guns boom in battle for Bourke St

Planning Minister and Member for Heffron, Kristina Keneally, has weighed in to the debate about the Bourke Street cycleway, asking Lord Mayor Clover Moore to consider residents’ preference for a cycle boulevarde shared with traffic instead of a bi-directional separated cycleway. Ms Keneally is also a member of Council’s Traffic Committee.

“This cycling boulevard could include a 30km/hr speed limit with dramatic roadway marking to identify the route as a favoured route for cyclists and one where drivers need much greater caution and awareness,” Ms Keneally wrote in a letter to Bourke St residents.

“There is merit in this suggestion, as it would eliminate issues such as: cyclists bunching at traffic lights and then attempting to squeeze into the narrow cycleway; extremely complex intersection treatments with 2 sets of 2-way traffic (car and cycle); and concerns about the unloading of frail elderly or young children from the passenger side of cars right into the cycleway. I understand that the divider is only 40cm and the lanes so narrow that car doors will protrude well into the southbound cycle lane,” she continued.

“The blended cycling boulevard concept appears to have significant resident support, and is soundly based on American research on safe cycling design. I understand that Council has received detailed advice and reports on a blended car/cycle mix as part of the community input.”

A Council spokesperson has responded by repeating that 631 of 842 submissions they received supported the project, and the design had been refined using ideas in some of the submissions.

Ms Keneally also said the cycleway design south of Cleveland St, where it would share the footpath with pedestrians, breached Council’s guidelines.

“…the shared cycleway/footpath appears to breach the Council’s own guidelines in that the cycle path is on a footpath outside restaurants and cafes. The section from Phillip Street to McEvoy Street has high levels of pedestrian activity, narrow footpaths, commercial/industrial buildings, busy bus stops, and an increasing residential density. There will shortly be a supermarket to add to the mix.”

Ms Keneally has first-hand knowledge of the route, adding: “As someone who has used the shared cycleway/footpath here to commute to work, I can attest to the issues constituents have raised with me. I now opt for the Moore Park/South Dowling/Oxford Street cycleway instead.”

Council responded with the following: “From Phillip/Crescent Streets to Elizabeth Street Waterloo the Bourke Street Cycleway is a shared path on the footpath due to road constraints. This is an area of wide footpaths and low pedestrian activity, comparable with numerous existing shared paths across Sydney.”

by Michael Gormly