Council gathers cycleway feedback
BY MICK ROBERTS
Community information forums on the draft design plans for the Bourke Street cycleway were held at Woolloomooloo, Darlinghurst and Surry Hills last Saturday attracting both supporters and detractors.
A City of Sydney Council spokesman said the information forums were designed to gather information and ideas on the 4.3 km cycleway route from Elizabeth Street in Zetland to Cowper Wharf Road in Woolloomooloo.
The first kilometre, south of Phillip Street, Waterloo, will be a shared pedestrian and cycleway route, while from there to the harbour, there will be a two-directional bicycle path. The bicycle path will be located between the footpath and the parked traffic lane on the western side of the street and be separated from parked traffic by a median strip.
Community group, Save Bourke Street Trees spokesman Luke Harper said Council should reconsider the two way section of the cycleway.
‘Residents are hopeful that council will now go away and examine the research from Europe that indicates how much more dangerous two way cycle ways are to all cyclists,’ Mr Harper said.
‘We hope they actually take on board all the feedback they received and retain the trees, parking and character of the neighbourhood.’
While the loss of trees and on-street parking remain the main concerns of residents in Darlinghurst, down the road at Woolloomooloo, residents have raised the interaction of cyclists and traffic as a worry.
Darlinghurst Residents Action Group (DRAG) spokeswoman Julia Perry said there was a real danger to cyclist where Bourke Street and William Street intersected.
‘There must be some way to put a bridge over there to make it safer for cyclists,’ Ms Perry said.
A Council spokesman said information gathered at the community consultation meetings would lead to solutions to retaining trees, parking and other concerns.
Submissions to Council on the cycleway close on June 6.
Phone the Bourke Street Cycle Road Community Liaison Officer, David Robinson on 0419 615 806 for further information.
