More detail wanted on inner-city cycleways

By Mick Roberts

While an overwhelming number of residents praise the concept of an inner-city cycle path along Bourke Street, not all are happy with the community consultation process.
Inner-city residents say a City of Sydney Council glossy brochure distributed explaining the dedicated 4.3 km bike path from Elizabeth Street in Zetland to Cowper Wharf Road in Woolloomooloo, lacks detail.
Parking restrictions, tree removal and safety were just some of the questions raised when The City News met with interest groups last week.
Darlinghurst cycling enthusiast, Peter Whitehead said he welcomed Council’s initiative of encouraging cycling in the city, but he believes Bourke Street is not the right place for a dedicated bike path.
‘It hasn’t been conceived with the real cyclist in mind,’ Mr Whitehead said.
‘The main dangers to cyclists are other cyclist, and fast moving traffic,’ he said.
Mr Whitehead said placing a two lane bike track with traffic moving in opposite directions on the gradient of Bourke Street could result in collisions.
‘Cycling traffic going down the hill will move much faster than traffic coming up the hill. That poses a collision risk between cyclists ‘ it’s a recipe for trouble,’ he said.
He also raised concern over fast moving motor vehicle traffic along Bourke Street and said traffic calming devices would be needed to make the street suitable for a bike path.
Bicycle user group, Bikeast, in contrast, says a Bourke Street dedicated bike path is just the ticket, and is long overdue.
‘Sydney is way behind Melbourne when it comes to cycling infrastructure,’ Bikeast spokesman John O’Neill said.
‘With a cycleway along Bourke Street, residents will enjoy the amenities of cycling as they do in cities of comparable size,’ he said.
He said the width of Bourke Street made it suitable for cycling.
Chair of the Surry Hills Neighbourhood Centre Linda Scott said more community consultation was needed.
‘You just can’t release a glossy brochure and say it is community consultation. There needs to be further interaction between Council and the community,’ Ms Scott said.
‘My first preference is to have a good functioning cycleway,’ she said.
Despite the possibility of tree removal, Greens councillor Chris Harris believed Bourke Street was the right choice for the bike route.
‘The Greens think it’s the right option,’ he said.
‘Our main request is for more information, and how it’s all going to work.’
Cr Harris said over 500 trees grew along Bourke Street and the removal of 12 of them ‘was a small number’.
He said although the trees are yet to be identified, the majority in the street are exotic London Plane trees that he would like to see removed and replaced with native species.
Council has received more than 360 emails from the public over the draft plans for the Bourke Street cycle route with over 80 per cent strongly supportive of the plan.
A Council spokesman said the project is in the early stages of a strategy to provide a cycling network of almost 200 kilometres throughout the City.
The cycle path will be located between the footpath and the parking lane on the western side of the street, separated from parked cars by a median strip.
‘Construction of the cycle path provides an opportunity to upgrade footpaths and for streetscape improvements. The route will improve pedestrian and bicycle access, and improve local amenity,’ the spokesman said.
The designs allow for parking on both sides of Bourke Street and would not change the current parking exemptions for residents.
Designs are still being finalised, the spokesman said, and at this stage no trees have been identified for removal.
‘All efforts will be made to preserve them (the trees), with options including pruning or work to allow the path to go around them.”
Regular community updates will be provided about trees that may be affected and the options available, with feedback collected to finalise the plans. Advance trees will replace any removed, the spokesman said.