New cycleway and improved pathways in the works connecting Glebe and Ultimo

By ABHA HAVAL

The City of Sydney Council has proposed a new two-way separated cycleway and improved paths for people walking and cycling between Glebe and Ultimo.

As per the proposal, the cycleways will run along Kelly Street, Mary Ann Street, and Wattle Street, connecting riders and people from inner city areas of Glebe to the Goods Line in Ultimo, Darling Harbour, Haymarket, and expanding towards the network of cycleways in the city.

The project also aims to install a new pedestrian and bike crossing on Mary Ann Street at Jones Street. The crossing will aid the students of TAFE NWS and UTS in getting around safely.

Mayor commends improved connectivity

Lord Mayor of Sydney, Clover Moore said that “Having a better connected network of cycleways is great for our city because it gives people another safe transport option.

“When someone rides, they take a car off the road and free up space on public transport; and given that public transport is the second largest contributor to carbon emissions in our area, these projects are good for the climate too”.

Peter McLean, CEO of Bicycle NSW said, “It’s good to hear that there is a community that is advancing to create a better infrastructure.”

“60% of the people avoid using a bicycle because they feel unsafe. Intersections and crossings are areas that are more accident prone” he said.

McLean is extremely supportive of the proposal.

“It’s not just about transporting people, but there are more benefits such as using the spaces more efficiently, and connecting more people in the community”, he said.

A local resident of Forest Lodge who commutes almost every day in the city through Glebe and Ultimo expresses his concerns about the cycle routes.

“There are numerous disconnections in the cycleways that are proving to be dangerous during peak hours and heavy traffic. It would immensely help the riders if there are more dedicated cycleways along the road”, he said.

“Even during monsoons, there is a greater chance of cyclists slipping on the roads”.

He said, “Due to the lack of infrastructure, cyclists have to drive on roads instead of a dedicated cycleway which is the reason for many people opting to not use cycles to go around the city”.

“It’s a great initiative not just for more people being able to ride cycles and walk around the city, but for the environment as well, as it will significantly reduce the carbon footprint”.

The construction of the cycleways and footpath improvements are set to begin in early 2024, after the construction in areas such as Oxford Street, Liverpool Street and Castlereagh Street.

This will add on to the total network of cycleways constructed in 2022 in the inner-city region to 22 kilometres.

Bridge Road cycleway under fire

However, not all of Sydney’s cycleways are receiving praise from local residents. Since last year Glebe residents have been concerned that a cycleway running along Bridge Road was dangerous due to lack of safety on the road.

The Bridge Road cycleway was flagged in 2020 after residents engaged with Sydney’s Mayor Clover Moore regarding a lack of community consultation. The cycleway was reported to the state government to be brimmed with unsafe merges, and blind spots making the road unsafe for cyclists and drivers alike.

The City of Sydney Council will be collaborating the state government on the Active Transport Program to continue working on a safe and connected bike network.

The up and coming changes will include retaining 85 of the 117 existing parking spots along Ultimo and Glebe streets, and the shared paths along Mary Ann street will be replaced by a safer separated cycleway along with more space for people walking, and wider footpaths.