Oxford Street Cycleway: A rejuvenation or added congestion?

By ABHA HAVAL

The NSW government has proposed a two-way cycleway on Oxford Street in Paddington as part of the program to build more than 100 kilometres of new cycleways by 2028, despite concerns from local communities about impacts on residents and users of the street. 

Transport for NSW mentions in the proposal that Oxford Street is the busiest corridor in Sydney. The aim is to rejuvenate the street by improving the amenities, encouraging people of all ages to ride cycles, and improve safety for cyclists by assisting in reducing congestion, traffic, and noise pollution. 

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.

— Clover Moore (@CloverMoore) March 12, 2021

The proposal for the cycleway runs on the south side of Oxford Street between the Paddington Gates and Taylor Square. The new cycleways will completely change the allocation of road spaces by reducing the four traffic lanes to two lanes by retaining the bus lanes and allocated parking spaces on either side of the road. 

The Oxford Street East cycleway is the missing link which will connect the Centennial Park cycleway and the Oxford Street East cycleway. Together, these cycleways will create a continuous cycle corridor between Bondi and Sydney CBD. 

A petition was raised by Philip Ingram to stop the proposed Oxford Street cycleway arguing that congestion will increase by converting the corridor into a two-traffic lane. 

“Free-flowing traffic is essential,” Ingrame said. 

Ingram says in the petition, “Not everyone wants to ride a bike and there will be a detrimental impact on the local businesses because the increased congestion will force people to go elsewhere. 

“It is also a safety issue as access to bus stops will be problematic, especially for senior travellers and parents with prams or young children”. 

CEO of Bicycle NSW, Peter Mclean said that, “It will be a vital east to west link that connects existing cycleways in Sydney CBD and the new cycleway at Bondi Junction. 

“The streets will be calmer and safer so it will be much more user friendly for pedestrians and other road users”.  

Francis O’Neill, the head of advocacy for Bicycle NSW said, “The new cycleway needs to happen. Oxford street is the most popular bike corridor just by weight of numbers”. 

Mclean anticipates that, “it would create a congestion if no one was to use the cycleway. Although, projected users’ number (from other cycleway count data) suggests that the Oxford Street East cycleway will be a very popular corridor in addition to filling the missing link”. 

“Slower traffic users, pedestrians and cyclists are proven to make over 30% more purchases from businesses (as per UK data). They simply have more time to see, consider and make purchases”, he said. 

“Lots of statistics suggests that businesses thrive in the community where there are cycleways. Bikes contribute $97.20 to businesses than cars who contribute $27”, O’Neill said. 

“As Theo Onisforou told Sydney Morning Herald in an interview, they can pay rent because businesses do well. There is a percentage and a half bump in prices proximal to cycleways”. 

Oxford street is currently unsafe for cyclists 

According to City of Sydney, around 2,000 people ride their bikes along Oxford Street every day, and with no designated cycleway, they are forced to ride alongside cars and buses during peak hours. 

As per data reported by Bicycle NSW last year, more than 12,000 people have died over the past decade on Australia’s roads. 

“High number of accidents occur because people are riding bicycles on open roads. The road environment without allocation of spaces for pedestrians and cyclists is dangerous as car users are driving down the road in a dangerous manner”. 

Mclean said, “To remain safe, bicycle users need to occupy the lane to avoid car doors and other serious risks. This is not suitable or safe for a newcomer or beginner riders, nor is it efficient or user-friendly for other road users. 

“As a very experienced bicycle user, I feel much safer and more comfortable on a cycleway and would only allow my kids on a cycleway”. 

A resident of Paddington, Justin Bowra said, “I have tried to cycle to work, but it is too dangerous as I have been nearly run-off the road by careless drivers. I have seen lots of people injured by cars. As a parent, and whose family is scared to ride on Sydney streets, the safety of cyclists is more important than the convenience of motorists”, he said. 

“No one asks pedestrians to walk on the same lane that cars use, so why make cyclists do it?”. 

Paddington Society concerned for residents 

A spokesperson for the Paddington Society told City Hub that they applaud the efforts of the city to create a safe environment for cyclists but they “oppose the current plan which puts cyclists ahead of residents”. 

“Oxford Street is considered as Paddington’s high street and what we want is for both sides to be as integrated as possible. On one side of the street is the retail sector and on the other side is the shopping precinct. 

“The key thing about Oxford Street is that it is majorly operated by residents and they cross the street a number of times. The key users here are the pedestrians”, he said. 

According to the Road User Space Allocation Policy, pedestrians are the first users of the space. 

“The policy is incomplete with reference to utilizing road spaces and what the area is actually used for. All the proposals seem to merge with the needs of the pedestrians. 

“On this street, traffic has been a barrier, the buses have been a barrier, and now the cycleway will be another barrier”. 

The Paddington Society’s spokesperson is concerned that the safety of the pedestrians will be compromised with the change in road spaces, and adding another use of space on the street will cease to provide easy access for people to cross the street. 

“What we want is for the city to limit the speed to 30 km/hr on the street which will help cyclists be safe with a 2-lane clearway on both sides, a wider median strip, and a wider footpath”. 

Residents in support of the proposal 

Bowra said, “As an emergency doctor, parent and resident, I strongly support the proposal in principle”. 

“Bike lanes save the lives of children and adults who want to cycle. 

“There has been a lot of misinformation about cycleways. Evidence shows that cycleways provide a retail benefit and improve traffic congestion”. 

“It is also better for the climate”. 

“Just like pedestrians and buses, providing a cycleway is simply the right thing to do,” he said. 

Another resident of Paddington, Chloe Mason, said, “It is important to make the street safer for people. We need to have good consultation”. 

“It will be beneficial to reduce the use of cars for short trips as it will improve the air quality and reduce the pollution”. 

“The past tradition is for people to travel by cars, but the cycleway will be designed for the modern world. We need to take steps to reduce the reliability on cars”, she said. 

“People (who are opposing the proposal) are worried and fearful because Transport for NSW is not making good conversation with people. The construction should be managed properly as well”. 

A spokesperson for Transport for NSW said, “Transport has begun consultations on an early design of the cycleway, to ensure the project is informed by community needs and balances the needs of all road users with the local businesses and residents. 

“Maintaining access for residents and businesses, and encouraging people to visit and dwell in Paddington are key objectives, which we will be working to realise through the design process”. 

“Customer research conducted for Transport research found that 45% of the NSW urban population were interested in cycling more but would feel safe being separated from cars, more direct routes and better information in order for them to ride more”. 

Transport for NSW will continue to engage with the community throughout the design process, and propose further formal consultation later this year.