Oxford Street Cycleway Finally Opens For Public Use After Years of Delays

Due to originally open in 2024, the City of Sydney has announced the Oxford Street West cycleway is now finally open for use by the public. 

The Lord Mayor Clover Moore announced the opening of the cycleway this morning.

“By building connected bike links, we’re offering people a viable transport option that is safe, cheap and encourages active lifestyles,” the Lord Mayor said.

“No longer will people riding need to weave in and out of traffic competing with trucks, cars and buses along Oxford Street. People walking will also benefit as the project has improved crossings at side streets, created a buffer from vehicles, calmed traffic and will reduce the instances of people riding bikes on the footpath.

The NSW Government and City of Sydney Council proposed and completed the first sector of this project to promote sustainable transport within Sydney’s busy Oxford Street and to promote commute safety.

The cycleway connects Castlereagh Street and Taylor Square, acting as a crucial link in the bike network and providing access to the dedicated cycleways along Castlereagh, Liverpool, College and Bourke streets.

The project was jointly funded by the City of Sydney and the NSW Government through the newly introduced Get NSW Active Program.

In a statement, the City of Sydney said there has been a 20 percent increase in bike transportation since March 2024 to March 2025, proving that the council’s efforts to construct a sustainable transportation route is successful.

In addition to the kilometre of new cycleway, the City also lists improved crossings at four side streets and upgraded signals at nine intersections, as well as the installation of new garden beds, street furniture and paving.

“I want to thank everyone for their patience with the disruption to local shops and traffic flows during the construction period,” NSW Transport Minister John Graham said.

“This cycleway is a great step forward in the revitalisation of this iconic street. It’s a big win for cyclists, cars, and pedestrians because it improves safety on the road and the footpath.

“At the same time as we deliver vital cycling infrastructure, the NSW Government is also working on e-bikes and e-scooters reforms to address footpath clutter, poor parking, and safety risks.”

Controversial redevelopments of Oxford Street 

While the cycleway proposes a safer and convenient passage for Sydney commuters to travel, redevelopments to revolutionise Sydney’s treasured LGBTQIA+ strip Oxford Street have been discouraged and protested by locals, who say many of the redevelopments could prove to destroy the traditional atmosphere, disrupt local businesses, and create motor vehicle implications.

Local allies against the development of the cycleway rallied together in 2024, petitioning to ‘save our Oxford Street’, after local concerns of the development began to amplify.

Local business concerns were raised earlier in 2024 after the proposal stated that new segways will divert traffic and will ultimately disadvantage local access to shops and parking. Numerous hazards of the development were highlighted by locals and raised concerns for Sydney commuters.

The prolonged construction of the cycleway forced local businesses to endure financial stress due to pedestrian access becoming limited, and the local traffic increasing, causing distress amongst locals.

DBP President Stephan Győry says, “The impacts of the prolonged construction on local business cannot be understated. With the help of City of Sydney Cultural Support Funding, we hope to celebrate the strong independent local businesses that made it through the upheaval and all the great new tenants joining our community.”

“We hope [the cycleway] attracts people to Oxford Street, to celebrate our diverse cultures, strengthen community inclusion and cohesion and activate public places and business premises,” says Győry.

Clover Moore said that the City had done a lot of work to revitalise Oxford Street, and says the benefits will soon be noticeable.

“The stars are aligning along the iconic strip. We’ve done work to renew the street, given grants for cultural projects such as Qtopia and encouraged considered development that protects Oxford Street’s unique heritage,” said Moore.

“We expect businesses will start seeing the benefits too because more people walking and riding along a calmer street will encourage visits and money spent with those hard-working owners along Oxford Street.”

With the long term implications unknown, the new Oxford Street cycleway offers Sydney residents an accessible mode of transportation. Despite local concerns, businesses and surrounding residents will continue to observe and monitor the new development and its impacts.