Reinventing the wheels: Sydney cyclists want more done

BY EMIKO REED

Sydney’s Greens have met with the city’s cycling community to voice opposition to the NSW Government’s transport infrastructure plans.

The Transform Transport campaign came to Sydney on August 13, with local cyclists and politicians attending the forum to discuss the loss of cycle infrastructure.

The event, hosted by The Greens and Bicycle NSW, called on the state government to look to alternative transport options.

Greens Transport spokesperson Dr Mehreen Faruqi said the government’s privatisation of infrastructure had a negative effect for commuters.

“I think we all know that there are desperate needs for some alternatives from what the government is giving us at the moment,” she told the forum. “Cyclists are fighting to keep the cycling structure what we have today and are lobbying for more.”

Dr Faruqi said the government’s agenda was driven by “short term thinking”, without considerations of long term impacts.

“A good transport system is not about individual projects. It’s actually about looking at the transport projects as a whole and how it interacts and connects with people, and how it connects with the environment as well. And it has to be planned between land use and transport. Transport doesn’t exist outside of land use,” she said.

Transport projects, including the Sydney CBD and South East Light Rail Project, were criticised in the forum for disregarding cyclist and pedestrian interests, and being inefficiently planned.

The demolition of the $4.9 million College Street cycleway was a contentious issue, as the government had backflipped on its delivery of adequate alternative cycling routes.

It was estimated 2,200 cyclists used the cycleway daily.

One local committed cyclist Sarah Imm, who attended the meeting, said the ability to cycle in the city was crucial for her.

As the owner of a Surry Hills cycling apparel boutique, Ms Imm said she cycles daily.

However, as the government’s controversial transport projects begin to roll out, Mrs Imm may need to rethink her commuting options.

CEO of Bicycle NSW, Ray Rice, said that 70 per cent of people wished to ride the bike more regularly if it was made safer for them.

“There are a lot of people out there that want to ride a bike,” he said.

“The demand is there. We just got to make the road safer for them.”

The light rail under construction is the NSW’s Government’s response to Sydney’s growing population, with an additional 1.6 million people expected to move to the city in the next 20 years.