Bicycle Network: Metro Routes

Tabloid sanctioned for anti-bike campaign

The long running and vituperative campaign mounted against Sydney bike paths by the Daily Telegraph newspaper has been condemned by the newspaper industry watchdog, the Australian Press Council.

Coverage of Lord Mayor Clover Moore's bike lane expansion program breached the principles of separating fact from opinion, the Press Council said.

A total of 17 articles relating to Sydney Mayor Clover Moore and the bike lanes had headlines such as "Moore cycleway madness in CBD thanks to Lord Mayor Clover Moore" and "Clover Moore wanted feedback on her bike paths disaster – we can tell her now: TEAR THEM UP"

The newspaper apparently believed that the bike lanes would be unpopular and that by campaigning against them it would reduce public support for the Lord Mayor.

The press council ruled:

“The Press Council emphasises that publications are entitled to express strong opinions on issues and to use their editorials and opinion spaces for that purpose. This advocacy can be so vigorous and sustained as to constitute a campaign, provided that it complies with the Council’s principles which, for example, require fact and opinion to be clearly separated and headlines to fairly reflect the tenor of the accompanying article.

“The Council has concluded that the headlines mentioned above breached these principles because they expressed the newspaper’s opinions rather than being a summary of facts reported in the accompanying news story. The inclusion in a news story of words such as “crazy council policies”, “junket” and “diva-like list of demands” which were not attributed to any sources also failed to separate fact from opinion. Accordingly, the complaint is upheld on these grounds.”

The newspaper defended its anti-bike stance, claiming it was entitled to campaign on the topic.

Clover Moore's bike program has also been attacked by the new O'Farrell government in NSW.

Johnstons Canal shared path upgrade

11 January 2012. The City of Sydney and Leichhardt Council have released plans for a high standard shared path to replace the goat track along Johnstons Canal, linking Sydney Harbour and the city's new green bike path network to the inner west.

The program involves the upgrade of an existing disjointed but well used path system from Bicentennial Park to Wigram Road, Forest Lodge.

Work will be carried in stages but the entire project is expected to be complete by December 2012.

Pedestrians and bike riders will enjoy a wider path with new park furniture, native tree planting, and improved lighting.

The upgrade will be implemented by City of Sydney and Leichhardt Council and utilise a grant of $162,000 from the Department of Planning.

The upgrade is proposed to occur in three stages:

Stage 1: Hogan Park to Sterling Circuit by the City of Sydney

The new path will formalise the existing ‘goat track’. The path alignment and surface treatments have been designed to minimise visual impact and maintain slow bicycle speeds

The shared path has been designed to bridge existing tree roots. Additional native habitat planting and native screen tree planting to adjoining buildings will be implemented

The recently completed Orphan School Creek shared path is located on the southern side of Wigram Road and provides links to Hereford Street and (via stairs) to Sterling Circuit. The existing stair to Sterling Circuit will be modified to include wheel ramps, to assist cyclists.

Stage 2: The Crescent to Hogan Park, Annandale by Leichhardt Municipal Council

The shared path crosses into the Leichhardt Municipal Council LGA at The Crescent at a bridge underpass. It is proposed to increase sightlines, widen the useable area of the path and improve drainage and lighting in this section

The existing path through Hogan Park is proposed to be widened by 0.5m with additional lighting and planting.

Stage 3: Bicentennial & Federal Parks to The Crescent, Glebe by City of Sydney LGA

The shared path route follows the existing access road on the eastern side of the canal at Jubilee Oval until it reaches the entrance to the Harold Park Tram Sheds. The path crosses to the western side of the canal on the existing bridge and continues along an existing path, adjacent Federal Park (south).

The existing path is proposed to be widened by 0.5m to reduce the likelihood of pedestrian and bicycle conflict

An additional pedestrian path is proposed to link Bicentennial Park through Federal Park on the existing ‘goat track’ on the western side of the canal to improve general accessibility. New native planting will improve the park experience.

Sydney's new paths a hit

5 May 2011. The development of the Sydney cycleway network—a favourite target of local shock-jocks—has proved a hit with city's bike riders with morning trips up 60 per cent.

And recent reports from the real estate community are suggesting that the new paths are boosting property prices along the network.

In Bourke Street, Surry Hills, where residents campaigned against the paths because of fears that the loss of car parking would reduce property prices, recent sales have indicated a lift in prices of about $100,000, said to be due to the new bike path.

"Cyclists are voting with their feet - more and more of them are using our cycleways as we build them and join up the links," Lord Mayor Clover Moore said.

"The figures confirm that most riders use our cycleways to commute to and from work, so during peak hours in the morning and evening they are used heavily. Congestion on our roads is heaviest across the state during peak hours so the more people who ride during those times, the bigger the impact on reducing traffic and congestion.

"Critics who complain about the cycleway network need to realise that we need to build it in stages, and that the stages then need to be linked. This is about the future and building a viable network that will become a normal part of city life in the years ahead.

"We worked closely with relevant authorities, the local community and cycling groups in planning the routes and have so far managed to build them without taking out any lanes of traffic."

Ten kilometres of separated cycleways have been built in inner Sydney so far.

Bike count figures at key intersections include:

• King Street /Kent Street intersection where bike rider numbers have more than doubled from 228 in March 2010 to 771 in March 2011 in the PM period, or a 238 per cent increase;
• College Street/Oxford Street intersection, where bike rider numbers have risen from 278 to 862 in the PM period, or a 210 per cent increase.
• Bourke Road/Gardeners Road (Alexandria), where bike rider numbers have risen from 51 to 178 in the AM period, or a 249 per cent increase.
• Bourke Street/Phelps Street (Surry Hills), where bike rider numbers have risen from 99 to 262 in the PM period, or a 165 per cent increase.

Businesses are also benefitting from increased bike traffic on inner Sydney routes. 

Jeremy Havlin, co-owner of Remy & Lees café on Bourke Street, Surry Hills said: "There is a definite increase in the number of bike riders in the area.  It's great to see whole families out and about on the weekend on their bicycles."

With the increase in bike riding across inner Sydney, the City of Sydney is also ramping up its education program to ensure everyone has a safe and pleasant journey on the roads, cycleways and shared paths.

Staff are stationed at key shared paths in the City talking to educate people about bike safety. Honker horns and reflectors are being offered for good behaviour, and Bikewise mechanics offer free and speedy bike checks.

The City also offers free cycling confidence and bike maintenance courses. More than 400 people have learned how to ride safely in Sydney traffic over the past year and 71 per cent of surveyed participants say they now ride more often.

Before the course only 2 per cent rode "most or all days". After completing the confidence building course, 30 per cent of participants reported cycling most days - up from just two per cent beforehand.

More than two thirds of those taking the courses are women and most are aged between 25 and 44.

In the past six months, more than 65,000 cycling maps with safety information have been also distributed.

Bike lanes 'crazy', say NSW Libs

23 March 2011. NSW Liberal leader Barry O'Farrell has declared he will bring an end to the ambitious Sydney bike lane expansion program of Lord Mayor Clover Moore, sending waves of alarm through the rapidly growing bike community in the State capital.

Mr O'Farrell, whom pollsters are tipping will be swept to power in the State election this Saturday, said that the Lord Mayor had "deliberately set out to inconvenience motorists" with the city's 200km bike network.

"I don't believe it was just about providing safe bike paths into the city," he said. "I think it was also about trying to stop cars coming into the city.

"I think we can deliver better bike access to the city without getting in the way of cars", Mr O'Farrell said.

In response Clover Moore said no traffic lanes had been taken out for cycleways or shared paths and that the numbers of bike riders has doubled and tripled in areas where links have been built.

"The cycleways are there to provide another transport option for those who live close to the city centre," she said.

"Once the network has been built it will take 300,000 car trips daily off the road—easing congestion and freeing up valuable road space for those who do need to drive."

Bikes help ease Sydney squeeze

24 January 2011. The City of Sydney and the New South Wales government have signed an agreement to work together to stop Sydney's CBD choking to death on traffic. Not surprisingly, bikes are part of the solution.

Central Sydney, a key driver of the Australian economy, has become so congested with cars that it is in danger of losing its financial leadership crown to bike-mad Melbourne.

The city's geography and history mean that the only options for improving mobility in the future are bikes, public transport and walking.

Premier Kristina Keneally and Sydney Lord Mayor Clover Moore have announced an historic five year memorandum of understanding (MoU) to create an integrated and connected city centre which will enable further economic growth.

The MoU will be put into action immediately by both parties with 16 key actions to be implemented in Sydney’s CBD. These include to:

1. Design and construct light rail through the CBD and implement required transport and traffic changes with the provision of rapid planning approvals;
2. Immediately undertake detailed analysis to determine the alignment of the Sydney CBD light rail extension including assessing the impact on roads, buses, pedestrians and cyclists;
3. Implement crucial changes in the Wynyard precinct to improve bus flows in the peak;
4. Improve bus and traffic flows during the peak at key locations, starting with Circular Quay, Hyde Park and Central;
5. Paint 21 key intersections in the CBD to deter drivers from illegally queuing across intersections;
6. Begin a trial of pedestrian countdown timers at selected intersections to determine their effectiveness;
7. Create 10km/h shared zones in streets and laneways to safely mix uses including Wilmot, Central, Cunningham, Little Hay, Valentine and Factory Streets and Kimber Lane;
8. Reduce the speed limit in the City Centre to 40 km/h subject to standard RTA procedure and acceptable designs for the southern sections of Elizabeth and George Streets;
9. Implement Green Square cycle network connections to Central Sydney; 10. Implement separated cycle network throughout the City Centre to support the State Plan and City Plan cycling targets;
11. Improve pedestrian priority at major pedestrian intersections and reduce wait times for pedestrians in peak periods;
12. Identify further roads and lanes for conversion to shared zones;
13. Design and construct the heavy rail projects that improve services to the City as announced in the Metropolitan Transport Plan;
14. Develop a City Centre Access Plan to improve traffic flows and public transport access and enhance connectivity in the city centre;
15. Update the Sydney City Subregional Strategy to reflect population, employment and land use changes and the transport links required to deliver a vibrant, growing and connected city; and
16. Investigate and implement a metropolitan parking policy.

A Steering Committee will be established to drive the delivery of actions under the agreement, including senior representatives from Transport NSW (including Roads and Traffic Authority, State Transport Authority and RailCorp), City of Sydney Council, Department of Planning and Department of Premier and Cabinet.

City of Sydney Lord Mayor, Clover Moore MP, said: “Sydney’s CBD is the economic powerhouse of NSW, and even the nation, so it is vitally important that we reverse the impacts of traffic congestion which are already costing businesses and the community $3.5 billion per year.

“Sydneysiders deserve reliable and efficient public transport, pleasant walking routes, safe cycling connections and efficient access to businesses across the city.”

Cargo bikes to borrow in Sydney

11 January 2011. The City of Sydney has provided a small fleet of cargo bikes for citizens to borrow and transport goods around the capital.

The bikes have been used to take young children around, for shopping, picking up laundry, collecting garden equipment or trying one out before making a purchase.

"A quarter of loans so far have been dads and children, with Sydney Park, Camperdown Park and Victoria Park all being popular destinations," Lord Mayor Clover Moore MP said.

"Dads love the chance to take their kids to the park, to parties and for short trips around the neighbourhood in a comfortable, specially designed bicycle," Ms Moore said.

The project is called The Watershed Bike Library and is is jointly managed by Marrickville and City of Sydney Councils.

Anyone can become a member for a small fee, items are available for up to three days loan, and the first three hours are free. There is a special weekend rate of just $20 for Saturday - Tuesday.

The bike library has two specially designed options for carrying up to two kids - an all in one Dutch Gazelle Cabby cargo bike with a tub at the front of the bike, and anXracycle Radish, and a trailers that can be pulled behind any normal bike.

The City of Sydney and Marrickville Council provide free cycling maps for all Bike Library borrowers, to help people find a safe, quiet route which is especially important if people are riding with their children.

Marrickville Mayor Councilor Fiona Byrne says Marrickville residents have embraced the cargo bike library, using it instead of their car. "It provides more space than a conventional bike, making cycling more convenient and therefore more attractive," she said.

"This is a great example of how councils can deliver initiatives to support residents in lowering their environmental impact in a practical, attractive and fun way," she said.

Bike repair kits

In another development bike repair kits are now held in each branch of the City of Sydney Library. Each kit includes a bike repair tool and a mini bike pump.

The kits are borrowed in the same way as other collection items: they have a 3 week loan period and can be reserved and transferred between branches.

The Library holds numerous books on cycling techniques, routes, competitions and maintenance.

Bike numbers soar in Sydney

9 December 2010. Bike commuting has taken off in Sydney, following the heavy investment in infrastructure by Lord Mayor, Clover Moore.

New figures by the NSW Roads and Traffic Authority (RTA) and the City of Sydney Bike show rider numbers taking a big jump.

According to RTA data, the number of bikes entering the City lifted by 20 per cent in 2009 after steady rises of about ten per cent every year over the past decade.

This trend is backed by the City's own standardised bike counts. Bike counts at 94 intersections in March and October 2010 showed an average 40 per cent increase in the morning (6am-9am), with 29 per cent in the afternoon (4pm-7pm).

Significantly, growth in areas with dedicated cycle facilities have more than doubled: 124 per cent increase on Kent Street in the CBD; 167 per cent near the Anzac Bridge; and 173 per cent on Bourke Road, Alexandria.

The City's research indicates that 84 per cent of non-regular bike riders say they would start riding or ride more often if they could use separated bike paths.

Sydney bike spend pays back triple

27 May 2010. Inner Sydney's proposed $179M new bike network will pay back the community three times what it will cost to build, reducing car trips by 4.3 million a year.

The bike network would deliver faster trips, better health, and less congestion; when these benefits were calculated in dollar terms they totalled a net $506M over a 30 year period, According to a new report commissioned by the City of Sydney and undertaken by AECOM.

Sydney Lord Mayor Clover Moore MP said the study is the first of its kind to comprehensively capture the economic benefits of major cycling infrastructure.

"For the first time we have an evidence-based report that puts a real value on the health and lifestyle benefits of cycling. We're talking about people living longer, having less chronic diseases and having a better quality of life - just by getting on a bike.

"What this study has found is that a bicycle network linking Kogarah in the south, with Chatswood in the north and Watsons Bay in the east with Rhodes in the west is economically desirable and viable.

"We can say with confidence that investment in cycling as a mode of transport will deliver a solid economic return," Ms Moore said.

The study forecasts a 66 per cent increase in bike trips by 2016 and a 71 per cent rise by 2026 if the 284 km network - spanning 15 council areas, 164 suburbs and a population of 1.2 million people - is built at a cost of $179 million.

The proposed project is in addition to the City's current $76 million works program to build 200km of cycleways in the City Centre and inner city villages by 2017.

The benefit in reducing congestion alone is estimated to be worth $97.8 million or $4.07 for every commuter switching from a car to bicycle during peak periods.

The study found that building the network would provide $147.3 million in health benefits for the next 30 years, potentially saving Sydney commuters from a raft of chronic diseases from heart disease to Type 2 Diabetes.

"Sydneysiders' enthusiastic take up of cycling over the past few years has shown us that cycling is an important mode of transport for our future. While the health and environmental benefits have long been acknowledged, the economic benefits have now been revealed," added Ms Moore.

"Cycleways are a real transport solution for our densely populated city. They not only get people around faster, cheaper and more efficiently, but generate substantial economic benefits for the NSW economy.

"An inner Sydney regional cycle network makes economic sense because it makes bike riding safer, takes cars off the road, reduces obesity and heart disease, brings cleaner air and improves worker productivity," Ms Moore said.

"The fact is, cycling is integral to Sydney's future transport needs and the Federal Government has a major role to play in funding this future."

Sydney council elections to spur bike investment

6 November 2008. The re-election of Lord Mayor Clover Moore's independent team with an increased majority should result in accelerated development of bike facilities in the City of Sydney.

Clover Moore ran on a strong pro-bike policy and now has a clear mandate to tackle Sydney's lagging level of bike facility investment.

The critical Bourke Street bike lane, delayed because of panic from local residents, can now confidently proceed. Construction of the 3.2k separated path starts in April.

The King Street path, a Paris style two-way separated lane, is underway and will be completed early 2009.

With advice from Danish planner Jan Gehl, Sydney has shaped and extensive vision for bikes, including a 145k bike network in the inner suburbs by 2017.

According to the Sydney Morning Herald, the city is negotiating with the Roads and Traffic Authority for a separated cycle path along Kent Street to the Harbour Bridge.

For a short Jan Gehl interview on Sydney's problems go to: