Image credit: City of Sydney/Chris Southwood
The City of Sydney is inviting public comment on its upcoming draft budget, which prioritises a pair of key bike routes in the CBD.
The council has earmarked $236.5 million in capital works over the 2024/25 financial year for streetscape renewals, pedestrian upgrades, tree planting and public park upgrades.
Of the $25 million it plans to spend on the bike network, $9.3 million will go towards the two-way separated cycleway along Oxford Street west and Liverpool Street.
The route is one of the city’s busiest and carries 3000 riders each day, and the new separated cycleway will improve the experience for those travelling into the Sydney CBD from the eastern suburbs. It will also connect to the proposed Oxford Street East Cycleway, extending the route out to Bondi.
The City of Sydney has also allocated $9.6 million for the extension of the Castlereagh Street cycleway, which will connect both the Liverpool Street route and the existing cycleway on the southern section of Castlereagh Street.
There are five more minor bike projects listed in the draft budget including $500,000 for the Primrose Avenue Quietway, $200,000 for the Erskineville Alexandria Precinct Cycleway Links, $400,000 for the Elizabeth St (Central Station-Campbell St) Cycleway and $700,000 for the City South Bike Network Link (Ultimo Rd and Campbell St).
Through its four-year program the council plans to spend more than $59 million delivering 7.3km of cycleways. These include Glebe to Ultimo along Kelly, Wattle and Mary-Ann streets, and O'Dea Avenue and Wellington Street in Waterloo.
Other bike projects in the council’s four-year delivery program include the Alexandra Canal South Cycleway and the Maddox Street Cycleway Link.
Read more and have your say via the consultation page.
“Our population is growing, and we will continue to provide the infrastructure that makes growing communities liveable, with world-class parks and playgrounds, pools and libraries, connected by safe transport options and walkable streets,” says Lord Mayor Clover Moore.
Record rider numbers were logged in the City of Sydney last year, where bike trips increased by 18% during peak hours across the council area. At some intersections, bike traffic increased six-fold.
Since 2007, the council has delivered 25km of separated cycleways and 60km of shared paths.
Like the City of Sydney, councils around Australia are finalising their budgets ahead of the 2024/25 financial year. If there are bike-related projects in your area that need prioritising, it is worth checking out your local council’s website for an opportunity to have your say.
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