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1 September 2025
O'Connell Street bike lane axed

Adelaide City Council has voted to axe plans for a bike lane on O'Connell Street following business opposition.

At a council meeting in late August, councillors were presented with a petition of over 1,800 signatures urging them to continue with plans to install a bike lane as part of the O'Connell Street upgrade.

A separated bike lane was included in the O'Connell Street upgrade plans approved in November 2024.

However, a recent public consultation on unrelated details such as paver colours snowballed and concerns about the bike lanes resurfaced.

Ultimately, the council voted to remove the bike lane from plans. Only three councillors – Cr Janet Giles, Cr Keiran Snape and Deputy Lord Mayor Phillip Martin – voted in favour of retaining the bike lane.

During the debate, Cr Mark Siebentritt raised the possibility of a North Adelaide tram, which would prevent bike lane infrastructure along the busy thoroughfare if introduced.

He suggested that if a tram did not eventuate, a future consultation on bicycle infrastructure along O'Connell Street would be appropriate.

Adelaide City Council has been advocating for an extended tram network to North Adelaide for several years.

Construction has begun on the eastern footpath of O'Connell Street between Archer and Tynte streets.

A further update on the project and more detailed design of the full upgrade is due in March 2026.

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