Cycleways
News
December 2011 - January 2012
MESSAGE FROM THE CYCLING TEAM
2011 has been an amazing year for cycling in the City of Sydney!
The award winning Bourke Street cycleway was opened in March. And in May the guys at I ♥ Sydney Bike Lanes & Cycle Ways put on the wonderful WOOP ride to celebrate. We held the inaugural Sydney Rides Festival and Sydney Rides Challenge in October, and the number of people riding jumped 50% in just a year.
For 2012 we have a challenge for you to help us spread the joy. Can you get three new people on a bike? January is a time of New Year's resolutions and the perfect time to encourage friends and colleagues to give bike riding a go. After all, it's fun, healthy and sustainable – perfect NY resolution material!
We'd love to hear your stories of what you've tried and what worked, on our Facebook page.
Free Movie Tickets!
We really do appreciate all the wonderful support we have received over the past year from the many thousands of bike riders who subscribe to this e-newsletter. To say thank-you we have 20 double passes to give away to see 'Iron Lady' at the Moonlight Cinema on Sunday 05 February! The Cycling Team will be there as well so it's a chance to say 'hi' in person.
If you would like a double pass please email: sydneycycleways@cityofsydney.nsw.gov.au with your name, contact details and address. First in, best dressed as they say... Thank you again for all your support! We hope you all have a fantastic holiday season and a happy new year!
The City of Sydney Cycling Team ♥
EVERYTHING'S CONNECTED: INTRODUCING CAROLINE!
At SydneyCycleways we receive so many wonderful testimonials from such a wide array of bike riders that we decided the best way to celebrate these stories was to share them.
Everything's Connected aims to show just how diverse the Sydney bike-riding community is. Hopefully you will have already come across our first film testimonial featuring Anthony (if not, here's your chance to see his testimonial again!)Following on from Anthony we have Caroline, who is a bit of an all-round superstar: doctor, tv star, bondi mum and avid bike rider!
We hope you find Caroline's story as charming as we do...
BIKE TO BOURKE!
Dozens of kids and parents riding to school on the Bourke Street cycleway – can you think of a more promising sight for the future of sustainable transport in Sydney?
We can't! Thanks, in part, to the Bike 2 Bourke Challenge, the sight of kids riding to school safely on Sydney's cycleways is becoming the norm.
Launched in September at the Bourke Street Public School, the Challenge encourages children to ride to school.
Participating kids earn certificates and small bike-related prizes, presented monthly.
Many Bourke Street Public School students regularly ride to school. Participation rates are expected to climb in response to student, parent and teacher support.
The Bike 2 Bourke Challenge was created by a community member and made possible through a City of Sydney Matching Grant.
What are the Matching Grants?
Have you got a great idea to improve or inspire your local village and a group of eager participants ready to make it happen? Then you might have what it takes to receive a Matching Grant – from the City of Sydney.
Matching Grants support neighbourhood groups in the City of Sydney to purchase materials or supplies to help create projects that bring the community together. The Grants 'match' contributions made by the community with up to $10,000 cash or offer in-kind support. We don't just match cash; we match volunteer time or your 'community contribution'.
The Matching Grants Program has funded several cycling related projects in the City ranging from bike picnics in local parks to free bike fixing workshops. If you have an idea that you want to turn into reality, check out the City's Matching Grants webpage.
BIKE RACKS EVERYWHERE!
It takes more than cycleways to make cycling easier - find out about our latest bike parking achievements...
Bike parking at the Cricketer's Arms Corral
The City's first Portland-style on road bike parking corral has arrived in Surry Hills!
The bike park corral fits a dozen bikes within six metres on Hutchinson Street, next to the Cricketers Arms Hotel.
A similar corral is proposed for Little Eveleigh Street, Redfern.
Public consultation on the Little Eveleigh Street is complete, installation is proposed for February 2012, pending weather and community feedback.
You can nominate a bike parking location using our Bike Parking Request Form.
City launches free bike racks for Schools
To encourage riding to school - the City of Sydney is offering free bike racks to public schools in our local government area.
Council has set aside $20,000 a year for local school racks; the first two schools to benefit are Crown Street Public School and Ultimo Public School.
School bike rack requests are assessed on merit. Upon success, the City provides bike racks - installation approvals are the school's responsibility.
Moonlight Cinema – now with bike parking!
Bike parking has made the ever-popular Moonlight Cinema in Hyde Park even better!An enclosed bike-parking area will be provided all season (December to March). Bring your own bike lock, this area is unsupervised.
SYDNEY FESTIVAL - FESTIVAL FIRST NIGHT
The heart of Sydney will be transformed for Festival First Night, the opening night extravaganza for the Sydney Festival, and as have become tradition, our famed Valet Bike Parking will once again be available!
The Festival First Night extravaganza invites everyone to experience Sydney in spectacular and surprising new ways on Saturday 7 January. All are welcome, big and small. And it's all free.
Enjoy kids' fun in the afternoon with Holly Throsby performing her children's album, plus Caspar Babypants with his very cool rockin' sing-a-long. Hosted by Melbourne's madcap Listies, this is one afternoon the kids won't want to miss.
The good times roll on with DJ Norman Jay keeping Sydney dancing from 3pm with a marathon eight hour set of idyllic summer tunes in Hyde Park. Meanwhile, leading contemporary artist, Brook Andrew, presents an all-embracing spectacle that brings the buildings and streets around Hyde Park to life with massive projections and street performances.
As the sun sets prepare for the breathtaking aerial performance 'As the World Tipped' on College Street, then pull on your retro threads and dancing shoes and head to Elizabeth Street to catch Jamaica's The Jolly Boys. These dance hall legends get things swinging before The Sirens Big Band open an explosive outdoor Trocadero Dance Palace!
FREE Valet bike parking:
Make sure to ride in style on the night thanks to our FREE valet bike parking. Leave your bike with our expert attendants and pick up a free bike map and reflective slap band while you're there!
College Street Closure:
Please be aware that College Street (including the Cycleway) will be closed north of Park Street from 10am Friday 06 January until 6am Sunday 09 January. See the Festival website for details of other road closures around the city.
More info:
http://whatson.cityofsydney.nsw.gov.au/events/12293-festival-first-night
WRAPPING UP SYDNEY RIDES FESTVAL
One glorious week, 24 events and 20,000 people – our first Sydney Rides Festival was a massive success!!
From the laidback yet fantastically fun launch in Taylor Square with the Bicycle Film Festival's Street Party to our official closing event in Pirrama Park 8 days later with Bicycle NSW's Family Bike Fun Day it was a calendar squeezed full of bicycle goodness!
Some of our personal highlights included the now iconic Hyde Park breakfast for riders taking part in National Ride to Work Day, the Thursday night art exhibition, the casual but enlightening inner Sydney sustainable food ride, and of course, the family focused fun of the Pirrama Park Family Fun Day.
As a sign of the Festival's popularity, our online Festival calendar had almost 14,000 unique visitors and more than 63,000 page views. In addition almost 3000 people voted in our favourite event competition. The favourite event in case you were wondering – Ride to Work Day Breakfast with 400 plus votes. We are already gearing up for an even bigger and better Festival next year… now only 10 months away and counting!
SYDNEY RIDES CHALLENGE RESULTS
The City of Sydney's first ever Sydney Rides Challenge had a simple aim: get people to hop back on a bike and see what they've been missing out on. Mission accomplished!
The Challenge took the format of a friendly workplace competition; organisations large and small went head to head to see which workplace could get the greatest percentage of staff to try riding a bike.
Over 3400 people from 183 organisations took part, with a whopping 40% of them self-described infrequent cyclists and almost 650 not having ridden in the past year. In the mix were even scores of people who had never ridden a bike previously at all!
For those without access to bikes of their own, there were six Try-a-Bike sessions across the city centre. Over 900 people came along to these free, relaxed, fun events to enjoy a lunchtime cruise in the Sydney sunshine.
Congratulations to everyone who participated, particularly our winning organisations – Hilton Sydney, GHD, FJMT, Sydney South West Public Health Unit, Global Sustainable Energy Solutions and Architects Johannsen Associates.
Stay tuned! The Sydney Rides Festival will be back in 2012 to spread the bike riding love once again.
BICYCLE NETWORK UPDATE
Wentworth Avenue Separated Cycleway Gets Up!
Following community support, the City has endorsed the design of the planned separated cycleway on Wentworth Avenue.
This section of separated cycleway will connect College Street to Elizabeth Street, allowing bike riders approaching the City from the south (through Prince Alfred Park and Redfern) to make their way safely to the College Street cycleway.
Construction on this cycleway is planned to commence mid 2012!
The majority of submissions received through our extensive consultation process supported the proposed cycleway; and while there will be some reduction in on-street parking, the number of loading zones will not be reduced and parking will still be available on both sides of Wentworth Avenue.
The work will also include footpath widening, new pedestrian crossings and the planting of additional street trees.
Plans for a shared path along Elizabeth Street that will connect the Wentworth Avenue separated cycleway to the Prince Alfred shared path are still under development.
When completed this North-South route will link Sydney’s fastest growing residential area, Green Square, and residents in Waterloo, Redfern and Alexandria, with the city centre and provide a congestion-free option for commuters.
Johnstons Canal Path upgrade
Work has commenced on the Johnstons Canal shared path upgrade, improving a much loved recreational route which links Sydney Harbour to the inner west.
The program involves a three-staged upgrade of an existing disjointed but well used path system from Bicentennial Park to Wigram Road, Forest Lodge.
Pedestrians and bike riders will enjoy a wider path with new park furniture, native tree planting, and improved lighting. A range of speed limiting devices and clear signage will be incorporated to promote safety for both pedestrians and bike riders.
Extensive community consultation has been undertaken including a site walk through, letter box drop, workshop and doorknocking with feedback considered and adopted where possible.
Works commenced November 2011 and will continue through 2012, weather permitting.
The Eastern Cycleway Exit - ANZAC Bridge improvement
Following community consultation, upgrade plans for the ANZAC Bridge Eastern Cycleway exit are complete.
The Anzac Bridge is a key connection for inner west riders heading to the city centre. It is the starting point of Sydney’s Bridge to Bridge route (connecting ANZAC and Sydney Harbour Bridges, via Pyrmont Bridge)
The City has worked closely with stakeholders on the eastern exit improvement plans, achieving an outcome that balances everyone needs.
Key modifications proposed include: footpath widening on the west side of Quarry Master Drive; a new wider kerb ramp entering the bridge; a 1.2 metre fence to prevent rider movements along the western footpath and some low level landscaping between the new fence and driveway.
More information
For more information on these and upcoming projects please contact the Cycling Communications Coordinator on (02) 9265 9333 or by email at prioritycycleways@cityofsydney.nsw.gov.au