Cycleways

Bridge to Bridge route opens!

The City of Sydney is upgrading a number of important bike corridors throughout inner Sydney. The first of these important routes – the Bridge to Bridge route - is now complete!

Officially opened as part of the Ride to Work Day celebrations on 13 October, the Bridge to Bridge route links the Harbour Bridge to the Anzac Bridge – gateway to the Inner West.

In upgrading this route, we have separated bikes from cars where bicycle traffic is heaviest. Bike riders heading south from the Harbour Bridge enter a dedicated cycleway underpass which links to the Kent Street separated cycleway.

At the corner of Kent and King Streets, riders turn onto the King Street cycleway and continue across the ramp to the shared path on the Pyrmont Bridge.

From Pyrmont Bridge, riders join the new Union Street separated cycleway which ends at Union Square, a short ride to the Anzac Bridge.

Already more than 1200 bike commuters use the Union Street cycleway in the morning and evening peak travel times!

Bike rider numbers soar

Bike riding is a smart transport option for the inner city so it's no surprise that numbers in Sydney are going up! According to RTA data, the number of bikes entering the City have increased by about 10% every year over the past decade, and by 20% in 2009.

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).

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

Clearly, the City's bike network program is already showing results, and given that 84% on non-regular bike riders say they would start riding or ride more often if they could use separated cycleways, building a safe and effective bicycle network is a logical step to keep Sydney moving in years to come!

Sydney Cycling Guide + Map - 2nd edition

Every experienced rider knows that a good bike map is an invaluable trip companion. Riding around Sydney is easy when you know the best, quietest and most convenient streets, back lanes and shared paths.

Whether you are riding to work or the cinema, nothing improves your comfort like smart route choice. The good news is that we've done all the hard route-planning work for you!

We recently launched the 2nd edition of our hugely popular Sydney Cycling Guide+Map, with even more information and with the city's latest cycleways clearly marked. The Guide+Map is your one stop shop for planning your route from A to B in the inner Sydney area.

In choosing the best route options we take a number of factors into account including bike numbers on commonly used routes, bike infrastructure, traffic and pedestrian levels and even the steepness of hills.

Request a map

To request a FREE copy of the Sydney Cycling Map+Guide call the City's One Stop Shop on 9265 9333.

Live or ride outside Inner Sydney? 

Most local councils offer local area cycling maps. If you live or ride outside Inner Sydney make sure to call your local council for a map of the cycling infrastructure in your area.

Interview with Remy & Lees

In the short time its been open, Remy and Lees at 547 Bourke Street has become something of a second home for the hipster bike set in Surry Hills. To find out why, SydneyCycleways interviews owners Jeremy Havlin (Remy) and Lee Crowe.

Tell us a little bit about Remy and Lees - the café

We are an eclectic cafe that offers a good cup of coffee (beans from The Little Marionette), great simple food, and personable service. When you walk in here it's like walking into our home, just DON'T help yourself to my beers in the fridge!

How long have you been fans of the bike scene?

Jeremy - I bought a fixed gear bike around a year ago then I bought Lee one for Christmas last year. Lee would make any excuse not to go riding as she was a little scared but she has since gotten used to riding on the roads, this is why she is so excited about cycleways as she will feel safer! We are in the process of buying a couple of mountain bikes so we can have a go at a different terrain.

What do you love about bikes?

The freedom to go anywhere you want with no pollution and while getting some exercise. It's a city thing; we don't have a car so we need our bikes. We also love our fixies because it's such a different style of riding and we can customise them into crazy looking machines.

Why a bike-themed cafe?

It just evolved into a bit of a bike cafe and as soon as we heard about the Bourke Street cycleway we decided to embrace it and roll with it! We don't say 'bike cafe' we sort of say "Bike Friendly".

Why Bourke Street?

Bourke Street oozes community and feels like a little village so we wanted to be involved in this. When we were offered a spot here by Nina and Cesar from Metalab we jumped at the opportunity. We think our business will thrive once the Bourke Street cycleway opens. We want to play a big part in the positive affect this will have on the community.

Do you have a favourite ride around Sydney?

Lee - My favourite ride would have to be over Anzac Bridge, it is so beautiful... then heading into Newtown for a burger with some friends. Remy - Any night city ride is a fun ride. Sydney's atmosphere really becomes lively at night and it's always fun to get on the bike and check it out. A particular favourite is through the city and around Mrs. Macquarie's Chair.

What's the best thing on your menu?

Apart from Lee's fabulous muffins and caramel slice, the Lamb Shank pie from Black Star Pastry with a simple house made salad... mmm I might have one now!! And no one can go past the hot chocolates!

Become a fan of SydneyCycleways

Is a monthly cycling e-newsletter not enough? Become a fan of SydneyCycleways on Facebook - it's the best way to get breaking news and updates and to show your support for the City's bike network.

Become a fan

Reclaiming the streets in New York City

Here at SydneyCycleways we love this inspirational video from New York City. The streets of NY used to be known for traffic, crime and grit; but a dedicated campaign to reclaim them for people has breathed new life into the city centre.

The last three years have seen an incredible transformation of the city's streetscape. More than 200 miles of bike lanes have been created. Times Square and many other formerly car-clogged spaces have been turned into havens for pedestrians, complete with café tables, flowers, and street art.

Watch the video. It's filled with ideas that could transform Sydney as well. And it's proof that you don't have to take the status quo for granted.

This month's ride - TimeOut Inner Sydney Food and Design Ride

Cycling is about the journey not the destination. In this fantastic weekend ride, TimeOut suggests freewheeling through the urban culture of Sydney's inner east and grazing on food, fashion and art on the way.

This ride covers Woolloomooloo, Darlinghurst and Surry Hills and highlights some of the best eateries, art galleries, design shops and bike shops to be found in the scintillating precinct. It's also a great opportunity to check out the Bourke Street cycleway – many parts of which are now open to be used and enjoyed.

Download TimeOut Inner Sydney Food and Design Ride | 1.8MB PDF

Cycleway Updates

The City of Sydney is building a better and safer bicycle network to support the growing number of bike riders in Sydney. We currently have a number of projects running throughout Inner Sydney.

 

Kent Street

The Kent Street separated cycleway section between the Harbour Bridge and the King Street separated cycleway is now open, with work continuing on sections to the north and south.

The low traffic northern section between the Harbour Bridge turn-off and Argyle Street Millers Point will share the road with cars (with bike logos painted in the existing traffic lanes) to create an alternative route to the Harbour Bridge that avoids the steep footbridge. This section should open in 2011.

The southern section between King and Druitt Streets will be an extension of the separated cycleway and will open in early 2011. A further section between Druitt Street and Liverpool Street will open in late 2011 and is currently on exhibition.

Upgrading the cycling facilities on Kent Street is vital to give riders an easy and safe way of getting into and around the city, particularly since Kent Street is already part of a popular route that connects the Harbour Bridge to the north with Anzac Parade to the east and Anzac Bridge to the west.

Ultimately, Kent Street will be linked to cycleways under construction on College Street and Bourke Street in the east via an extension of the King Street cycleway.

More detailed construction updates can be found at: www.cityofsydney.nsw.gov.au/cycling

 

North-South Spine (Bourke Street / Bourke Road)

Cycling along Bourke Road and Bourke Street is being connected with a series of cycle paths including separated cycleways and shared paths to create a fantastic north-south cycling spine for inner Sydney.

This vital route will give bike riders an easy, safe and convenient way of getting from Rosebery, Alexandria and Mascot all the way to the Harbour. The route also goes through Green Square which will soon be home to thousands of new residents.

The northern and southern ends of this spine, Bourke Road in Alexandria and Bourke Street in Woolloomooloo, are now open.

Work continues on a separated cycleway in Bourke Street, Surry Hills. The section between Campbell and Albion Streets will open shortly and the entire 7.5 kilometre length of this bike corridor is expected to open in 2011.

More detailed construction updates can be found at: www.cityofsydney.nsw.gov.au/cycling

 

College Street

The southern end of the College Street cycleway (running along the eastern boundary of Hyde Park) was officially opened as part of the Ride to Work Day Breakfast celebrations on 13 October.

As part of this cycleway the City revitalised the entire streetscape including improved lighting and safer intersection crossings and much needed new paving in front of the Australian Museum and Sydney Grammar School.

With work on the southern section now complete, work on the northern section continues and the cycleway – from Park Street to Macquarie Street – should open before Christmas.

Ultimately, the College Street cycleway will be part of a vital link for riders using the Bourke Street cycleway and from the eastern suburbs and beyond, to cross the CBD safely using an extended King Street cycleway – greatly improving an already popular bike route that stretches from Anzac Parade in the east to the Anzac Bridge in the west and to the Harbour Bridge in the North.

More detailed construction updates can be found at: www.citofsydney.nsw.gov.au/cycling

Redfern Street Shared Path Trial

Shared paths are paths shared by pedestrians and bike riders and are a major component of the City’s bicycle network, giving bike riders convenient and safe access on streets that cannot support separated cycleways and greatly improving the reach and connectivity of the bike network.

Pedestrians always have right of way on shared paths and polite and courteous behaviour from all path users is important.

The City recently ran a trial of new on-the-ground line-markings on an existing shared path in Redfern.

The line-markings use a new colour (blue) and are a highly visible sign to all footpath users that they are on a shared path.

The trial found that:

• The new surface markings make a positive impact and increase the perception of safety;
• Pedestrians are often not aware they have right of way on shared paths

Three strategies were suggested to improve shared path safety: better lighting, better signage and more markings on pathways.

As a result of this positive trial, the City will introduce these new shared path line-markings at other shared paths throughout the council area.

Please make sure you do your bit to support the shared path rollout by modelling exemplary etiquette – always give way, ring your bell early and give a wave, smile or thank you.