Design for cycle route underway

Planning has begun on developing a new cycle route, which will provide an important link between the Cooks River Trail and the M5 shared path.

Mayor Khal Asfour said Route EW05 is currently in the design stage, with consultants developing a range of options.

"This is all about supporting cyclists so they feel safe every time they get on their bike, whether they are sharing the road with drivers or travelling through a park," he said.

"It will also provide cycle access to a number of Council facilities, such as Earlwood Oval, Canterbury Leisure and Aquatic Centre, and Earlwood Senior Citizens’ Centre.

"Our plan is to not only connect all these facilities but have a 3.8 kilometre continuous cyclepath."

The route will run from the M5 shared path at Bexley Road, Bexley North, to the Cooks River bike path at Macquarie Road, Earlwood. When completed, there will be a continuous bike path from the Cooks River, connecting Botany Bay to Homebush Bay.

Council will consult with residents living streets where work will occur, as a result of the proposed cycle route, as well as the wider community.

"Resident feedback will be assessed and incorporated into the final design," Mayor Asfour said.

"By providing safer cycle routes, we are creating a quicker option than driving or catching public transport. It’s also better for the environment and, most importantly, it improves health and fitness."

Community information session will be held on 16 November (10am-noon), at Clarke Street, Earlwood, outside the Coles Supermarket, with residents encouraged to provide their feedback on the concept designs by 5pm 6 December 2019. The designs can be viewed at cb.city/haveyoursay

The final cyclepath design will be considered by the Canterbury-Bankstown Traffic Committee early next year, before going to Council for final approval.