Pop-ups to go permanent as rider numbers rocket

Sydney’s pop-up cycleways will be in place for up to two years and two popular cycle routes will become permanent under plans approved by the City of Sydney.

The City is now drawing up designs for permanent separated cycleways on Pitt Street in the CBD and Henderson Road, Railway Parade and Bridge Street in Erskineville.

The remaining cycleways on City-controlled roads will stay in place further monitoring, consultation and evaluation takes place.

Concept designs for a cycleway along the missing link on Liverpool Street outside the Downing Centre and the return of the popular College Street cycleway have also been given the green light.

Lord Mayor Clover Moore said Sydney’s pop-up cycleways were offering people more transport options, while helping to reduce road congestion and over-crowding on public transport.

“When Covid hit, we worked with the state government to install pop-up cycleways – a key element of its emergency transport response,” the Lord Mayor said.

“These cycleways have shown us we can make roads safer for riders, calm traffic and create attractive environments that leave room for people, provide space for outdoor dining and support surrounding businesses.

“Recent Covid outbreaks underscore how important our investment in wider footpaths and separated cycleways will be in helping to prevent the disease from spreading.

“Across Greater Sydney there has been a 40 per cent increase in people riding since the pop-ups were installed, and many who took to cycling through the pandemic will continue to ride.

“The growth in people using the Pitt Street cycleway is unprecedented, with a 500 per cent increase in the number of people riding there.”

The cycleways are part of the planned bike network in the City’s cycling strategy and action plan 2018-2030.

Justin Hamley has been a bicycle courier for 10 years and has seen the installation of Sydney’s cycleway network firsthand. He says the Pitt Street cycleway has “transformed” the inner-city for people on bikes.

“Before the pop-up cycleway it was very difficult for bike riders to navigate the area safely. The Pitt Street path is great and is now a favourite route for commuters, couriers and food delivery riders,” Mr Hamley said.

“10 years ago there were no bike paths and only very confident riders were on the roads. The Sydney network still needs work to connect, but there a lot more people of all levels enjoying riding.”

Jo Lees, construction manager at global property firm Hines, regularly cycles to her Hunter Street office from Rockdale. She says Pitt Street provides a “missing link” in her journey and welcomes it becoming permanent.

“As cycleways become more prevalent, people are more educated about safety. You still get some phone zombies and people turning never seem to look, but I think people are getting better at sharing the roadways and by and large there’s growing tolerance of people on bikes,” Ms Lees said.

“I started riding to work when I lived in Marrickville to get fit. Since Covid, I’ve chosen to ride to avoid public transport. It’s 50 minutes door to door, which is not much more than public transport, and I really feel it’s the healthiest transport choice.”

Extensive monitoring, evaluation and rider surveys show a rise in cycling across all the pop-up cycleways:

Pitt Street This two-way separated cycleway sees 6,000 weekly bike trips on average Before the pop-up cycleway was installed, around 89% of people riding a bicycle on Pitt Street were using the footpath The road space changes have significantly enhanced the amenity for people walking and provided more outdoor space for businesses to operate A survey of pop-up cycleway users found the perceived safety of people has also improved, with 97 per cent of people surveyed feeling safer riding on the separated cycleway. Henderson Road, Railway Parade and Bridge Street, Erskineville This route was selected to address a missing link between Erskineville-Ashmore and the city Since the first week of opening in July 2020, the number of bike trips has increased more than 30 per cent to an average of 2,900 trips a week and the number of women riding has increased A survey of pop-up cycleway users found perceived safety has also improved. Over 90 per cent of people surveyed felt safer riding on the separated cycleway. Dunning Avenue, Rosebery The pop-up cycleway on Dunning Avenue connects to Green Square town centre and to George and Bourke streets cycleways, which are key connections into the city centre. It also connects to the south with a shared path on Gardeners Road Plans for a permanent cycleway in a different arrangement are being developed following monitoring and feedback from riders. Consultation on the concept plan is planned for later this year. Fitzroy Street and Moore Park Road The City of Sydney is working with the state and federal governments and Woollahra Council to develop a cycleway on Oxford Street between Hyde Park and Centennial Park. The community will be consulted on concept designs Once the Oxford Street cycleway is completed, the City of Sydney plans to remove the pop-up cycleways on Moore Park Road and Fitzroy Street.

A free Sydney cycling map, including all pop-up and permanent cycleways, can be ordered from the City of Sydney’s website or download as a digital copy. The City of Sydney also offers low-cost bike maintenance and cycling skills courses and free guided ride services to support new riders.

For media enquiries or images, please contact Belinda Wallis on 0467 810 160 or [email protected] For interviews with Lord Mayor contact Jack Begbie on 0481 759 580 or [email protected]