Get on your bike
Oxford St between Jersey Rd and Taylor Square will be partially given over to a new cycleway, under plans unveiled by Transport for NSW.
The Oxford St East Cycleway “will help rejuvenate Oxford St by improving its amenity, encourage people of all ages to ride, improve safety for cyclists and assist in reducing congestion, noise and pollution”, according to the state government.
The bike path will be located on the southern side of Oxford St, reducing traffic on the street as well as the number of bus stops from eight to five. The path will link the existing cycleways at Bondi Junction and Darlinghurst and will “reduce Oxford St traffic from four lanes to two”.
Some businesses in the area have objected to the proposal, saying the path will disrupt the heritage village retail strip that is presently thriving. “The whole thing is crazy,” one business owner on the street told Local Paddo. “I don’t know anyone who rides to the city, do you?”
A spokesperson for Woollahra Council described the path as a “once-in-a-generation project on Oxford St”.
“Woollahra Council is supportive in principle of the cycleway being placed on the southern side of Oxford St and we are working to ensure that this preferred route provides people with options to utilise greener, more active forms of transport, reducing congestion and ensuring it is safe and accessible for everyone to enjoy.
“There is much more work still to be done on the design of this project. At this stage, TfNSW only has funding for the design component, with construction funding yet to be confirmed. Woollahra Council will continue to ensure that any key concerns raised by the community are addressed by TfNSW as the design progresses.”
Local member Alex Greenwich, meanwhile, who supports the path, has written to Transport for NSW asking for greater information.
“I share community concern that businesses and residents need more information and opportunity to provide input,” he said in his letter.
“I have committed to requesting Transport for NSW hold an open public meeting that includes representatives of Woollahra Council, the City of Sydney, along with local business resident and cycling groups to ensure those affected are able to have their concerns addressed.
“The cycleway planning must give priority to active, public and local transport and I am concerned that residents’ access to local streets needs further work. I am also concerned that safe access to buses remains when the cycleway is operating. This is a one-off opportunity to renovate Oxford Street. I support Woollahra Council’s report for a submission and am committed to advocate for local benefit to come from the new cycleway.”
The fate of the temporary bike path on Moore Park Rd remains unclear.
An interactive map of the proposal can be found at transport.nsw.gov.au