Not such a vicious cycle

In early May, Lord Mayor Clover Moore released the latest Sydney bike count data, showing that morning bike trips have increased by more than half over the same period last year, with afternoon trips increasing by almost as much.

Sydney has certainly become a more cycled city over the last 5 years, as evidenced by both the number of cyclists on the roads around peak hour and the regular media beat up of the supposed war between riders and drivers. But the new survey gives specifics about the impact of new bike lanes around Sydney.

“The figures confirm that most riders use our cycleways to commute to and from work,” said Moore, “so during peak hours in the morning and evening they are used heavily. Congestion on our roads is heaviest across the state during peak hours so the more people who ride during those times, the bigger the impact on reducing traffic and congestion.”

Major intersections on King St Sydney and Oxford St Darlinghurst saw greater than trebling of bike trips for the same period last year with close to 900 bike trips recorded at each.

The Lord Mayor sees this as a direct result of ten kilometres of separated bike lanes added to Sydney without any apparent loss of traffic lanes.

“Critics who complain about the cycleway network,” continued Moore, “need to realise that we need to build it in stages, and that the stages then need to be linked. It’s a bit like building a bridge and getting halfway through and then wondering why no one is using it yet. This is about the future and building a viable network that will become a normal part of city life in the years ahead.”

Staff at both Cell Bikes in Stanmore and Wooly’s Wheels in Paddington also report an increase in bike sales, tied to concerns for health, the environment, difficulties of parking in Sydney, high costs of petrol, and the increased availability of bike lanes.

With thanks to staff at www.cellbikes.com.au and www.woolyswheels.com

By Roger Hanney