Greens and Bicycle users tell Government - No removal of our cycleways and while you are at it build some more.
June 15th, 2006
Greens City of Sydney Councillor Chris Harris and Greens parliamentarian Lee Rhiannon MLC conducted a Martin Place protest meeting which was attended by about 100 cyclists.Changes to roads following the Cross City Tunnel debacle caused traffic chaos and increased air pollution in Eastern Sydney and so the government, following a parliamentary inquiry, has decided to reverse some of those road changes.
In order to create an extra right turning lane into Palmer St on William St westbound, the RTA has announced that it will remove the bicycle lane on the north side of William St between Palmer St and the Kings Cross Tunnel. In addition it will remove cycle lanes in Kings Cross Road and Craigend St.
The Greens believe that this is a very bad decision and that the RTA should rethink how it can make the desired traffic changes without interfering with the cycle lanes that have been created.
Chris Harris : “It is fantastic to see cycle logos on major city streets such as William and Park Streets. It sends a message to motorists that bicycles are welcome on our roads and that cycling is a legitimate, healthy and economical form of transport. The lanes were being used by cyclists and motorists were starting to become much more aware of bicycles. ”
“The government should be aggressively promoting alternatives to the motor car such as safe dedicated cycle lanes and public transport. Removing cycle lanes from a major street is a backward step and the decision should be reversed”
The NSW state government is spending a paltry $5 miilion this year on cycle works in the whole of NSW. Compare this to the Queensland government which has committed to $200 million over the next 20 years just in St East Queensland. And compare it to the $7.5 million that will be spent by the City of Sydney just in its local area over the next three years. The Greens call on the state government to dramatically increase its spending on cycling infrastructure. The Greens thinks that the government should have at least $200 million in the budget for cycle ways over the next ten years
Cr Harris also has concerns about what the road changes may mean for the City of Sydney’s Kent St cycleway project : “The City is relying on RTA cooperation to convert Kent St to two way traffic and to alter traffic signals at intersections along Kent St. If the RTA’s mooted changes to Druitt St intefere with this then the Kent St project will be at risk and this vital cycle link between the city centre and the harbour bridge will be in jeopardy”
In summary, the Greens want the RTA to maintain the cycleways on William St and the proposed cycleways in Kent St and for it to find other solutions to the traffic changes that it has decided to implement. Additionally it wants the State Government to begin promoting infrastructure for cycling by building cycleways in partnership with local councils.
