NSW election underwhelms on bikes

Bicycle Network: Latest News

With the New South Wales election only two days away, all major parties have now made policy announcements relating to bike riding, and they don't set the world on fire.

Short term infrastructure commitments from both the Coalition and Labor parties are positive.

The Coalition announced $40 million for new bike and walking paths across NSW, whilst Labor committed to a $37 million investment to build the Greenway along the Inner West Light Rail. Labor also committed to maintain the College Street Cycleway and make cycleways across the city full time.

Both announcements are very worthwhile for cycling in NSW, however what they lack is any long term vision and commitment from the major parties that support investment in bicycles in the state. What will happen after the $40 million in the first year if the Coalition were elected? Or what other projects besides the Greenway will Labor invest in?

In the Vote Bike 2015 campaign, Bicycle Network identified three long term strategic areas that parties should commit to - infrastructure, policy and behaviour change.

1. Infrastructure: The new Government must deliver a $310 million Bicycle Infrastructure Fund (over four years) to bring us up to scratch.
2. Policy: Introduce government policy to assess all major transport projects for cycling and walking opportunities
3. Behaviour Change: The new Government must deliver a ride to school program to get our kids moving again.

These commitments would accelerate the growth of bike riding and give people in New South Wales the choice to be active and healthy.

The only party to have committed to all three of Bicycle Network’s actions is the Australian Cyclist Party - we congratulate them on this.

In more progressive states, bicycle infrastructure funding, policy assessing all major transport projects for cycling opportunities, and a ride to school program have all been committed to by governments. 

State Governments across Australia have shifted their way of thinking about our transport system.  This thinking has failed to progress into New South Wales.

If the next NSW government is serious about doubling the number of bicycle trips then further investment needs to be made in bike riding.

If they want to continue to be a competitive state in the future and not be left behind by other states responding to these challenges, more must be done. 

Something must be done about the crippling congestion that costs the state more than $5 billion each year.  In addition, the 3.5 million people across the state who do not get enough physical exercise costs NSW dearly in both social and health costs.

As Dutch Consul-General Willem Cosijn said ‘Sydney is one of the best cities in the world - I love it here. But it could even be better if there were a sufficient amount of bike lanes’

Bicycle Network will continue to work with the incoming government after the election to see further commitments for bike riders across the state.

See the VoteBike2015 tracker

Sign the petition.

 

post from sitemap