Path needed through College Street confusion

Riders feel compelled to negotiate through the vehicles changing lanes on College Street.

Bicycle Network were out on the streets talking to Sydney riders this week, and a visit to College Street confirmed what we already knew – that riders want the College Street cycleway back.

College Street is a major route into the Sydney CBD from the eastern suburbs, and – from 2010 to 2015 – was the home of a well-used piece of infrastructure providing a north-south link from Oxford Street to Macquarie Street. In a surprising backflip the NSW Government removed the separated __bike lane, making it the first and only time that a state government has built and then dismantled a separated bicycle lane.

The busy street is currently frequented by around 2,000 __bike riders every work day morning, mixing with a mass of merging motorists. 

A key concern is the number of lane changes people driving cars and heavy vehicles make. At times during peak hour, more than 20 riders were waiting at lights, outnumbering vehicles. Car drivers were interested in our campaign to bring back the College Street cycleway, some offering support to the campaign claiming that it was even confusing for drivers. Riders from the Eastern Suburbs who were new to living in Sydney were astounded at the backward progress: “I come from Bondi most days and you mean there was a cycleway here? Why on earth was it ripped up?”

Numerous close calls for bike riders heading into the city were witnessed. Pedestrians who spoke with the Bicycle Network team admitted that since the removal of the bike lane, close calls between bikes and vehicles were seen most mornings.

We are confident that if the Roads and Maritime Services and NSW Roads Minister Melinda Pavey spent a morning watching people movement on College St, the sense in bringing back a cycleway would be obvious.

To add your voice to our campaign to bring back the College Street cycleway, click here.