Sydney creates new spaces for safer travel

Sydney has become the latest city to create new spaces for people walking and cycling to allow for safer travel across the city in light of the coronavirus pandemic.

New walking and riding connections will be fast-tracked to ensure that people can get to around the city while maintaining physical distancing.

Urgent need

Six new temporary cycleways will be opened within weeks. Walking paths and widened streets will also allow people to maintain required physical distancing, connect to key locations and support local businesses.

Lord mayor Clover Moore said that as restrictions continue to ease, there is an urgent need to support more people to walk and ride, and help prevent the spread of Covid-19.

“We already have an extensive programme of cycleways and public domain improvements, but we need short-term tactical measures that can be implemented in weeks,” she said.

“The infrastructure we’ve chosen will be quick and simple to implement, adaptable and inexpensive.

“As our roads have been quieter during the pandemic, many people have decided to take up cycling. We’re hoping these safe cycleway connections help people keep that up. When someone rides to work, they take a car off the road or free up space on public transport – this will be even invaluable when people start returning to the City and seek to maintain physical distancing.”

“The City will explore closing some city streets at lunch time, or temporarily widening footpaths to create more public space next to food and beverage offerings and enable clients and workers to get to and from work.”

The City of Sydney and Transport for NSW will each install three new separated cycleways using a combination of barriers, line markings and lane dividers. The six locations that will be delivered first are:

Pitt Street North between King street and Reiby Place, Central Business District;

Henderson Road, Eveleigh and Railway Parade/Bridge Street, Erskineville;

Dunning Ave, Rosebery;

Moore Park Road and Fitzroy Street, Paddington/Surry Hills;

Pyrmont Bridge Road, Pyrmont;

Sydney Park Road, Erskineville.

The City and the NSW Government are also considering plans to deliver temporary cycleways on Oxford Street in Paddington/Darlinghurst, King Street in Newtown, and King Street, College Street and Castlereagh Street in the CBD.

There will also be a rapid roll-out of temporary footpath widening in areas of high pedestrian activity in the CBD, as well as support for local businesses in inner-city village centres and along main streets.

Priority streets

The main streets of Newtown, Surry Hills, Darlinghurst, Potts Point, Ultimo and Glebe are top priority for providing extra space for people to walk and to support local businesses.

“The city will explore closing some city streets at lunch time, or temporarily widening footpaths to create more public space next to food and beverage offerings and enable clients and workers to get to and from work,” said Moore.

“In Sydney, short trips by foot and bike have become the new norm, with a growing number of people walking or riding around their local area.

“In response, we’re looking at quick short-term changes, like 30km speed zones and shorter wait times for pedestrians at traffic lights and temporary changes to street layouts.”

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