Leichhardt is now part of the Innerwest Council, along with the former Marrickville and Ashfield Councils. To speak with one voice on major Inner West issues, Bike Leichhardt is  part of a new Inner West Bicycle Coalition with Bike Marrickville and Ashfield BUG,.   One of Bike Leichhardt’s objectives is to seek safer cycling for members and residents of the Inner West. Bike Leichhardt advocates are and have been involved in many campaigns and have sought to speak up about poor road design, safety problems, more bike lanes and parking, etc. Your support for these efforts is welcome- write to Councils and the RMS, come to meetings, spread the word. If you have some safety concerns on your streets let us know, we might be able to get them addressed. IWC has set up a Bicycle Working Group, which meets quarterly. Cyclists welcome. Agendas, minutes and times on IWC website.   

There is a list of Council contacts, references and interesting web sites at the end, including guides from Dutch and Danish authorities on how to to do bicycle planning.

Report a cycling hazard and make it safer for everyone.

A map of Leichhardt LGA with cycle routes, existing and proposed, plus hazards and improvements. Feedback welcome.

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Callan Park Landscape Plan July 2020

A new plan was put out for comment. Details and a map .  There was a mention of a Bicycle Boulevarde along the frontage with Balmain Rd. Disappointingly in the final plan released in 2021 this was barely mentioned (though still there in the fine print) and left out of the four year funding package. 

State Government announced there would be $10m for works in the park, and management would be transferred to a new State Govt Greater Sydney Parks agency.  IWCouncil had sought control of the Park but it remains in State Govt hands (Dept of Health owns the land, Dept of Environment maintains it, at present). Now (2021) there is concern that when NSW Ambulance Service on Balmain Rd moves out in next few years the Govt may introduce land use changes. This could open up opportunities to put in a cycleway in front of any new development along Balmain Rd, from Wharf Rd to the current  Callan Park car park entry.

Breaking News! November 2022. Council has included Balmain Rd in its Strategic Bike Routes, in there Draft Bicycle Strategy.  If it gets approval we would expect the council to enter into talks with Greater Sydney Parklands and Transport for NSW about putting in a bike path along the Park frontage, in the park or on the road.

For the  history of plans and our advocacy for the park scroll down on this page to “Callan Park“.

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Modified EIS for The Crescent

RMS has greatly changed the proposed Westconnex Stage 3 proposal for The Crescent, wanting to now build a flyover of the City West Link, and reconfigure the Johnston St intersection. There is strong resident opposition to a 4 stage pedestrian crossing to get into Jubilee Park from Johnston St. Bike Leichhardt made a submission here. Submissions closed Wed 18 September.

Read more on Facebook.com/foreshorecommunity

[Update: residents had a win on the crossing, the current single stage crossing will be retained. Cyclists had a win and a loss. The ramp down from the light rail to The Crescent will be widened to accommodate a shared path, but the proposed big horseshoe bridge over the City West Link for cyclists will not be built). The flat Brenan St route to The Crescent will be retained, but will require a multi stage crossing of The Crescent to get to the foreshore. There will be a ped/bike bridge over the CWL to the railyards park from the light rail station.]

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Lilyfield Rd cycleway upgrade 2016-

Transport for NSW told Leichhardt Council (now part of Inner West Council) they wanted a separated two-way cycleway along Lilyfield Rd, similar to the two way cycle paths in the city, as part of a Regional Bike Route to Parramatta eventually. The council was given around $500 K, bigger than the Councils entire bike budget, just to hire a consultant to devise a plan, and there was around $5 million in the budget for construction. GHD Woodhead was given the job. A first draft was exhibited in June 2016, where there was some criticism of the need for a separated cycleway, given that the Council has been improving it with a number of uphill bike lanes and prominent bicycle markings, even signs saying “cyclists can use the full lane”. Also, the safety of 2.5 m wide two-way cycle paths down the steep hills was questioned, and the narrowness.

A second plan was exhibited on Nov 29, 2016, then another plan in December 2017, with some major changes, including a wider path. But there was strong resident opposition to proposed one way restrictions on Lilyfield Rd, even though this enabled a wide bike path with no loss of parking. The plan was withdrawn in May 2018.

RMS still wanted a Cycleway, as part of its Regional Network, so a revived process was started in June 2019, with a new consultant, Complete Urban. A new “preliminary concept plan” was on exhibition until 25 September 2019. Options other than a two-way cyclepath were given, including “retain existing, with improvements”, see Lilyfield Rd submission 25-9-19.

Now (Oct 2019) awaiting results and a more definite concept to emerge. A complication is the effect of the impending demolition of the footbridge at Victoria Rd as part of the Westconnex/RMS project, and rerouting of the bike route into the new parklands to be built over the old Rozelle railyard site. Council is adopting a staged approach with plenty of consultation, hoping for less opposition than on the earlier attempt. Keep an eye out for developments and have your say.

Note in July, 2020: Covid 19 somewhat killed the consultation, and Council now says it is waiting on Westconnex to announce its final landscape plans for the Railyards.

Note in December 2021: Manager of the Lilyfield Rd cycleway project, Steven Joannidis, said the section from Hawthorne Canal to Balmain Rd would go ahead in 2022. East of there is to wait until Westconnex has finished the new Railyards Park. Of concern in 2022 is the use by heavy vehicles to import many thousands of tonnes of topsoil for the new park, which has to be raised some height above the old levels, due to tunnel portals and motorway  machinery rooms underneath.

Also see a Post with comments.

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Bays Precinct Mega Project

See notes at end for updates.

Urban Growth NSW (http://urbangrowth.nsw.gov.au) was created to, you guessed it, stuff more people and buildings into Sydney. Their next big project is redevelopment of the 80 ha Bays Precinct, around the foreshores of Blackwattle and Rozelle Bays, including the Rozelle/Lilyfield Goods Yard area, the old White Bay Power Station and the old Glebe Island Bridge. Despite not intending to release a Masterplan until August 2015, UG have been somewhat rail- railroaded already by the State Govt, who said today (SMH,19 Dec 2014) that they want 16,000 new “homes”, plus business space. That would be easy really, 40 towers of 20 floors each, with 20 units per floor. Whatever the target, [and they have since retracted the specific target]transport and lifestyle issues are going to mean cycling will have to be catered for. UG have a Bicycle Section in their planning team, and Bike Leichhardt, with Bicycle NSW and other bike groups had a meeting, where we were told bicycle planning will be a major priority.

The project is a golden chance to improve routes into the City and develop new routes between Annandale and Rozelle for instance, as well as create a bicycle friendly development for those 30,000 or so new residents. It is attracting world wide interest, a panel of planning experts was convened to offer their ideas on what this project should be aiming for. It will also be [was,its now a year later]an issue in the State Elections, with much argument over densities and open space. As Verity Firth points out on her website, it will have more residents than Glebe,Annandale and Rozelle combined, plus the business population.

note added in Oct 2019- it all fell to bits, UG was restructured, Westconnex took over the railyards, Google didnt want to develop the power station, etc. Fishmarket is still on the  boil, awaiting an EIS. It too is taking its time.

note added May 2022- The Metro West underground railway project has been approved and there is going to be a station in White Bay, in front of the Power House. Road. Cycling connections  will be provided but details on  connections to nearby suburbs were vague.  The Bays West Masterplan stage 1 is now on public exhibition, covering the same area. Again, bicycle links are not explicit. There is no commitment to reopen the Glebe Island Bridge.  Possible bike links to Robert St, Victoria Rd, Railyards Park, James Craig Rd, Sommerville Rd are hinted at but not shown in detail. Some world class separated cycleways could be built to bypass the surface traffic and iron out some of the ups and downs on existing cycle routes. 

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City West Cycle Link

A proposal by BikeSydney to put a level bike path through the railway cutting to connect Hawthorne Canal/Greenway with Lilyfield and Anzac Bridge cycleway.  Eco Transit has also proposed this. Inner West Council  supports the proposal. Westconnex plans to convert the railyards to a park (complete with smoke stacks) which will also include bicycle links along and across the railyard. Also see the Rozelle Goods Yard item below.

(Latest in Oct 2019 – the state govt has not agreed to any tunneling in the railway corridor as part of the Westconnex project, but is apparently willing to ensure a connection from the parklands to a point near Catherine St, so a future link through the railway cutting could be built.)

A-Maze on Pyrmont Bridge.

(old news from 2014, but an example of how public opposition by bike groups and others can prevent unwanted obstruction to an essential bike route)

Plan to erect a huge steel trellis on Pyrmont Bridge, 6 m wide and 130 m long, plus hold cooporate events etc. This on a public thoroughfare and important bicycle commuter link from the west (over 1000 peak hour trips) that already has enough conflicts between cyclists and pedestrians. A DA is before the City Council, comments close 2/9/14,  or email opposition to the Minister of Planning at  office@goward.minister.nsw.gov.au

More…

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Retain the old Glebe Island bridge.

Urban Growth (now Bays West), Leichhardt Council and City of Sydney Council have all called for retaining or adapting the old bridge and using it as a pedestrian and bicycle link  between Leichhardt, Annandale, Lilyfield, Balmain and other Inner West areas and Pyrmont and the City. Redevelopment of the White Bay Area  makes this flat link to Pyrmont an attractive idea. Also, in 2022, the Metro West underground rail line will have a station in White Bay, and it was announced that the power house will possibly become a museum or arts centre. Further, in May 2022, Bays West released a draft Masterplan for White Bay, with major development planned. But no commitment to reuse of the old bridge.

Mayor Darcy Byrne has called for retention of the old bridge and it is the new Inner West Council’s policy too.

The Glebe Society is supporting the reuse of the old bridge. 

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CBD Access Plan

2016. State Govt released its long awaited City Access Plan. Has a cycling chapter, with some good bits in it. Have a read.

Have your say (Note 2016: links now dead, probably can be accessed by a search on Transport for NSW website).

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*Leichhardt Bike Budget Cut*– Liberal and labor Councillors cut the $400K funding for the Bike Plan to zero for 2013-14. Vital that they resume funding in 2014/5. Sign the petition to seek resumption of funding at

http://www.communityrun.org/petitions/maintain-the-funding-for-the-leichhardt-bike-plan.

Send an email to allcouncillors@lmc.nsw.gov.au. More details in the Forum discussions- search under “budget cut”.

Update in June 2014- Council approved the budget, including $400K for cycling.Labor voted for the budget this time, Liberals proposed a cut to only $100K, but were outvoted.

Update 2016: the budget has been maintained again, but no increase to allow for inflation or new projects.

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Sunday Streets – close(some)local streets to motor vehicles on Sundays for walking, cycling, exercise, based on the Ciclovia concept. A growing movement around the world, particularly in the USA . Daniel Kogoy, Greens Councilor, has proposed one for the Inner West, but can grow to be Sydney-wide. See more details on the petition at http://www.communityrun.org/petitions/sunday-streets or on the facebook page for sundaystreetssydney.

Update May 2014: Marrickville Council has supported an event. Planning for an event in October 2014 is taking place.

Update January 2022: City of Sydney is running an Open Streets event on a number of City and Inner City streets on Sundays. First one was in Surry Hills, followed by one in Redfern St. More scheduled.  Street closed to cars, chairs and tables set out for eating. Not so much for a walking or cycling event, as only one short street. 

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Leichhardt Council’s Bicycle Strategy. Help oversee implementation of the Council’s Bike Strategy by attending the Leichhardt Council Bicycle Advisory Committee meetings. Second Wednesday of the month, Feb, May, Aug,Nov. 630pm, Town Hall. New Bike Plan being developed for 2014-2019.

[Edit in 2017: the new amalgamated council has not set up a Bicycle Committee, but some bicycle matters will hopefully get a run on the Transport Comunity Reference Group, if we can ever agree on what it’s purpose is.]

[Edit 2019- IWC did set up a Bicycle Working Group, where local cyclists can talk to staff and councillors. Its working well, dates for meetings are on the Council web site.

{Edit 2022- IWC working on a Bicycle Strategy.  This will be a plan for a network of cycling routes, done in some sort of priority and guaranteeed manner to ensure that it actually gets built, unlike many other bike plans. A community consultation has just concluded. Comments on the map are still visible. Draft report due in October.]

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Victoria Road Upgrade for cyclists.

New bridge, new paths, new routes from Drummoyne to Rozelle were put in as part of the Iron Cove Bridge duplication project in 2009-11. Now finished, but still a few problems. Many rate the shared path along Victoria Road as one of the bumpiest in Sydney, with poles and other obstructions proliferating, despite many emails by cyclists. Also some dangerous side road crossings. Westconnex plans for tunnels under Rozelle also include new bicycle links along parts of Victoria Rd. A preferred route has been identified by RIC in response to Condition E58 in the RIC EIS. This is basically the existing routes upgraded. Reclaiming one lane of traffic for bikes on Victoria Rd is a faint possibility, based on Westconnex claims that traffic on Victoria Rd through Rozelle will be greatly reduced when the tunnel under Rozelle is opened in 2023. IW Council supports this, and a study is being done (as of April 2022).

The Greenway

a bike and walking link next to the railwayfrom Hawthorne Canal at Iron Cove to Cooks River Cycleway in Marrickville was approved as part of the light rail extension in 2011 but was then put on hold in 2013 by the new Liberal Govt through lack of any budget to build it. In 2016 the Liberal Govt finally allocated $7.5 m to the project, if the 3 local councils (now the Innerwest Council) matched the funds. This was done in 2018 and a Masterplan developed. Some $27m is available through to 2023. Holdups occurred in 2019, but construction in the north on Hawthorne Canal has started (2020, new path along the canal, 2021, widening path from Hawthorne Canal to UTS Rowing Club). Important underpasses of Parramatta Rd and Longport St  are scheduled for 2022.  More details.

Bay Run– The (former) local member, Verity Firth, obtained a grant of $700,000 for SHFA (Sydney Harbour Foreshore Authority) for paving the unpaved section Wharf Rd to Glover St.  

The new Callan Park Landscape Plan 2021 says that  the road section near the lower oval (Foreshore Dr) will be closed to cars and upgraded for cyclists and walkers.

Jeremy Parker MP is seeking funding for lighting along the Bay Run. 

Rozelle Goods Yard and White Bay Masterplan. Also Cruise Passenger Terminal and Temporary Exhibition Centre projects and retention of the Glebe Island Bridge.

Sydney Metro– Central to Rozelle. The project was canned, after a huge amount of money was spent on preparations, but now (2016) looks like being resurrected as a City to Parramatta Rd rail link. Stations at White Bay and at Fivedock. Hoping for a bike link to Robert St and the Railyard Parkland.  Note in April 2022. Plans for the Metro do show bike paths in from Robert St, and possible connections to the Railyard Park Paths and to Glebe Island Bridge. 

Balmain Rd improvements. As the major flat route for cyclists between Leichhardt and Rozelle you would expect it to be made safe for cyclists. It is slowly getting better, but more needs to be done, particularly a safer crossing of the City West Link and a shared path over the railway bridge? See Callan Park item for some opportunities.

Callan Park – possible bike routes and improvements. Includes an off road bike path along the Balmain Rd/Darling St frontage and a children’s circuit.

Safety AuditsLBUG photo report on problems on Leichhardt Municipality roads. Send in any photos of cycle hazards or problems- use the Quick Add (photos) box in right column of home page, or start a Discussion. And send a copy to the Council with a request to fix the problem – they do respond!

Veloplano – a mapping site for bicycle related hazards, safety issues, bike routes and more.

Lower speed limits– Darley Rd was reduced to 50 (we won that one!), Norton St, Styles St and Booth St now 40. The Crescent has been reduced to 50 in 2020, and Pyrmont Bridge Rd is now 40 as a result of Transport for NSW pop-up cycleway introduction, which we hope will be permanent. The AustralianGovt signed up to a pledge in Oslo Vision Zero conference to move toward 30 as an urban speed limit. Some lower speed limits being introduced in City of Sydney LGA as a result of COVID 19 responses, to give more space to walkers and cyclists. The UN ran a big campaign for a switch to 30 K in cities in 2021. Search tag  #love30 on Twitter for campaigns here and round the world.

Better lane marking How to mark bike lanes and other facilities for cyclists on-road.

Bike parking in main streets

Women on bikes

Bicycle Counts in Leichhardt and Census Data.

Leichhardt_bikecount18March10.pdf (Super Tuesday bike count)

Kids on bikes. If you are a parent with youngsters learning to ride, support our plans for a learning circuit in Callan Park, near the proposed Regional Skate Park off Balmain Rd. Write to Council in support of a circuit something like the Centennial Park children’s circuit.

Dont give me any lip – campaign to remove lips on driveways and access points.

Path etiquette– how to share a path. a guide from Bike Leichhardt.

Whites Creek upgrade. Useful  bike route between Albion St and Brenan St, but needs maintenance and hazard removals, such as protruding service enties near Booth St underpass and numerous road defects in the lane way section.

Johnston’s Ck pathway and The Crescent.

Blackwattle Bay Path. Very scenic and flat way to get to Glebe and the City but has a few hazards for cyclists and a history of dog owner/cyclist conflict. See photo essay on Picasa, and the Path Etiquette page.

Pyrmont Bridge Road. A campaign started in 2013 to provide bike lanes and other bicycle safety measures on this increasingly popular commuting route to the City. A meeting with RMS and City of Sydney (Feb, 2017) gave some hope that funds might be found for bike lane marking, using a plan put together by C of S staff. RMS reneged on this in 2018, but in 2020 TfNSW installed a COVID pop-up bike lane from Lyons Rd to Taylor St. It has since proved popular, despite some resident opposition, and indications in January 2022 are that it will be retained, maybe in a modified form.

A cycleway has been designed and approved from Parramatta Rd to Mallet St as part of the PRUAIP, for completion in December 2023. The plan includes a shared path on Parramatta Rd, from Nelson St to Pyrmont Bridge Rd. This will allow connection to the proposed East West route from Flood St to Nelson St via Jarrett St, Dot Lane and Albion St.

The Crescent and City West Link– upgrade for cyclists

Johnston St– no room for bikes on a 6 lane road?

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RESOURCES and LINKS– list of useful web sites about cycling, transport, groups, bicycle advocacy.

MPs and Ministers contact details

Inner West Councillors – get to know your ward councillors and put in a word for more bike lanes and facilities. (Leichhardt Council was amalgamated in 2016, now part of Inner West Council. Councillors were sacked and an Administrator appointed. Elections were held in September 2017.)

Council Bike Strategy Links and BAC agendas

Inner West Council contact details.