Sydney Bike Plan. Shared Pavements. 500% increase in cyclists over 10 years

From Sydney Morning Herald 

Sunanda Creagh
December 2, 2008 - 1:26PM

( to see the original artical with picture from plan, go to: 

http://www.smh.com.au/news/national/sydney-bike-plan-shared-pavements/20...

Pedestrians will have to share the pavement with cyclists under
a bike path plan the City of Sydney council is considering for a
busy CBD street.

Under the proposal, the College Street footpath between
Liverpool and Macquarie streets would be widened to 2.4 metres and
shared between walkers and bike riders, resulting in the loss of 52
parking spots.

At least 12 cyclists have been hit by cars or trucks on College
Street between 2003 and 2007.

A council spokesman said the shared pathways would not have a
painted line to separate bikes from pedestrians.

Cyclists would be encouraged to keep to the left, whether they
were travelling north or south.

"The general rule is to keep to the left. It will slow all the
traffic down and everyone will mingle at the same speed. There
won't be a line on the ground so it will take a bit of
understanding from everyone involved," he said.

The shared pathway model will require "a cultural change, a
behavioural change from pedestrians, cyclists and motorists", said
the council's director of City Projects, Michael Leyland and will
be considered by the council on December 15.

Councillor John McInerney, chair of the council's traffic
committee, called for riders to stick to a 10kmh speed limit on the
shared path.

"Of course, there will always be the odd rogue cyclist or even
the rogue pedestrian," he said.

"But we want to mirror the European experience."

Harold Scruby from the Pedestrian Council said the plan would
endanger walkers.

"I think we should offer $1000 prize money to the first person
to see a cyclist doing 10kmh," he said.

"The long-term outcome will be that many pedestrians will be
seriously injured and some will be killed."

The City of Sydney, flush with cash compared with other
councils, is spending $70 million over four years on a cycling
strategy, which will result in 55 kilometres of dedicated separated
bike paths.

Construction on Sydney's first bi-directional, separated bike
path has already begun in King Street in the CBD and plans for a
similar facility on Bourke Street will be revised, after residents
complained about the removal of trees.

The revised plan, under which fewer trees will be removed, will
be assessed by the council this month and construction is expected
to begin in June next year.

"We are expecting 350 bikes per hour on Bourke Street within 10
years," Cr McInerney said.

Designs for a new path along Union Street in Pyrmont are on the
council's website.

Another separated bike path is proposed for Missenden Road,
Camperdown.

The two-way cycle paths, to be painted green and separated from
the car lane by a row of bollards, are also planned for Newtown,
Glebe, Redfern, Zetland, Darlington and Alexandria.

This style of path will constitute 35 kilometres of the
council's promised 55 kilometres of cyclepaths.

The paths will not result in fewer car lanes but will mean the
loss of 166 parking spots "but that's within the context of 30,000
spaces in the city", Cr McInerney said.

The council is also considering introducing a European style
bike rental service in the CBD but would have to factor helmet hire
into the plan.

The council is aiming for a 500 per cent increase in cycling
over 10 years.

Alex Unwin from Bicycle NSW said increased cycling would
increase "the levels of community health ... while addressing the
great issue of our times, global warming".

Also go to :  http://www.copenhagenize.com/ to see some comments on this.

 Alan Preston