Conditions for bike riding are improving fast for residents and visitors to Sydney’s Eastern Suburbs. In a large part, this is due to the hard work of BIKEast over nearly three decades.
“This year has been particularly exciting for the group,” says co-founder and advocacy legend Warren Salomon. “We celebrated the opening of two major separated cycleway projects: Waverley Council’s Bondi Junction Cycleway and Randwick’s Centennial Park to Kingsford Cycleway. Both were part of government-funded walking, cycling and streetscape improvements.”
Randwick Mayor Philipa Vietch, cheered on by BIKEast members, opens the first stage of a new separated cycleway providing critical cycling infrastructure between Kingsford and the City (Photo: Randwick City Council)
A 30th birthday is coming up!
BIKEast began life as the Eastern Suburbs Bicycle User Group back in July 1994. Warren, then Bicycle NSW CEO, Michael Kamahl, Woolys Wheels owner, and Raymond Fowlke decided to set up ongoing volunteer cycle advocacy in Waverley, Randwick and Woollahra Council areas and Centennial Park. The new group, which formally incorporated in 2003 as BIKEast, drew on the members and earlier advocacy efforts of the Waverley Randwick Bicycle Group and the University of NSW BikeSoc.
Over the past two decades BIKEast has evolved into a strong cycle advocacy group led by an energetic Committee. The Committee is structured to provide advocacy leadership and community representation within five local governments areas (Bayside, City of Sydney, Randwick, Waverley and Woollahra) as well as with Transport for NSW and Centennial Parklands.
Current President, Mark Worthington, has led the group since 2005 and oversees a very active bicycle advocacy effort. Over 60 submissions and campaign events are undertaken each year!
A major campaign for 2023 has been to drive community support for the Oxford Street East Cycleway in collaboration with Bicycle NSW and Better Streets. Leaflets, a petition and a website were developed and multiple meetings attended. Transport for NSW are now working on detailed designs. The project will reconfigure the street, diversify its transport mix, improve the urban environment and transform Paddington.
Big picture thinking
Of course, the BIKEast team has applied its deep expertise in planning and designing bike infrastructure to develop some important strategic planning work.
A key project for many years has been refining a network of regional bicycle routes for the Eastern Suburbs. The network extends the City of Sydney’s Inner Sydney Regional Bicycle Network and is presented as a series of corridors that should be numbered and colour-coded for easy wayfinding.
BIKEast’s proposed regional network of bicycle routes is aligned with the proposed TfNSW Strategic Bike Network and consistent with objectives of the Greater Sydney Regional Plan (GSRP). The network includes and extends on the City of Sydney’s proposed Inner Sydney Regional Bicycle Network. Explore where these routes sit on a map here (Image: BIKEast)
The Safe Streets Neighbourhood project uses urban design principles to reimagine residential streets so that they are safer for everyone. The motto ‘make every street a cycle street’ features in many Bicycle NSW submissions! Low 30km/h speed limits, landscaping and traffic calming will tame the behaviour of motorists and improve amenity for residents and businesses. And hugely expand the bike network with a fine grid of local streets that connect safely to the regional routes. Read the 2016 document here.
Joy and inclusivity on three wheels
An exciting recent project began in 2019 when former BIKEast President, Adrian Boss, established BIKEast’s Cycling Without Age - Sydney East Chapter. Grants were secured from City of Sydney and Woollahra Councils, with the Australian Government pitching in from 2021. This funding supported the purchase of two electric-assist trishaws. “We use these to provide free recreational rides to elderly residents in care homes and with independent home care packages,” says Warren.
The Lord Mayor of Sydney and the Mayor of Woollahra at the inauguration of BIKEast’s first Cycling Without Age trishaw, July 2019. (Photo: John Slaytor, CoS, WMC)
BIKEast's Cycling Without Age program organises regular training to maintain an active group of trishaw pilots. In 2023, the team of pilots took over 270 care home residents and independent mobility-challenged or sight-impaired people out on rides. Adrian has also provided valuable advice and assistance to a number of other groups to help them establish CWA chapters in the Sydney Metro region.
The sociable side of BIKEast
In addition to active advocacy and Cycling Without Age programs, BIKEast runs regular rides through its Meet Up platform. Many of these rides feature local attractions and new infrastructure, or align with special events. Fortnightly Friday evening rides from October to April to take full advantage of the sunlight!
BIKEast members and friends on the annual Twilight Jacaranda Ride (Photo: BIKEast)
“We also help local riders to become more aware of the many new bicycle network facilities popping up in their area,” says Warren. “The City of Sydney has done a great job signposting its 10 regional routes. The annual BIKEast ‘Improving Your Mental Map’ ride helps new and experienced riders to navigate their way around the urban bike network.”
How to better navigate the City of Sydney’s regional route network is the subject of this annual BIKEast tour (Photo: BIKEast)
Want to find out more about BIKEast?
Web: http://www.bikeast.org.au/
Follow us on Facebook / Instagram / Twitter
Rides / Events: https://www.meetup.com/BIKEast/
Programs: Cycling Without Age - Sydney, Safe Street Neighbourhoods.
For a deeper dive into Warren’s lifetime of dedication to bike riding in NSW check out this excellent interview with Phil Latz of the Micromobility Report.
