Today Bicycle NSW members have cause for celebration as Labor and the Greens work to make NSW better for all bicycle riders.
Labor's Announcement
This morning the Labor party launched Shadow Active Transport Minister Jo Haylen MP’s report drawing together research carried out across NSW into active travel to school. This research drew together research and feedback gathered from families across the state on the barriers children face if they want to ride or walk to school.
3,400 parents responded and they identified busy roads without crossings, a lack of footpaths, speeding cars and heavy vehicles as preventing active travel to school. Their concerns aren’t misplaced, road trauma is the number one killer of children under 14.
COVID-safe travel requirements and congested roads across the state have highlighted the under-funding of active transport infrastructure. Labor’s report calls for a change in government priorities to help more people ride bikes for more journeys.
The Greens' Announcement
This afternoon the Greens Active Transport portfolio holder the Hon Cate Faehrmann MP will call on the government to release the principle bike network plan for Sydney. Over 18 months ago Bicycle NSW joined with representatives of all Sydney councils and government staff to develop a connected network map to enable safe cycling.
Whilst individual councils received their own maps in late 2019, the network map has remained under wraps.
“The power of a network plan is in the development of connections and routes that everyone can see and use,” said Bicycle NSW General Manager of Public Affairs, Bastien Wallace.
“NSW families need connected journeys, so do planners of COVID-safe travel. It makes sense to release this plan to ensure that pop-up bike lanes and grant applications for shared space funding align with plans for the future,” said Bastien.
Bicycle NSW thanks members for investing in our advocacy so we can work with MP’s and give everyone cause to celebrate on World Bicycle Day.
