Bicycle NSW is 50 years young in 2026, and we are looking ahead to our next decade of making NSW better for bike riding
As part of the anniversary celebrations, we have embarked on a serious task – developing a strategic advocacy plan for ‘A Cycle-friendly NSW’.
'A Cycle-friendly NSW' is a compelling business case that communicates to governments and elected officials how quality cycling and walking infrastructure is vital for healthy, fair, prosperous and liveable towns and cities.
The overarching aim? To entrench and elevate active transport as a mainstream government priority for investment.
You will hear much more about this project over the next few months!
The visionary projects survey
As part of the work, we have asked everyone in the NSW bicycle community to nominate their top priorities for a strategic pipeline of visionary projects.
The survey has been open for 3 months now.
Your suggestions will inform a shortlist of game-changing bicycle infrastructure that we want governments to prioritise for delivery over the coming years.
The Inner West GreenWay is definitely a visionary project. This incredibly popular 6km walking and cycling path is an amazing proof-of-concept of how governments and engineers can meet the challenge of negotiating infrastructure and heritage constraints (Image: Bicycle NSW)
What are visionary projects?
Visionary projects are major pieces of infrastructure which significantly increase participation and connection, support health and wellbeing outcomes, and attract tourism, especially in regional areas.
Over the last few months, fantastic new bicycle infrastructure has opened to the community. Hot on the heels of the Inner West GreenWay, the north ramp to the Sydney Harbour Bridge Cycleway, the M6 Active Transport Corridor through the Rockdale Wetlands and the M12 Cycleway out to the new Western Sydney International airport were all completed over the summer.
The Oxford Street West Cycleway, which opened last July, is about to clock up 1 million trips. It is by far Australia’s busiest bicycle path with over 4000 riders on peak weekdays! And the Casino to Lismore section of the Northern Rivers Rail Trail once again proves the demand for safe active transport links in regional NSW.
A group of bike riders pass under the restored Back Creek Bridge at Leycester, near Lismore, on the Northern Rivers Rail Trail (Image: NRRT)
"Bicycle NSW wants to maintain this significant momentum," says CEO Peter McLean. "With a stronger voice to government, we hope to see increased investment into a ‘Cycle-friendly NSW’. This is well overdue.
"We want to ensure that it won’t take 2, 3 or even 4 decades for critical active transport infrastructure to be funded and built!"
The feedback so far
So far, 115 people have proposed 180 projects.
Approximately 67% of the projects are located outside Metropolitan Sydney. This is great - we are keen to hear as much as possible from the regions!
The Hunter, Newcastle and Lake Macquarie region accounts for 25% of projects. Around 17% of ideas came from the Blue Mountains, Central Coast and Illawarra. 25% are spread across the rest of regional NSW.
The Coffs and New England areas feature particularly strongly.
This reflects the enthusiastic support for two rail trails in these regions – the New England Rail Trail, and the Tallowood Mountain Rail Trail
Overall, about a third of suggestion relate to rail trails.
Hunter region advocates have called loudly for better connections across the urban area, including the use of creek and stormwater drain corridors, and completing the paths around Lake Macquarie.
The visionary Shiraz to Shore project collected a lot of votes. This 100km cycle trail, which includes the Richmond Vale Rail Trail, will one day (hopefully!) link the Hunter vineyard country with the coast at Newcastle.
A map showing the proposed route of the Shiraz to Shore Cycle Trail (Image: Hunter Joint Organisation)
Connections in the Central Coast featured strongly, and we are beginning to receive more ideas from the Illawarra.
In particular, Lake Illawarra Loop concept was highlighted a few times. The foreshore path network has scenic and useful sections but it would be a serious attraction for both local and visiting bike riders if some key missing links were filled.
A boardwalk beside Lake Illawarra at Albion Park. Bicycle NSW recently spent a day exploring opportunities the complete the loop with Bicycle User Group Illawarra Ramblers (Image: Bicycle NSW)
Some notorious gaps in Sydney’s bike network were mentioned by several people - the Alexandra Canal Cycleway, the infrastructure black hole in North Sydney, and a safe south ramp to the Sydney Harbour Bridge Cycleway.
Unsurprisingly, the dangerous Belmont to Eleebana route in Lake Macquarie is a priority for locals.
Missing or substandard bridges that should be on the NSW Government’s to-do list include Browns Waterhole in Lane Cove National Park, the Cooks River near Marsh Street, the Gladesville Bridge at Drummoyne and Liverpool Weir.
Key Sydney blue-green grid projects that Bicycle NSW has long championed came up several times.
Top of the list are the Duck River, Prospect Pipeline, Iron Cove Creek, the Upper Canal and Kamay Greenway.
Many people would like governments to prioritise long-distance strategic cycling corridors such as Parramatta to Sydney via Canada Bay, M5 Cycleway extensions to Liverpool and Wolli Creek, Penrith to the Blue Mountains, and the Central Coast to Lake Macquarie.
This last one is actually progressing, with NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service’s master plan for the Caves Beach to Budgewoi Coastal Trail on exhibition now!
Finally, several bike riders are keen to see an overhaul of major arterials like Parramatta Road, Oxford Street, Anzac Parade and Pacific Highway with dedicated space for cycling.
One day…
How you can help
It's not too late to share your ideas via our Google Form. Please encourage your friends, family and riding groups to do the same.
Note that we are not looking for general recommendations, such as reduced speed limits, low traffic local streets, safe paths within 1km or every school and train station, better cycleway maintenance and increased funding for active transport. Of course, we advocate for these things constantly. The survey is looking for specific projects to add to our shortlist for the NSW Government’s strategic pipeline of game-changing bicycle infrastructure.
Please also join Bicycle NSW and support our advocacy for better infrastructure and safer streets.
You will also ride easy, covered by our comprehensive insurance and enjoy many other Member-only benefits.
Bicycle NSW is the only bicycle advocacy group based in NSW with full-time staff advocating every day for all riders. But did you know that we are funded only by membership fees and donations?
If you are not ready to join the Bicycle NSW family, then we would love you to consider a donation to the Australian Bicycle Advocacy Fund.