Our influence and impact

Rail Trails Bill

Bicycle NSW played a key role in the passing of the Transport Administration Amendment (Rail Trails) Bill 2022 after a decades-long campaign. This legislation supports the conversion of disused railway corridors into safe and scenic walking and cycling paths, promoting both local active transport and regional tourism. Several rail trails are now in development and NSW is catching up with Victoria and Queensland!

A new bridge on the Northern Rivers Rails Trail (Image: Bicycle NSW)

Sydney Harbour Bridge ramp

After 40 years of advocacy, construction of the Sydney Harbour Bridge Cycleway northern access ramp is nearly complete.

The days of having to haul your bike up 55 steps from Milsons Point to reach the cycleway on the western side of the bridge will be over by the beginning of 2026!  And not a moment too soon for those keen to access the city with children, heavy e-bikes or cargo bikes.

Looking south towards the Sydney Harbour Bridge (Image: Transport for NSW)

M6 Active Transport Corridor

4.1km of continuous off-road new walking and cycling pathways have been delivered by the M6 Stage 1 motorway project in a green corridor of revitalised parks and creeks between Kyeemagh and Monterey.
This excellent outcome for bike riders was a significant advocacy win for Bicycle NSW in 2019. We campaigned for NSW Government to build a shared user bridge over President Avenue and acquire 3 properties to eliminate a 700m on-road section.

Boardwalk over the wetlands in Scarborough Park, Monterey (Image: Transport for NSW)

Minimum passing distance laws

Bicycle NSW campaigned for the introduction of the Minimum Passing Distance law in 2018.

We continue to push NSW Police to enforce the rule. It is essential that motorists know that it is not optional to maintain a safe gap when overtaking bike riders. We advocate for high-quality education campaigns for all road users. And we support Members who have experienced a frightening close pass with legal advice and representation at the highest level.

Public education signage developed with Suez for the sides of its trucks (Image: Bicycle NSW)

Footpath riding

In July 2018, following a long campaign by Bicycle NSW and our allies, the NSW Government announced that the maximum footpath riding age would increase to 15.

This was fantastic news for children, and people cycling with children. However, most other states in Australia have legalised footpath riding for all ages. Bicycle NSW believes the rules in NSW should be changed so that everyone can choose to ride on footpaths, with care and courtesy, when this is the safest option.

Sydney Gateway Active Transport Link

A huge advocacy effort from Bicycle NSW and Bicycle User Group members ensured that the Sydney Gateway investment delivered really positive outcomes for active transport. The ATL, finished in 2024, includes the fantastic shared user path along the north side of the Alexandra Canal, an elegant bridge over the canal, a connection to the Domestic Terminal, and rest areas that are great for plane spotting!

We are now fighting for the extension of the Alexandra Canal Cycleway.

The shared user path along the Alexandra Canal opposite Sydney Airport (Image: Bicycle NSW)

As the only bicycle advocacy organisation based in NSW, we have the ear of governments. Our team is in the room when decisions are made. This enables us to pro-actively lobby and influence from the ‘inside’.

Bicycle NSW regularly presents evidence at parliamentary inquiries. Over the last few years, these included very deep dives into e-mobility policy and regulation and the impact of the Rozelle Interchange.

Bicycle NSW CEO Peter McLean giving evidence at the parliamentary inquiry into the impact of the Rozelle Interchange (Image: Bicycle NSW)

We are closely involved in policy development, such as the long-overdue review of the NSW Roads Act and development of a new 2031 Road Safety Action Plan.

A recent and very significant advocacy success! In September 2025, the NSW Government announced that most e-bikes are still welcome on trains, just weeks after proposing a blanket ban. Bicycle NSW worked tirelessly with the government and other stakeholders to ensure that an evidence-based decision was made.

CEO Peter McLean and Bike Planner Sarah Bickford at Central Station to celebrate the NSW Government's decision to continue allowing e-bikes on trains (Image: Bicycle NSW)

We are frequent visitors to NSW Parliament. Our short but productive sessions with MPs provide a great opportunity to build relationships and discuss how we can work together to accelerate the roll-out of active transport projects in each electorate.

CEO Peter McLean and Bike Planner Sarah Bickford with Richie Williamson, Member for Clarence, at NSW Parliament in 2024 (Image: Bicycle NSW)

Bicycle NSW is always on the key stakeholder list for major infrastructure projects and strategic planning work. This enables us to represent the needs of bicycle riders at the early stages of projects.

Powered by the collective voices of our Members

Bicycle NSW supports a state-wide network of affiliated local Bicycle User Groups (BUGs).  BUGs organise enjoyable and inclusive recreational rides and promote bicycle riding for fitness, recreation, transport, and social engagement.

All BUGs encourage community and fun. But some do much, much more.

Bicycle NSW Bike Planner Sarah Bickford with Carolyn New and David Thomson of Bike North on the upgraded active transport link adjacent to the Warringah Freeway (Image: Bicycle NSW)

Bollard busting

Bicycle NSW wants to eliminate hazardous bollards from bicycle infrastructure. Poorly placed bollards cause accidents, obstruct pathways, and discourage cycling. Bollards discriminate against those with diverse mobility requirements, for example those in wheelchairs.

We are working with Bicycle User Group Bike North to develop new guidelines to inform the use of bollards on cycling infrastructure.

A BIKEast member after a crash on the Muddy Creek path, Kyeemagh (Image: BIKEast)

Low speeds for local streets

There is no argument that slowing vehicles will saves lives. Research from around the world shows that a 1% reduction in speed leads to a 4% reduction in fatalities.

Bicycle NSW has long urged the NSW Government to set lower and more appropriate speed limits on all types of roads. Other walking and cycling advocacy groups are beating the same drum. Momentum is building for 30km/h speed limits to be rolled out in areas of high pedestrian activity, on mixed traffic cycle routes and around schools.

Roll-on bikes on regional trains

Dismantling, boxing and weighing bikes to board TrainLink buses and coaches is a major deterrent to tourism and sustainable transport in regional areas. The Out With Boxing Bikes petition demonstrated the huge appetite for rolling bikes onto trains.

Thanks to the efforts of Bicycle NSW, the Central West Cycle Committee and Rail Trails for NSW, Transport for NSW has run two limited roll-on bikes trials on the Dubbo XPT. We will keep up the pressure up for a permanent solution across all NSW TrainLink services.

Roll-on Bikes campaigners at Sydney's Central Station in March 2023 (Photo: Bicycle NSW)

Build a better Oxford Street

The proposal by Transport for NSW to add a protected cycleway to Oxford Street is not just about bikes. It is an opportunity to reconfigure the street, diversify its transport mix, improve the urban environment and transform Paddington. Oxford Street will be a healthier, happier and livelier place.

The fantastic and very popular Oxford Street West Cycleway opened in July 2025. Bicycle NSW continues to urge Transport for NSW to get on and deliver the Oxford Street East Cycleway from Taylor Square to Centennial Park.

Active travel to and from school

Encouraging children to cycle to school is a priority for Bicycle NSW. In addition to our relentless advocacy for separated bicycle infrastructure and lower speed limits, we are working on place-based behaviour change initiatives. Bicycle NSW’s School Active Travel Plans identify barriers to active transport, map safe routes to school, recommend infrastructure improvements and create an action plan for councils and schools.

Another key project is the Bicycle NSW schools’ digital student bicycle licence to meet the clear need for basic bike education.

When local and state governments release plans or strategies that are relevant to bike riders, Bicycle NSW takes the opportunity to review the proposals and make detailed feedback and recommendations.

Each year we write more than 50 submissions and letters to councils, ministers, government bodies and Transport for NSW.

This is more than all the other state peak bodies combined!  At least a third relate to projects in regional areas.