ID :
122432
Sun, 05/16/2010 - 18:53
Auther :
Shortlink :
http://m.oananews.org//node/122432
The shortlink copeid
NSW cyclists to get 100km of new paths
NSW cyclists will get more than 100km of new bike paths under a $158 million state
government scheme to improve health and reduce road congestion.
Announcing NSW BikePlan in Sydney on Sunday, Premier Kristina Keneally said it would
allow cyclists to move seamlessly around metropolitan Sydney.
The bike paths will take pressure off roads and cut pollution by encouraging more
people to ride rather than drive, Ms Keneally told reporters.
But the opposition says it will never happen, labelling it an election stunt to help
get Ms Keneally across the line.
"It's not going to be delivered any more than the so-called improvements to rail and
to roads have been delivered by her predecessors," Opposition Leader Barry O'Farrell
told reporters.
He added that the state coalition had its own bike plan but he did not know the
details from memory.
Under the government's scheme, Sydney's district cities will be connected with links
created from Parramatta to Sydney Olympic Park, Penrith to the Nepean River, and
North Ryde to Macquarie University's cycleway at a cost of $80 million.
Almost the same amount will be spent on fast-tracking networks in Sydney's river
cities, Liverpool, Parramatta and Penrith, in a bid to rival the growth in the
number of cyclists as seen in the CBD.
Most paths will be created off-road and won't encroach on vehicle lanes - an aspect
welcomed by cycling groups who say it will improve safety and curb conflict over
road space.
Richard Birdsey, vice president of Bicycles NSW, says the organisation supports the
entire plan, believing the city is in great need.
"Most people who want to get on their bikes are concerned about safety, and
certainly having dedicated bike infrastructure ... is the number one factor," he
told reporters.
Ms Keneally, a keen cyclist who rode to the press conference in central Sydney, says
the investment reflects the increasing number of people opting for two wheels over
four.
In NSW, almost half a million adults ride a bike, and in the greater Sydney area
they are making more than 159,000 trips on weekdays alone, she said.
"What we know is that by providing bike lanes and bike pathways ... people have the
confidence to get out of the car and onto the bikes and particularly for short
journeys," she said
The plan will be rolled out over ten years and heavily focuses on western Sydney,
where it is expected to support about 500 jobs.
Regional areas will also benefit, with least $5 million every year earmarked for
local councils across the state.
The money will also go towards 332 new bike parks, 17 transport interchanges, and a
state-of-the-art website, www.131500.com.au allowing cyclists to plan and download
their journeys onto a GPS or mobile phone.
government scheme to improve health and reduce road congestion.
Announcing NSW BikePlan in Sydney on Sunday, Premier Kristina Keneally said it would
allow cyclists to move seamlessly around metropolitan Sydney.
The bike paths will take pressure off roads and cut pollution by encouraging more
people to ride rather than drive, Ms Keneally told reporters.
But the opposition says it will never happen, labelling it an election stunt to help
get Ms Keneally across the line.
"It's not going to be delivered any more than the so-called improvements to rail and
to roads have been delivered by her predecessors," Opposition Leader Barry O'Farrell
told reporters.
He added that the state coalition had its own bike plan but he did not know the
details from memory.
Under the government's scheme, Sydney's district cities will be connected with links
created from Parramatta to Sydney Olympic Park, Penrith to the Nepean River, and
North Ryde to Macquarie University's cycleway at a cost of $80 million.
Almost the same amount will be spent on fast-tracking networks in Sydney's river
cities, Liverpool, Parramatta and Penrith, in a bid to rival the growth in the
number of cyclists as seen in the CBD.
Most paths will be created off-road and won't encroach on vehicle lanes - an aspect
welcomed by cycling groups who say it will improve safety and curb conflict over
road space.
Richard Birdsey, vice president of Bicycles NSW, says the organisation supports the
entire plan, believing the city is in great need.
"Most people who want to get on their bikes are concerned about safety, and
certainly having dedicated bike infrastructure ... is the number one factor," he
told reporters.
Ms Keneally, a keen cyclist who rode to the press conference in central Sydney, says
the investment reflects the increasing number of people opting for two wheels over
four.
In NSW, almost half a million adults ride a bike, and in the greater Sydney area
they are making more than 159,000 trips on weekdays alone, she said.
"What we know is that by providing bike lanes and bike pathways ... people have the
confidence to get out of the car and onto the bikes and particularly for short
journeys," she said
The plan will be rolled out over ten years and heavily focuses on western Sydney,
where it is expected to support about 500 jobs.
Regional areas will also benefit, with least $5 million every year earmarked for
local councils across the state.
The money will also go towards 332 new bike parks, 17 transport interchanges, and a
state-of-the-art website, www.131500.com.au allowing cyclists to plan and download
their journeys onto a GPS or mobile phone.
