Making it safer and easier to ride a bike – St Peters to Tempe (Local Route 7)

Riding a bicycle is a fantastic way to get around, keep fit and save money. It also helps reduce car use and benefits the environment. Council is improving bicycle routes across the inner west to make it safer, more convenient and enjoyable for people of all ages and abilities to ride a bike.

With support from the NSW Government, Council is proposing to improve the route between St Peters station and the Cooks River at Tempe.

The process so far

Local community members and other stakeholders were invited to comment on route options in January/February 2017. The information received was

Riding a bicycle is a fantastic way to get around, keep fit and save money. It also helps reduce car use and benefits the environment. Council is improving bicycle routes across the inner west to make it safer, more convenient and enjoyable for people of all ages and abilities to ride a bike.

With support from the NSW Government, Council is proposing to improve the route between St Peters station and the Cooks River at Tempe.

The process so far

Local community members and other stakeholders were invited to comment on route options in January/February 2017. The information received was used to develop a draft concept plan which was exhibited from 13 July to 13 August 2017. The feedback received was considered and where possible, incorporated into a revised concept plan.

The revised concept plan

Like the draft concept plan, the route in the revised plan mainly uses traffic lanes in local streets. This will make it safer and easier for new bike riders to make trips to local destinations while recognising that experienced riders will prefer a direct route, using existing street infrastructure. The most direct route - along Unwins Bridge Road – is not supported by the Roads and Maritime Services because the road is too narrow to include bicycle infrastructure. Other route options were considered and ruled out because of range of constraints. For more details see the Option Assessment and Concept Design report

The main changes in the revised concept plan are:

Change to concept plan
Reason
Henry Street
  • Remove the proposed change to intersection priority at Terry, George and Yelverton Streets.



  • Include No Stopping signs 10 metres from intersections along this street to formalise the statutory rule

  • This addresses community members’ concerns that changing the priority would reduce safety because there are higher traffic volumes on Terry, George and Yelverton Streets than Henry Street.

  • This will improve safety for all road users by increasing visibility at intersections. Location will be determined in detail design stage.
Mary Street
  • Include a barrier kerb to separate contraflow bicycle lanes from traffic.
  • This addresses concerns that Mary Street has higher traffic volumes than many local roads along the route. This will improve safety by separating people riding a bike in the contraflow lane from passing traffic.


Parking changes

The proposed route improvements would remove two on-street parking spaces on the western side of Griffiths Street to accommodate a right turn bay for bike riders to access the shared path on Gannon Street.

More information

What happens next?

The revised concept plan, and a report including a summary of comments received, will be considered at the Inner West Council Local Traffic Committee (LTC) meeting on Thursday 7 December 2017. The LTC meeting agenda will be available to view on Council’s website in the week before the meeting.

Members of the public may register to speak at this meeting. If you wish to do so, please contact Council’s Administration Assistant – Infrastructure Services on (02) 9335 2213 to advise of your attendance.

The recommendations of the LTC will then be considered by Council in February 2018.

  • Council approves final concept plan

    about 1 year ago

    Council considered a report about the final concept plan at a meeting on 27 February 2018. It was determined that:

    1. The revised concept plan for Local Route 7 be approved subject to:

    a. The proposed LR7 be examined with respect to its connection to the Cooks River Cycleway;
    b. That the Edwin Street, Tempe section of LR7 be amended to an on-road, mixed traffic treatment shared cycleway, rather than the proposed shared path;
    c. Any decision concerning the route of the cycleway at Florence Street and Campbell Street be delayed until full consideration of the WestConnex widened Campbell Street...

    Council considered a report about the final concept plan at a meeting on 27 February 2018. It was determined that:

    1. The revised concept plan for Local Route 7 be approved subject to:

    a. The proposed LR7 be examined with respect to its connection to the Cooks River Cycleway;
    b. That the Edwin Street, Tempe section of LR7 be amended to an on-road, mixed traffic treatment shared cycleway, rather than the proposed shared path;
    c. Any decision concerning the route of the cycleway at Florence Street and Campbell Street be delayed until full consideration of the WestConnex widened Campbell Street cycle path (including the potential Florence Street/Campbell Street crossing) is fully examined:
    d. That an examination of the route be given with regard to Daburi Lane;
    e. That consideration be given to the proposed pedestrian/cycle path along Sydenham Station as a consequence of the Sydney Metro;
    f. The effects of enforcement, as a consequence of LR7, of the 10m parking rule on street corners along Henry Street be well communicated to the local community; and

    2. Detailed designs for the route be developed, with particular regard to:
    a. Potential treatment of School Lane behind Tempe Public School as a ‘Shared-Zone, given its nature as a narrow laneway with no footpaths;
    b. Examination of a contraflow bicycle lane on Union Street and Mary Street.