Decision details

Moved by Councillor Phelps, seconded by Councillor Forster –

It is resolved that:

(A)      Council note:

(i)         following a Lord Mayoral Minute of 18 May 2020, pop-up cycleways were identified by Transport for NSW (TfNSW) and the City as part of a solution to ease demand for public transport as the NSW Government eases restrictions on business activity following the COVID-19 lockdown;

(ii)        there has been significant community opposition to the City of Sydney and TfNSW proposal for a temporary cycleway on Bridge Road, Glebe, due to the adverse impact the pop-up cycleway is having on the local community, including the imposition of a 24/7 clearway outside of residences on both sides of Bridge Road, where houses already have no stopping along the laneway to the rear and associated loss of all on street parking spaces; and

(iii)      residents of Bridge Road in Glebe are extremely concerned about the safety of cyclists, pedestrians, motorists and those attempting to access their homes without any ability to stop along Bridge Road. This includes:

(a)       no ability for ambulances, buses, taxis and other vehicles to stop along the entirety of Bridge Road to pick up or drop off residents who are unable to cycle;

(b)       congestion down a key arterial road during garbage collection, resulting in the unsafe overtaking of garbage trucks by personal vehicles; and

(c)       funding and commissioning an independent professional safety audit titled “Stage 5 (Existing Road) Road Safety Audit for Bridge Rd Glebe with emphasis on the newly installed Cycleway facility”, tabled at the September 21, 2020 Council meeting. This safety audit found that as of 6 September 2020 there were 26 identified safety issues, with risk attached to each issue classified as intolerable, high, or medium; and

(B)      the Chief Executive Officer be requested to:

(i)         liaise with Transport for NSW to close the Bridge Road cycleway and relocate the Glebe pop up cycleway to a safer, more suitable location as soon as possible; and

(ii)        report back to Council via the CEO Update.

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Note – The motion above was not carried. The resolution as below was carried –

It is resolved that:

(A)      Council note:

(i)         following a Lord Mayoral Minute of 15 May 2020, pop-up cycleways were identified by Transport for NSW (TfNSW) and the City as part of a solution to ease demand for public transport as the NSW Government eases restrictions on business activity following the Covid-19 lockdown;

(ii)        there has been community opposition to the City of Sydney and Transport for NSW proposal for a temporary cycleway on Bridge Road, Glebe due to the adverse impact the pop-up cycleway is having on the local community, including the imposition of a 24/7 clearway outside of residences on both sides of Bridge Road, where houses already have no stopping along the laneway to the rear and associated loss of  off-peak clearway parking spaces;

(iii)      Some residents have expressed concerns about safety, access and congestion. It is important to note that:

(a)       under NSW Road Rules 2014 - Reg 307, emergency vehicles can stop anywhere they need to;

(b)       under NSW Road Rules 2014 - Reg 176, buses (including mini-buses) and taxis can stop in a clearway when they are picking up or dropping off passengers. Staff advise that on Bridge Road, buses will however be stopping at the bus stops, which are not clearways;

(c)       residents have commissioned an independent professional safety audit titled “Stage 5 (Existing Road) Road Safety Audit for Bridge Rd Glebe with emphasis on the newly installed Cycleway facility”, tabled at the September 21, 2020 Council meeting. This safety audit presents the assertion that as of 6 September 2020 there were 26 identified safety issues, with risk attached to each issue classified as intolerable, high, or medium. These claims should be conveyed to Transport for NSW to be considered as they are working on their own safety audit of the Bridge Road pop up cycleway;

(d)       responding to community feedback, City staff are working with our waste collection services to implement changes to collection processes to ensure safer practices in these new conditions, and to minimise delays and impacts on congestion. Staff will also look for alternative waste bin pick up locations and work with Cleanaway to adjust their routes where feasible;

(e)       the City is engaging with and responding to community concerns and suggestions as the pop-up cycleways are rolled out, and City staff are conveying recommendations to Transport for NSW regarding improvements or changes, a number of which have been implemented. Community members are encouraged to share their feedback and input with the City and with Transport for NSW to improve the operation of the cycleways; and

(f)         the pop-up cycleway on Bridge Road is being delivered by Transport for NSW. Transport for NSW are conducting a Road Safety Audit in advance of the formal completion of the cycleway. The content and format of Road Safety Audit reports are governed by Transport for NSW, Austroads and Institute of Public Works Engineering Australasia (IPWEA) guidelines; and

(B)      the Chief Executive Officer be requested to:

(i)         liaise with Transport for NSW about the resident-led safety audit of the Bridge Road cycleway, seeking urgent mitigation of the risks identified; and

(ii)        obtain the Road Safety Audit for the Bridge Road pop-up cycleway from Transport for NSW once it is complete and publish it in a CEO Update.

The first amendment was carried on the following show of hands –

Ayes (6)          The Chair (the Lord Mayor), Councillors Kok, Miller, Scott, Scully and Thalis.

Noes (4)          Councillors Chung, Forster, Phelps and Vithoulkas.

Amendment carried.

The second amendment was carried on the following show of hands –

Ayes (8)          The Chair (the Lord Mayor), Councillors Kok, Miller, Phelps, Scott, Scully, Thalis and Vithoulkas.

Noes (2)          Councillors Chung and Forster.

Amendment carried.

The motion was carried on the following show of hands –

Ayes (8)          The Chair (the Lord Mayor), Councillors Chung, Kok, Miller, Scott, Scully, Thalis and Vithoulkas

Noes (2)          Councillors Forster and Phelps.

Motion carried.

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