Introduction
Change is coming to the Inner West. Thirty thousand new dwellings are on the way. Without a real transport plan, backed by investment, we risk locking in congestion and car dependence for decades. But we can choose another path: a city built around people, not cars.
We believe the Inner West can be Amsterdam on the Cooks River or Copenhagen by the Bay. Our neighbourhoods already have the bones of a world-class cycling city: wide, quiet streets; green corridors; high streets within a 10-minute cycle or walk; and a culture of social justice and activism. What we're missing is connectedness, everyday utility, sustained funding and the political will to make the way we move around the Inner West better.
Cities like Amsterdam and Copenhagen — and in Sydney, even our neighbouring City of Sydney council — show what happens when population growth is matched with serious investment in safe, separated cycling and walkable neighbourhoods. As Council establishes a $500 million infrastructure fund, this is the moment to embed walking and cycling as core community infrastructure; not an optional extra.
Our vision is an Inner West where walking and cycling are the top choice for short trips. Where every child can ride safely to school, parents feel confident riding with their kids, and local shops thrive on vibrant, walkable high streets. A place where freedom doesn't mean owning a car, but being able to move easily, safely and joyfully; and where, on the days you do need to drive, streets are calmer, uncongested and more pleasant for everyone.
This submission sets out how the Building Our Community Developer Contributions Plan can help deliver on this future.
It is grounded in community mapping undertaken by Bike Marrickville and cross-referenced with Council's adopted strategies, including the Blue-Green Grid, the Cycling Strategy and housing investigation areas under Our Fairer Future. It sets out the priority routes required to make cycling safe, practical and appealing for everyday trips.
We would welcome the opportunity to brief council staff further on the long, and short-term cycling improvements needed to enable more choice of movement across our Inner West.
We believe the Inner West can be Amsterdam on the Cooks River or Copenhagen by the Bay. Our neighbourhoods already have the bones of a world-class cycling city: wide, quiet streets; green corridors; high streets within a 10-minute cycle or walk; and a culture of social justice and activism. What we're missing is connectedness, everyday utility, sustained funding and the political will to make the way we move around the Inner West better.
Cities like Amsterdam and Copenhagen — and in Sydney, even our neighbouring City of Sydney council — show what happens when population growth is matched with serious investment in safe, separated cycling and walkable neighbourhoods. As Council establishes a $500 million infrastructure fund, this is the moment to embed walking and cycling as core community infrastructure; not an optional extra.
Our vision is an Inner West where walking and cycling are the top choice for short trips. Where every child can ride safely to school, parents feel confident riding with their kids, and local shops thrive on vibrant, walkable high streets. A place where freedom doesn't mean owning a car, but being able to move easily, safely and joyfully; and where, on the days you do need to drive, streets are calmer, uncongested and more pleasant for everyone.
This submission sets out how the Building Our Community Developer Contributions Plan can help deliver on this future.
It is grounded in community mapping undertaken by Bike Marrickville and cross-referenced with Council's adopted strategies, including the Blue-Green Grid, the Cycling Strategy and housing investigation areas under Our Fairer Future. It sets out the priority routes required to make cycling safe, practical and appealing for everyday trips.
We would welcome the opportunity to brief council staff further on the long, and short-term cycling improvements needed to enable more choice of movement across our Inner West.
How the items were selected
In December 2025, Bike Marrickville hosted a workshop. Maps of the Inner West local government area were printed out and participants asked to draw on them with coloured markers to highlight roads and areas where improvements could be made.
Following the workshop, the markings were digitised into a spreadsheet where they were cross-referenced with the existing cycle network, council strategies (namely the Cycling Strategy, the Blue-Green Grid and Our Fairer Future), nearby amenities or attractors, local/state/regional roads and bus routes.
Each item was then ranked with achievability and impact scores: achievability was determined by road types (higher on local roads, lower on state/regional roads) and impact by the presence in, or relevance to council's strategies.
Additionally the items were sorted into two categories: "Routes for investigation" and "Small improvements". Each of the items selected below include a larger route for future, detailed investigation and a number of small improvements that could be delivered sooner, providing benefit immediately.
Items were selected for inclusion below if they:
Following the workshop, the markings were digitised into a spreadsheet where they were cross-referenced with the existing cycle network, council strategies (namely the Cycling Strategy, the Blue-Green Grid and Our Fairer Future), nearby amenities or attractors, local/state/regional roads and bus routes.
Each item was then ranked with achievability and impact scores: achievability was determined by road types (higher on local roads, lower on state/regional roads) and impact by the presence in, or relevance to council's strategies.
Additionally the items were sorted into two categories: "Routes for investigation" and "Small improvements". Each of the items selected below include a larger route for future, detailed investigation and a number of small improvements that could be delivered sooner, providing benefit immediately.
Items were selected for inclusion below if they:
- Had higher achievability and impact scores
- Would service a housing investigation area from Our Fairer Future, the Bays West metro precinct, or the Parramatta Road upzonings.
Summary of Suggested Investments
Alongside the routes for investigation outlined below, all existing cycleway projects should have design and construction funded via the developer contributions plan, including:
- Marrickville Rd East Cycleway
- Lilyfield Rd Cycleway
- Iron Cove Creek Masterplan delivery
- Pyrmont Bridge Rd cycleway
- Robert St, Rozelle cycleway
- Sydenham Road Strategy & Cycleway
- Addison Road Cycleway, Marrickville
- Beach & Pine Street Cycleway, Dulwich Hill
- Sydney Steel Road & Edinburgh Rd Cycleway, Marrickville
- Hercules Street Cycleway, Dulwich Hill
- Loftus Street Quietway, Ashfield
- Bland Street Quietway, Ashfield
- Livingstone Street Cycleway southern extension
- Johnston Street Cycleway, Annandale
- Mallet St, Booth/Moore St, Allen St Cycleway in Leichhardt/Annandale/Camperdown.
- A new Marrickville Town Square at the corner of Calvert Street and Illawarra Road.
- Pocket parks/road closures on Illawarra Road, between Marrickville Rd and Sydenham Rd, and another between Sydenham Rd and Addison Rd.
- Cooks River path lighting, widening, and separation of pedestrians and cyclists. Plus, connections to the path, and collaboration with other councils along the route to ensure consistency in infrastructure styles delivered.
- Delivery of the Iron Cove Creek path ("CreekWay" to keep the GreenWay and MetroWay theme?)
- Balmain Road cycleway, in front of Callan Park.
Our Proposed Routes for Developer Contribution Funding
Addison Road Cycleway, Marrickville
- Link 9 of the Blue-Green Grid
- Features in Inner West Council's Cycling Strategy
- In Council's Housing Investigation Area 2 adjacent to the Addison Road sub-precinct
- Connects to an existing cycling route along Livingstone Rd
- Council resolved to consult on an Addison Rd Cycleway at the September 2024 council meeting
- Provides connection to amenities including the Marrickville Metro, Wilkins Primary School, Newington College, the Addison Road Community Organisation and Henson Oval
- Replace pedestrian refuge island between John St and Park Rd with a combined pedestrian/cycle wombat crossing to improve access to Wilkins Public school and connect quiet streets either side of Addison Rd
- Implement shared path from the end of the Livingstone Rd cycleway to Addison Rd on the western side of Livingstone Rd until the separated cycleway can be extended
- A modal filter on Illawarra Rd between Chapel St and Woodland St to improve cycling conditions on quiet side streets and access to Addison Rd Community Centre
- Replacing the slip lane at the Eastern end of Addison Rd with widened footpaths
- Lower speed limits to 30 km/h to make on-road cycling safer
Addison Road area map
Sydenham Road Cycleway, Marrickville
- Link 1 of the Blue-Green Grid
- Features in the Cycling Strategy
- Connects the Marrickville Local Centre sub-precinct of the Housing Investigation Area 1A to the Sydenham Metro station
- Connects new high density developments at Wicks Park and the Timberyards to the Sydenham Metro station
- The subject of an existing Inner West Council community engagement, i.e. "Sydenham Road Strategy"
- Provides access to amenities including part of the Inner West Ale Trail, Marrickville Bowling Club and the Sydenham Metro station
- Additional combined cycle/pedestrian wombat on Sydenham Rd crossings. For example at Barclay St and Meeks Rd to connect to Marrickville Rd East
- Upgraded intersection at Fitzroy St
- Shared path on both sides of Sydenham Rd until a separated cycleway can be implemented
- Combined pedestrian/cycle crossing on Fitzroy St between Chapel St and Lillian Fowler Pl to improve a parallel, quiet street route
- Lower speed limits to 30 km/h to make on-road cycling safer
Sydenham Road area map
Dulwich Hill Village to Livingstone Road (Beach & Pine Street Cycleway)
- Parts of links 19 and 54 of the Blue-Green Grid
- Features in the Cycling Strategy
- Connects the Dulwich Hill Village sub-precinct of Housing Investigation Area 1 to the existing Livingstone Rd cycleway
- Entirely on Local Roads and doesn't impact bus routes
- Provides access to Dulwich Hill high street retail, the Greenway, Dulwich Hill Public and Dulwich Hill High along with better access to Marrickville Town Centre
- Combined pedestrian/cycle wombat crossing on Wardell St between Beach Rd and Pine St with a short separated cycleway to provide priority crossing for bikes and pedestrians
- Traffic calming at the bend in Hollands Ave so drivers are more aware of contraflow cyclists
Dulwich Hill / Beach & Pine Street area map
Sydney Steel Road and Edinburgh Road Cycleway, Marrickville
- Part of link 5 of the Blue-Green Grid
- Features in Council's Cycling Strategy
- Connects to parts of the Housing Investigation Area 2
- Entirely on Local Roads passing only a single bus stop
- Subject of an Inner West Council motion in the November 2025 council meeting
- Improves access to Sydenham Metro station, Marrickville Metro shopping centre, King Street high street retail, St Peters train station and Sydney Park
- Convert footpath on Southern side of Edinburgh Rd to shared path from Smidmore St to Railway Pde
- Combined pedestrian/cyclist wombat crossing of Edinburgh Rd at Murray St to provide access to the Marrickville Metro
- Priority bike crossing of Railway Pde, east of the Edinburgh Rd/Railway Pde roundabout to provide a crossing point from shared path to on-road for bikes
Sydney Steel Road / Edinburgh Road area map
Hercules St Cycleway, Dulwich Hill
- Link 6 of the Blue-Green Grid
- Features in the Cycling Strategy
- Services the Dulwich Hill Village sub-precinct of the Housing Investigation Area 1A
- Entirely on Local Roads and doesn't interfere with any bus routes
- Connects the Greenway to Dulwich Hill high street on Marrickville Rd, while also improving access to Dulwich Hill Public School and Dulwich Hill High School
- Convert Southern side of Hercules St to shared path from the Greenway to Kintore St Reserve to provide access from the Greenway to Dulwich Hill Public School
- Widened path through Kintore St Reserve to reduce conflicts between pedestrians and cyclists
- Re-orient the intersection of Hercules St and Beach Rd to prioritise movements along Hercules St as a way of improving access along Hercules St and provide traffic calming along Beach Rd
- Add bicycle parking to the Loftus St car park
Hercules St area map
Loftus St Quietway, Ashfield
- Link 33 of the Blue-Green Grid
- Features in the Cycling Strategy
- Services the Northern Spine and Orpington Sub-Precincts of the Housing Investigation Area 1B
- Entirely on Local Roads and interferes with no bus routes
- Within the boundary of an active Local Area Traffic Management study
- Serves as an East-West connection through Ashfield improving access to Ashfield Park and Bowling Club, Ashfield Woolworths
- Full modal filter on Alt St south of Church St to reduce through traffic and make cycling from Church St to Julia St safer (while also increasing green space and tree planting)
- Partial modal filter at Gower St and Ormond St, allowing entry to Gower St but exit only for cyclists
- Raised, paved intersections at Bland St and Julia St, and Loftus St and Orpington St to slow drivers
Loftus St area map
Bland St Quietway, Ashfield
- Link 26 of the Blue-Green Grid
- Part of the Northern Ashfield Investigation Area in the Cycling Strategy
- Services the Northern Spine and Ashfield Centre North Sub-Precincts of the Housing Investigation Area 1B
- Within the boundary of an active Local Area Traffic Management study
- Serves as a North-South connection through Ashfield improving access to Ashfield Station and Liverpool Road high street retail, Ashfield Mall and Woolworths Ashfield as well as St Vincent's College, Haberfield Public School, Ashfield Public School and Ashfield Boys High School
- Convert Brown St/Bland St under the railway bridge to Bus/Cyclists only to reduce traffic and make cycling safer around the station
- Traffic calming between Julia St and Parramatta Rd to slow drivers
Bland St area map
Livingstone Rd Cycleway Southern Extension(see Addison Road section above for Northern Extension)
- Link 68 of the Blue-Green Grid
- Part of the Housing Investigation Area 1A
- Connects Marrickville West Primary School to the Livingstone Rd cycleway
- Entirely on local roads
- Connects the Livingstone Rd cycleway to Local Route 18, the existing bike route from Dulwich Hill Station to Marrickville Station
- Shared path on the Western side of Livingstone Rd until separated cycleway can be extended
Livingstone Rd area map
Johnston St Cycleway, Annandale
- Includes links 3 and 13 of the Blue-Green grid
- Features in the Cycling Strategy
- Serves Housing Investigation Area 2 and the Parramatta Road upzoning area, as well as Harold Park via Jubilee Park
- Intersects with Regional Route 7, the existing cycle route from Lewisham to Newtown
- Connects to public transport nodes at Stanmore Station, buses on Parramatta Rd and the L1 light rail at Rozelle
- Serves schools including St Michael's Catholic Primary School, Annandale Public School and Annandale North Public School
- Connects to Annandale high street retail and the tram sheds
- Connects Weekley Park, Rozelle Parklands and beyond to the Anzac Bridge and CBD
- Upgrades to an existing parallel route via Young St including:
- Re-orient the intersection of Booth St and Young St to prioritise movements along Young St and add traffic calming to Booth St
- Re-orient the intersection of Piper St and Young St to prioritise movements along Young St and add traffic calming to Piper St
- Diagonal modal filter at Young St and Reserve St preventing through movements for drivers but allowing them for cyclists
Johnston St area map
Mallet St, Booth/Moore St, Allen St Cycleway
- Link 42 of the Blue-Green Grid
- Features in the Cycling Strategy
- Intersects the housing investigation area HIA 2 as well as the Parramatta Rd upzoning and the former Camperdown Dive Site (The Joinery)
- Connects to public transport nodes at Newtown Station, Parramatta Rd buses and the L1 light rail at Hawthorne
- Connects to major high streets at King St, Newtown, Booth St, Annandale and Norton St, Leichhardt
- Connects to schools Newtown Performing Arts and Newtown Public School, Australia Street Infants, and Sydney Secondary College Leichhardt
- Connects to RPA health precinct, a major employer in the area
- Intersects with other major network links at the Greenway, Whites Creek and Johnstons Creek
- Upgrade pedestrian crossing of Salsbury Rd at Church St to combined pedestrian/cycle crossing to improve parallel quiet street route
- Advanced signal phasing at Parramatta Rd to improve pedestrian crossing
- 30km/h speed limits to improve on-road cycling conditions
- Combined pedestrian/cycle wombat crossing of Darley Rd to improve access to the Greenway
Mallet St area map
Conclusion
These routes represent the minimum infrastructure required to achieve Council's "Going Places" (Integrated Transport Strategy) mode-shift targets while supporting unprecedented housing growth. Council's own Traffic and Transport Needs Study acknowledges that safe cycling infrastructure is 'disconnected and disjointed'; these nine routes directly address the gaps Council has already identified.
The window to shape transport behavior is now. Thousands of new residents arriving in housing investigation areas will make transport decisions based on available infrastructure. If cycling feels unsafe because these routes don't exist, they will buy cars. Once that investment is made and the habit established, mode shift becomes exponentially harder.
Council's Climate and Renewables Strategy commits to fostering zero emissions mobility. These routes are the physical infrastructure making those commitments real. The policy framework is in place. The population is ready. The growth is coming. What's needed is infrastructure making cycling safe, practical, and appealing for the 'interested but concerned' majority who would cycle for transport if it felt safe.
We request Council commit to delivering these routes through the Developer Contributions Plan, with design commencing immediately and construction beginning as soon as possible.
The window to shape transport behavior is now. Thousands of new residents arriving in housing investigation areas will make transport decisions based on available infrastructure. If cycling feels unsafe because these routes don't exist, they will buy cars. Once that investment is made and the habit established, mode shift becomes exponentially harder.
Council's Climate and Renewables Strategy commits to fostering zero emissions mobility. These routes are the physical infrastructure making those commitments real. The policy framework is in place. The population is ready. The growth is coming. What's needed is infrastructure making cycling safe, practical, and appealing for the 'interested but concerned' majority who would cycle for transport if it felt safe.
We request Council commit to delivering these routes through the Developer Contributions Plan, with design commencing immediately and construction beginning as soon as possible.
Sincerely, the Bike Marrickville committee:
Tom Watson – Secretary
Estelle Grech – Vice President
Natalie Ross – Treasurer
Ellis Bou-Harb – President
Sander Ottes
Mariska Marnane
John Caley
Fiona Campbell
John McNeil
Ed Steane
Patrick O'Meara
Tamsyn Glenn
Jason L'Ecuyer
Tom Watson – Secretary
Estelle Grech – Vice President
Natalie Ross – Treasurer
Ellis Bou-Harb – President
Sander Ottes
Mariska Marnane
John Caley
Fiona Campbell
John McNeil
Ed Steane
Patrick O'Meara
Tamsyn Glenn
Jason L'Ecuyer
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