After months of submissions, speeches, and showing up — the Lilyfield Road Cycleway has been approved. Inner West Council voted last night to formally adopt the recommendations of the Local Transport Forum, and the project now moves into detailed design. Construction is expected to start in early 2027/28.

This is a big deal. The Lilyfield Road Cycleway fills one of the most frustrating gaps in the Inner West cycling network — a steep, bus-and-truck-filled road that has kept all but the most confident riders off what should be a key connection between the GreenWay/Bay Run, Rozelle Parklands, and the Sydney CBD. That gap is finally being closed.

The approved design includes a separated two-way cycleway along the full length of Lilyfield Road from Maliyawul Street to Victoria Road, with raised crossings, kerb buildouts, speed cushions, a new roundabout at Denison Street, and a net gain of 47 parking spaces thanks to new angle parking along the Rozelle Parklands frontage. Watch or rather listen to last night's speakers from Bike Marrickville and other groups at the Council Meeting.

Trees and verges protected
The approval didn't just rubber-stamp the original recommendation — it came with important amendments that strengthened the project, moved by Councillor Kerrie Fergusson (Labor, Balmain) and Councillor Ismet Tastan (Greens, Balmain).

On the steep western section, the minutes now formally confirm that the cycleway will be at least 2.8 metres wide — correcting an error in the agenda documents that had suggested a narrower 2.4 metre path. Advocates from Bike Marrickville, AshBUG, Bike Leichhardt and GreenWay all raised this at the Local Transport Forum last month, and it landed.

On the slip lane at Mary Street, Council committed to advocating to Transport for NSW — which controls traffic signals in NSW — to maximise intersection efficiency as the project progresses. Residents' concerns about traffic impacts were heard, and their petition will be formally referred to TfNSW for consideration.

And on trees: Council has guaranteed that existing trees and grass verges will be protected wherever feasible. If any do need to be removed, they will be replaced with mature specimens in the immediate vicinity.

What happens next
Detailed design is funded and planned for 2026/27. Construction funding will be sought through the TfNSW Get Active Program, with works expected to commence early 2027/28.
​
Bike Marrickville will stay engaged through the detailed design phase — there are still opportunities to push for the best possible outcome on width, crossings, and connections. Watch this space.

Inner West Council has released a draft Parking Strategy and we think it's worth paying attention to — and supporting.
For too long, kerbside parking has been treated as a given. Every metre of kerb devoted to storing a private car is a metre that could be a protected cycleway, a street tree, or a café table. This strategy starts to change that default, and that's a big deal.
The strategy commits to repurposing parking for better community uses, constraining parking in new developments, opposing new road capacity, and using parking revenue to fund transport improvements. Council's own road user hierarchy puts cycling above private vehicles — and this strategy starts to put that into practice.
Bike Marrickville is making a submission asking Council to go further: explicitly linking parking reform to cycleway delivery on arterials like Marrickville Road, Sydenham Road and Addison Road, using reclaimed parking space for traffic calming on local streets, and kerbing the long-term storage of boats, trailers and caravans on public streets.

How you can help
The submission period is open until 25 May. The more voices Council hears in support of this strategy — and in favour of going further on cycling — the harder it is to water down under pressure from those who want to keep the status quo. You can make a submission at yoursay.innerwest.nsw.gov.au. Even a few sentences saying you support the strategy and want to see more protected cycleways funded from parking revenue makes a difference.

Since the opening of Rozelle Parklands and its connection to the GreenWay, a remarkable off-road cycling route has taken shape across Sydney's inner west — running all the way from the Cooks River to the CBD via Anzac Bridge. Almost entirely separated from traffic. Almost.
The missing link is Lilyfield Road. Right now, cyclists connecting the Bay Run to Rozelle Parklands must navigate fast-moving traffic on a steep, narrow road — conditions that are fine for confident riders but a barrier for everyone else. Parents with children, older residents, teenagers, and anyone who wants to ride but needs to feel safe simply don't make that trip.
Inner West Council has created a concept design for a separated two-way cycleway along Lilyfield Road that closes this gap for good.
The project goes to Inner West Council for final approval on Tuesday 17 May at 6.30pm, Level 6, 260 Liverpool Road, Ashfield. Showing up matters — a room full of supporters sends a clear message.
Can't make it in person? Email your support to [email protected].
Let's get this built.

It’s official—the Marrickville community loves to ride! We are still buzzing from the incredible energy at last month's Muddy River festival, where Bike Marrickville made a major splash. From valet bike parking to mobilizing local advocacy, it was a day that proved just how bright the future of cycling is in the Inner West.

A Massive Turnout
The numbers are in, and they are impressive. We personally looked after around 130 bikes in our designated care area (including many cargo bikes and family setups!), but that was just the beginning.
With bikes parked all across the festival site, we estimate that roughly 200 of the 2,000 attendees arrived on two wheels. Seeing 10% of festival-goers choose to cycle is a massive win for our streets and a testament to the growing riding culture in our neighborhood.

Community Power in Action
Beyond the parking, the day was a powerhouse for local advocacy. We successfully rallied dozens of new submissions for the Lilyfield Road and parking consultations. By raising our profile and engaging with the community, we’re ensuring that the voice of local riders is heard loud and clear by Council.

A message from Bicycle NSW to avoid Darling Drive (running behind the carparks etc on the western side of darling harbour) from Wednesday. The good news it is part of installing a new separated cycle way.

"Darling Harbour Live - temporary changes to traffic to deliver a new dedicated bike lane

Temporary changes to traffic conditions are required on Darling Drive as part of the Darling Harbour Live development. From 3 December, the lanes on Darling Drive must reduce in width. With safety as the priority, we encourage cyclists to temporarily divert through Darling Harbour, and please dismount and walk through the construction hoardings. Darling Harbour Live look forward to delivering a new dedicated bike lane on the western side of Darling Drive, due for completion in 2016. For more information please call 1300 799 026 or email [email protected]

Thank you for your cooperation while this important work is carried out.

Kind regards,

Sophie Bartho, Executive Director Communications
bicyclensw.org.au

The Sydney Airports Corp Ltd (SACL) preliminary draft Major Development Plan (pdDMP) for the Domestic Terminal (T2-3) is due on 22 September 2014. This planning document is implicated in the WestConnex enabling works east. This is a once in a lifetime chance to have the missing cycle link around the airport recognised by SACL and RMS. This project could open up the south suburbs to bicycle permeability in a big way. It would enable hundreds of trips daily to and from the airport and possibly thousands past the airport.
If you have some time please read the linked doc recommendations 1-6, 7. Add anything in your own words - preferred so it does not look like a form letter. And attach to the response form on the SACL website (will add link tomorrow). If you are good with detail please include some.
Please circulate this widely. We need a good response to shake things up a bit.
http://www.sydneygreenring.org/2014/09/sydney-airport-terminal-2-3-preliminary.html

The City of Sydney is seeking quotations for a service provider to run a Bike Bus trial.  More details are in the brief below.

 Quotations will be judged on price, proposed methodology, capacity and experience, and risk management approach.  The service provider will be required to have appropriate insurances and to sign the City’s standard minor services contract.
 
If you are interested, please send a response with all the information required as per brief below, by close of business next Wednesday 16th April.

Fiona Campbell
Manager Cycling Strategy
City Of Sydney
t:   9246 7587
m: 0401 628 742

e: [email protected]

w: www.sydneycycleways.net
f: www.facebook.com/sydneycycleways

Bike Bus Trial – brief

The City of Sydney is seeking operator(s) to run a Bike Bus.  Each of three routes will be run one day a week, including the evening return journey.  An operator may quote for one, two or three of the routes below.  It will be for six weeks from 5th May until 19th June.

A Bike Bus is a ride led by an experienced rider (and sweep) to support inexperienced riders to ride into work.  It runs to a timetable and may pick up riders at a number of “stops”.

The three routes are: Stanmore/Newtown to City; Randwick to City; and Rosebery/Green Square to City.  The route should be suitable for inexperienced riders to later follow on their own, as well as suitable for the group.

The City will be responsible for marketing and administering the “bus tickets”, ensuring passengers have first completed the Cycling in the City course.  The City will also survey participants to evaluate the effectiveness of the program.

Please describe:

1) How you will run the Bike Bus(es), including plans for dealing with expected situations.

2) Additional measures you will take to make new riders feel welcome and accommodated.

3) How you would train or build capacity in riders able and willing to lead the bike bus after the project is complete.

4) Your risk management practices for running a group ride of inexperienced riders.

Please quote separately for each Bike Bus route: the price of running a Bike Bus, return, for one day of the week for six weeks and what resources are able to be committed and available as backup.