Article in The Weekly Times, February 14

Council in push for new cyclists' route

Ryde City Council is to support Bike North in its quest to find an alternate cycle route between Lane Cove and Beecroft roads following a plan to ban cyclists from this stretch of the M2.

At its meeting last week Council agreed to write letters to Transurban, the owners of the M2, as well as the RTA, expressing their strong disappointment in the suggested alternate routes. They will also ask for a time extension to seek out a solution.

Bike North Convener for Ryde Doug Stewart believes Transurban and their consultants have done no planning and have simply chosen a route off the map.

"None of the people making these important decisions are actually cyclists. They have chosen a route that is very hilly and unsafe in many places,Ó he said.

"There has been inadequate time for a thorough consultation process by the RTA and Transurban. We want more time to reach viable alternatives.Ó

Bike North committee member for Ryde Craig McMurdo believes the inadequacy of the proposed cycleway will be a big impediment to cyclists in the Ryde area.

"The current proposal is the equivalent to closing the M2 to cars and sending them on the back streets.

"The number of cyclists is bound to drop which will cause more traffic gridlock in the Macquarie Park area," he said.

Initial plans for the route to go through Macquarie University were abandoned by the RTA prompting Clr Vic Tagg to suggest they were changing the interim route "willy-nilly."

Last Wednesday Bike North presented alternate cycle routes to Trans-urban and the RTA at a meeting of the Ryde Bicycle Committee.

A decision on the matter will be made when council meet on February 27.