On Thursday, the City of Sydney announced a major redevelopment of Oxford Street that will introduce a 1.7km centre-running bi-directional cycleway from Taylor Square to the City Centre. According to the Council, the “innovative” design will allow existing busways, taxi ranks and loading zones to function as usual, while cyclist traffic is redirected along the centre lane. As The Sydney Morning Herald reported, the Council will begin a consultation period in the coming months, with work scheduled to begin in March of 2021.
Daily Mail Australia has called the plan “the ultimate insult” to Sydney residents who weren’t wealthy enough to live in “exclusive” inner-city neighbourhoods. The online news outlet quoted social media users who criticised the cycleway as a waste of money and pandering to “Lycra clad loudmouths”.
In Wollongong, a cyclist who was hit by the driver of a ute last week has died in hospital. As The Illawarra Mercury reported, the 52-year-old sustained serious head and chest injuries after being hit on Springhill Road. Police are seeking witnesses and dash camera footage that may help with their investigation.
A Sydney man has avoided a custodial sentence after being found guilty of causing the death of a delivery cyclist in Double Bay in November of 2017. According to 7 News, a District Court found the 51-year-old driver had swerved to change lanes to avoid a vehicle but in doing so hit the 24-year-old victim, throwing him to the road and killing him. The driver was sentenced to an intensive corrections order to be served in the community. In sentencing, the judge took into account the perpetrators guilty plea and expressed remorse.
Transurban Queensland is warning Brisbane cyclists to stop using the city’s tunnels after a food delivery rider was caught riding in the Airportlink M7 tunnel. As The Courier Mail reported, the on-ramp to the tunnel had to be closed while Transurban employees directed the rider out of the tunnel using the loud speaker system. According to the operator this is the 73rd cyclist this year they have found riding in a tunnel, with the majority being food delivery cyclists.
Pedalling for Change 