Small business owners in the CBD are furious that figures used to justify cycle
lanes in the city have been grossly overstated. Business owners in Oxford Street
Paddington conducted their own survey of bike usage and found there figures
were around 10 per cent of those stated by Sydney City Council. The survey
found only 300 cyclists use the shopping strip in a 24-hour period, far less than
the 2701 cyclists quoted daily by the Council. In addition to Oxford Street the
existing cycleways in Castlereagh and Liverpool Streets amongst others are
being extended. Castlereagh Street, already one of our narrowest roads and
heavily congested at peak hours now reduced to one through lane with a bus lane
on the left and a bike lane on the right. Council now spending a staggering $17
million a year on cycle infrastructure. I’m David Berthon