Strategic cycleway corridors

The Strategic Cycleway Corridors Program is about establishing safe and accessible cycleways across the six cities, that better connect centres, precincts, and places, and enables councils to progressively develop local bike networks. This will enable everyone to enjoy safe and convenient bike access to the places they want to go, such as schools, shops, public transport and business hubs, helping provide more equitable and low-cost transport options.

The corridors have been developed with consideration of current and future growth within key centres. The Strategic Cycleway Corridors Program also considers major projects and land use changes, priorities of local councils and bike user groups along with alignment to strategic plans and strategies.

The Program will undertake initial investigation, design and development of selected routes, via collaboration with key stakeholders, such as councils. Subject to funding, the corridors will be rolled out in sections to incrementally expand the connected network. Additionally, Transport for NSW (Transport) will support councils in delivering local bike networks through planning guidance and funding from programs like Get NSW Active.

In line with one of the strategic priorities within the Active Transport Strategy, Transport is working with councils and other agencies to develop the strategic cycleway corridor network. This will include investigating and delivering identified connections within the strategic cycleway corridor network across the Six Cities Region. Once investigations for connections are completed and funding is secured, delivery timeframes will be established.

Additional connections within the strategic network will be investigated on an ongoing basis to help meet our vision of doubling the number of walking and cycling trips across NSW.

As work progresses with refining routes within the corridors, a clearer cost estimation will be established. Funding for missing links may be addressed through different programs and major project opportunities rather than simply through the Strategic Cycleway Corridors Program. Transport is working to secure funding to help progress the design of identified connections along the strategic network.

The connections identified as opportunities for investigation are those which will fill in missing links. The opportunities for investigation are listed in the Strategic Cycleway Corridor summary documents for respective cities, including Eastern Harbour City (PDF, 1.06 MB), Central River City (PDF, 1.27 MB), Western Parkland City (PDF, 1.22 MB), Lower Hunter and Greater Newcastle City (PDF, 1.04 MB), Central Coast City (PDF, 1.02 MB), and Illawarra-Shoalhaven City (PDF, 1.28 MB). They have been chosen because they will create strategically important connections in busy and growing centres. 

Transport is investigating the previously identified opportunities for Greater Sydney, which are at various stages of development, from early investigations to construction. Some projects such as the Lilyfield connection, and St Leonards to Artarmon connection are being developed by councils and funded by NSW Government. Sections of others, such as North Sydney to St Leonards, and Newtown to Green Square are being investigated by Transport. 

The Program will apply design guidance from Transport for NSW’s Cycleway Design Toolbox. This may involve upgrades to existing cycle facilities to better align with this guidance. The design of cycleways will be informed by the local setting and will involve consultation with relevant stakeholders along each corridor to make streets safer for all users.

The primary focus of the strategic cycleway corridor network is to provide safe cycleways that better connect key centres, precincts, places, and major points of interest. During the development of cycling routes within the corridors, information from site visits, stakeholders and existing cycleway infrastructure will be referenced to shape designs. 

The aim is to minimise the need for land acquisition or impacts on car parking. Any requirements for land acquisition or impacts on car parking will be determined once potential route alignments have been identified and investigated.

Transport has been consulting with councils, bike advocacy groups, and other relevant state agencies across several rounds of engagement to inform the development of the program and strategic cycleway network maps.

Community engagement is an important part of the future development of the corridors and will be undertaken after funding for these projects is announced.