RTA plan for Victoria Rd bike route released for comment

The RTA has released its final plan (REF) for the cycleway upgrade along Victoria Road. There appears to have been no changes to their position since about June/July when we last had a meeting with BTBA and a walk-through of the Rozelle side). The REF does not have a lot of detail in terms of designs or drawings but I assume they are mostly as we have gleaned in the last year or more.

I also spoke to Verity Firth and she says she will make representations to the Ministers on our behalf for some more funding or some more attention to the things the RTA has left out or only half heartedly addressed. If we could get the $2 m for the Henley Marine shared pedestrian connection to the new bridge from the Bridge budget rather than the bike budget we might have enough to address all the issues.

I have put together a quick list of points we might raise (again) in a response to the REF. If I have overlooked something let me know.

1. The Plan does not resolve the No Bikes access problem off the Gladesville Bridge to Wolseley St. RTA plans to continue the bike ban on the most direct route off the Gladesville Bridge towards Drummoyne, rather than fix this longstanding missing link.

2.  Given that the new cycle path on the new Iron Cove Bridge is to be on the west side, would it be desirable to have a commuter route on Formosa St as well as on Renwick St through Drummoyne. (there is a one way restriction at Lyons Rd but this could be got round(?))  No doubt Drummoyne commuters who live on that side will use Formosa St.

I am not sure if there will be access to the new bridge via a path from Park St. The plans arent detailed enough. I should ring the BTBA and find out. If so commuters from Gladesville via Renwick St might switch over at Park to the new shared footpath.

3. No plans are shown, so hard to know if the cycle access ramp from Victoria Rd footpath near Cary St to Roseby St in Drummoyne will be too steep or awkward.

4. Would like to see the old bridge footpath widened and safety barriers provided between the girders to stop cyclists accidentally going on to the roadway.

5. Consider the lack of a barrier on the footpath approaching the old Iron Cove Bridge from Rozelle to be a safety problem. Cyclists could run off the path into oncoming traffic, particularly on the bend near the top of the pedestrian steps.

6. The Green time at intersections like Terry St or Evans St is very short. No mention of any steps to increase Green times on these side streets, or to make crossing unsignalled side streets safer by giving priority to cyclists.

7. There is no detail of the proposed bike route on Terry St. There is a need for a safe and convenient crossing at Victoria Rd for cyclists on Terry St  turning right onto the Victoria Rd shared path towards the Iron Cove bridge. No provision seems to have been made for this, such as a short section of shared path/waiting area from about 10-15 m north of the intersection, or a crossing point further back on Terry St. Also, would prefer no bicycle shoulder lane on the downhill side from about Margaret St to Victoria Rd, as it is not wide enough. Cyclists can more safely share the traffic lane downhill.

8 Would like to see the bus shelters east of Terry St relocated to a wider section of footpath to allow more width for cyclists on the shared path.

9. Would also like more space behind the bus shelters at Wellington and Darling Sts, and the new shelter east of Evans St, with some minor land acquisition or leasing if necessary.

10 The opportunity should be taken to implement the Leichhardt Council Bike Strategy design for cyclists using the Darling St intersection. This is not mentioned in the RTA plan. (involves a bicycle lantern crossing for northbound cyclists, and a section of shared path on approach for waiting.)

11. Unclear in the REF if the path and connections through O'Connor reserve from Quirk St to Evans St will be widened or constructed to allow westbound cyclists a better grade than on steep Kennif St.

12. Disappointed that the shared footbridge over Victoria Rd at Lilyfield Rd is not being widened.

13. Also that the right turn from Lilyfield Rd onto the footbridge is not being formalised or made safer.

14. Support the alternative route proposed by LBUG for a bike route on Quirk and Gordon St to the Rozelle Goods Yard and under Victoria Rd to join the Anzac Bridge cycleway approach at its low point.

15. No mention in REF of the Metro, and how that might affect Victoria Rd at Darling St. Could allow resiting of the bus shelters to wider section of footpath near proposed station entrance. (Recent contact with Sydney Metro indicates this is still being looked at.)

I will use this as a basis for sending in a response to the RTA before 23 December deadline. Also to Verity Firth, who requested a copy.

 Please feel free to comment on the above and of course to make your own submissions. Details and links to the REF are on the RTA busway site.
The 16MB pdf is the REF. Sections 2 and 3 are most relevant, with a little more detail in section 6. The brochure is smaller but gives a quick overview. Comments to Inner West Busway, PO Box 743, Drummoyne, NSW 1740 or by email to victoriaroad@btba.com.au, by Dec 23.

Bob Moore
LBUG
98103706