Rugby Australia, Venues NSW call for City of Sydney to remove Moore Park Rd cycleway

Sydney’s bicycle battles are heating up as Rugby Australia calls on Clover Moore to rip out a pop-up cycleway out due to safety concerns at the Allianz Stadium precinct.

The City of Sydney is considering keeping the bike path despite opposition.

Rugby Australia has come out fighting against Clover Moore and the City of Sydney’s bike path as it calls for the pop-up cycleway to be ripped out over concerns for athletes and spectators’ safety at Allianz Stadium.

The peak body has described the pop-up bike path on Moore Park Rd as “extremely dangerous” and warned there had been “numerous near misses” between bikes and pedestrians along the cycleway.

The two-way separated bike path was built during the peak of the Covid-19 pandemic and was originally due to remain in place until mid this year.

The City of Sydney is considering keeping it in place for another three years to provide a key cycle connection between the eastern suburbs and the CBD.

Cycleways have been a key policy of Lord Mayor Clover Moore, who said the Moore Park Rd route provides a “safe commuting option” and helps reduce carbon emissions.

But Rugby Australia’s chief financial officer Richard Gardham is calling for the council to remove the path, saying it poses a “real and immediate public health and safety risk.”

The bike path was installed in mid-2020.

Rugby Australia's Richard Gardham.

“The cycleway and in particular where it intersects with the Ruby Australia House driveway is extremely dangerous for cyclists, pedestrians and road users,” Mr Gardham said in a letter to the council.

“Rugby Australia is aware of numerous near misses and at least one collision between a car and cyclist. This should be of immediate concern to the City of Sydney.

“Rugby Australia has opposed the cycleway since its inception (but) the City of Sydney has continued and intends on continuing the cycleway despite being aware of the safety risks.

“The Covid emergency situation has ceased and therefore the cycleway’s original purpose is no longer relevant.”

Concerns from Ruby Australia have also centred on the ability to transport athletes to and from the busy precinct.

“Rugby Australia contains a high-performance centre used daily by teams which regularly require a safe spot for buses to offload and pick up athletes,” Mr Gardham said.

“The cycleway makes this not possible.”

Similar concerns have been raised by State Government agency Venues NSW, saying the cycleway poses a safety hazard during stadium events and impedes access for emergency vehicles and people in wheelchairs.

The cycleway provides a link between the CBD and the eastern suburbs.

“It creates a dangerous crossover between pedestrians, vehicles and cyclists at multiple locations along its length,” the department stated.

“It is also used as an unofficial taxi rank after stadium events have concluded because poor upkeep and broken barriers allow vehicle access.”

A photo of crowds at Allianz Stadium.

A report by the City of Sydney has recommended retaining the bike path for another three years or until the completion of the proposed Oxford St East cycleway which would provide an alternative link between the CBD and the eastern suburbs.

The council’s recommendation to retain the Moore Park Rd cycleway was based on a Review of Environmental Factors report which found the “minimal environmental impacts” caused by the path could “be generally mitigated during operation” with “environmental safeguards”.

A photo of the pop-up cycleway.

Modelling by the council shows the path is used by about 500 cyclists on weekdays and 360 on Saturdays and Sundays.

“The (cycleway) supports healthy lifestyles (and) increases access and safety for people on bikes,” the council report stated.

The plan to retain the path for another three years generated 35 public submissions of which just 12 were in support and 23 were opposed.

The cycleway was installed during the peak of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Bicycle group BikeEast was a leading advocate of the proposal with group president Mark Worthington saying he fully supported the “retention of these important and necessary facilities in the growing City of Sydney bicycle network.”

The council’s Transport, Heritage, Environment and Planning Committee will vote on the recommendation to retain the bike path at a meeting next week.

The City of Sydney in a statement said there have been no crashes reported to police since the temporary cycleway was installed in 2020.

“Until the NSW Government completes its Oxford Street East cycleway, the Moore Park Road cycleway will be needed to provide a safe connection for people riding between the East and the City Centre,” a spokesman said.

“It will also connect to the City of Sydney’s Oxford Street West cycleway project, with construction expected to begin in October.

“Rugby Australia has multiple options to serve its day-to-day operational needs that do not require the use of Moore Park Road. These include Driver Avenue and the Rugby Australia car park.

“The cycleways provide safe connections within the existing cycle network for both experienced riders and people who are just starting to gain confidence.”