Surry Hills: City of Sydney council approves new bike lane project amid safety, traffic concerns

A bike lane battle is brewing over plans to transform two Sydney roads into new cycleways as business owners warn the project could cut access and result in cyclists hit with ‘kegs of beer’ wheeled out from a popular pub.

A bike lane battle is brewing over plans to transform two CBD roads into new cycleways as business owners warn the project could cut access to their buildings and result in cyclists hit with “kegs of beer” wheeled out from a popular pub.

Surry Hills is the latest location marked by the City of Sydney Council for new separated bike lanes as part of its mission to have 10 per cent of public transport trips made by bikes ahead of 2030.

The project – known as the Central Quietway project – would involve converting parts of Cooper and Arthur streets from two-way to one way traffic.

The council says the route would connect cyclists from Elizabeth to South Dowling streets and “bring significant improvements to the street environment” and the safety of cyclists.

But some business owners and residents fear the project could have the reverse effect by creating safety hazards for cyclists, pedestrians and motorists.

A concept image of the bike lane which will run outside businesses including the Evening Star Hotel and result in two-lane roads changed to one-way traffic.

Part of their concerns centre on the bike lane’s proximity to the Evening Star Hotel with some locals claiming cyclists could be hit with kegs of beer being wheeled out by delivery workers to and from the venue.

Polly Seidler, director of Contec Properties which owns a commercial property on Elizabeth St opposite the hotel and cycleway, said changes to the direction of traffic could result in properties losing access to rubbish collection and delivery vehicle services.

“The street needs to be kept to two-way traffic because private rubbish trucks won’t be able to turn into our driveway,” she said.

Construction on the bike lane is due to commence next year.

“The separated cycleways are going to cause problems (and) the elephant in the room is there’s a loading zone outside the pub and there will be people wheeling kegs across the cycleway.

“That is a disaster waiting to happen because cyclists don’t expect kegs to be suddenly rolled out before them.”

Plans by the council show a total of 12 existing carparks spaces would be removed along the route.

An overview of the project showing traffic changes to Cooper St.

Despite pledges by the council to offset this loss by creating 15 new spaces on nearby streets, resident Geoff Alexander fears the project could cause additional parking pressure on the community.

“Many homes are single car households and residents competing with diners, shoppers and workers for parking spaces is already a daily exercise,” he said.

Local resident David Brown said the bike lane could “unfairly inconvenience” residents due to one-lane traffic changes resulting in homeowners having to take detours of up to 1km to access their homes.

Plans for the project have been approved by the City of Sydney Council this month.

A report by the council stated the project’s design included safety measures such as a “buffer zone” between the cycleway and parking spaces to protect cyclists from vehicles.

“(The project will) improve safety by reducing the overall number of vehicle movements in these blocks and reduce the number of potential conflict points between people riding and driving,” the report added.

“A quieter street adds a safe cycling connection while also improving the amenity of the street, prioritising people walking and supporting the greening targets.”

The bike lane will run outside the Evening Star Hotel in Surry Hills.

In a statement, a council spokesman said community consultation for the project showed a majority of respondents had expressed support.

“Cooper and Arthur Sts are a key east-west route for people riding and the project will also improve safety for everyone, including people walking, with traffic to be calmed and crossings improved,” he said.

“Because of the unique environment along this route, we have focused on calming vehicle traffic and improving safety for people walking and riding by limiting a separated cycleway to locations where it is absolutely necessary for safety.”

The council – which approved the project at a meeting last week – says it will monitor traffic following the completion of the project to see if any “further action is needed”.

Design works are due to be finalised by the end of this year with construction expected to commence from mid next year to mid 2027.