Inner west cyclists call for safer routes as crash rates jump by 38%

AFTER being hit by a car in Newtown, an inner west university student is backing calls for a safety rethink of our roads. It comes as new figures show there were 52 accidents involving cyclists in the Inner West Council area in 2017, up from 38 in 2015.

Lauren at the location where she was hit by a car in Newtown. Photo: Bob Barker.

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INNER west university student Lauren* wants to ride the streets of the inner west in safety.

After being hit by a car in Newtown, the Lewisham is backing calls for a safety rethink of our roads.

It was just after 9am last Monday when a sedan cut across a lane of traffic in front of the 24-year-old, leaving her no time to brake.

CCTV footage of the crash shows Lauren was knocked on to the pavement outside the Marlborough Hotel.

CCTV footage of the crash, outside the Marlborough Hotel.

The driver of the car stopped a short distance away as witnesses rushed to Lauren’s aid. She sustained bruises and grazes.

“We all have our moments, but when someone makes a mistake or suddenly pulls out in front of you, the stakes are higher for the cyclist,” she said.

Data from Roads and Maritime Services show last Monday’s crash was far from isolated — in 2017 there were 52 accidents involving cyclists in the Inner West Council area, up from 38 in 2015.

Lauren believes safety improvements would encourage the uptake of cycling.

She named Parramatta Rd and Railway Terrace in Lewisham as danger spots that could benefit from measures such as separated cycleways.

“A lot of people I know would love to commute by bike but don’t feel safe. Improving cycling infrastructure will help more people get riding and reduce the pressure on public transport and parking,” she said.

A City of Sydney survey in June found 57 per cent of residents living 10km from the CBD would consider taking up cycling if there was a safer bike network.

Feedback from the City of Sydney survey.

Almost 60 per cent of respondents supported a bike network even if it meant longer car journeys in to the city centre.

The City is planning to create 11 regional bike routes by 2030 that will have separated cycleways where feasible.

Lord Mayor Clover Moore said bikes have potential to cut congestion and free up capacity on public transport and our roads.

Separated cycleways have been named as a solution to improve safety for cyclists.

“Bike trips in our area have doubled since 2007 while the number of crashes have dropped in the same time,” she said.

“We’ve seen an immediate increase in the number of people riding on the sections of our bike network already built, proving safe bike connections really do work.”

* Lauren asked for her name to be withheld from publication.

IN OTHER NEWS

THE CYCLE DIVIDE

LATEST figures show a big gender divide when it comes to cycling in the inner west. Why?

A survey commissioned by the City of Sydney found women (12%) were less likely than men (24%) to have ridden in the last week and more likely to say they don’t ride a bike (49% of females compared with 36% of males).

While comprehensive cycling data is hard to come by, Census data from 2016 shows of the 3994 inner west residents who cycle to work, just 27 per cent were women.

Newtown had the most (186), Marrickville was second (130) but head further west and Burwood, South Strathfield and Belfield had zero.

The City of Sydney study found 63% of women are discouraged from riding by “too much traffic, making it dangerous”. This compares with 48% of men.