West Street cycleway: North Sydney shop owners, cycle groups at odds over council bike path plans

A council plan for a new bike path has divided opinions among business and cycle groups with critics labelling the cycle-friendly project a waste of ratepayer funds.

A concept image of the new cycleway.

A council plan for a new North Sydney bike path has divided opinions among business and cycle groups with critics labelling the cycle-friendly project a waste of ratepayer funds.

North Sydney Council has received a mixed response over plans to build a new two-lane cycleway on West St that would involve reconstructing footpaths on the busy road between Ridge and Amhurst Sts.

The council says the upgrade will support people of all ages to ride a bike and walk between Cammeray with North Sydney.

But Jim Kontos, owner of Eighty Cafe on the corner of West St and Emmett St, fears the project will cause safety issues and months of disruption to trade.

“It’s such a busy road and if they’re putting in a bike directly next to the footpath it’s going to become dangerous for a lot of pedestrians who’ll now have to look out for bikes,” he said.

The bike lane project is set to impact the popular Eighty Ate cafe.

“For us as business there’ll also be the disruption caused during construction works – they’ll be ripping up the road with bulldozers. It’s be chaos.”

The new cycleway is the second stage of the council’s bike path plans for West St, following the completion of the first stage between the Pacific Highway and Ridge St.

Phillip Hart – president of local cycle advocacy group Bike North – said the second stage of the project would complete a missing gap in the region’s bike network.

“It’s a particularly important part of the bike network because it connects the harbour bridge with all the suburbs to the north,” he said.

“West Street is also quite scary for cyclists because it has fast moving traffic.

“The bike lane will make it safer for everyone and it also makes it possible for families and people with e-bikes to cycle.”

A concept image of the bike path.

Mr Kontos has questioned the demand for the extension of the project, saying he has seen little engagement in the first stage of the West Street cycleway.

“I barely see any people using it – all the cyclists in Lycra just choose to cycle on the road. The only people who use it are Uber riders and the occasional commuter,” he said.

“I’m supportive of change, but I don’t think the council should invest a lot of money in something that won’t be used.”

Eighty Ate cafe.

The council’s plans for the cycleway states the project would “provide safe and healthy transport options” and make the street “easier to walk and cycle.”

Council modelling shows 400 people cycle along West St each day.

The proposed cycleway is currently open for public feedback.

If approved, construction is expected to begin in 2024-25, pending grant funding from the NSW Government.

North Sydney Council in a statement said council has approached affected businesses to discuss the proposed plans.

A concept image of the new bike path outside the cafe.

“The proposed designs are not proposing to narrow the footpath and pedestrian safety will not be compromised,” she said.

“The West Street Cycleway has been identified as a priority route within the North Sydney Integrated Cycling Strategy, connecting the Sydney Harbour Bridge Cycleway to St Leonards. “The proposed link aligns with the Transport for NSW Active Transport Strategy and its identification of a cycleway corridor connecting Chatswood to the Sydney CBD.

“The route also has six schools within close proximity and the upgrades will provide safe infrastructure for young people to travel by active transport to and from school.”