Oxford St East cycleway: Business owners vent frustrations over plans for cycleway between Paddington and Taylor Square

A group of business figures have united against plans for a cycleway along Oxford St, with one small business owner even calling for a sit-down protest to combat the proposal.

Render of the Oxford St cycleway. Photo: City of Sydney

A committee has been formed to fight controversial plans for a cycleway on one of Sydney’s busiest roads, with fears theprojectwill threaten the survival of small businesses.

A two-way cycleway along Oxford St, between Paddington Gates and Taylor Square, has been proposed by Transport for NSW which would see four lanes of traffic slashed to two.

Paddington business figures united on Wednesday night at Paddo RSL to discuss plans to combat the cycleway, with one strategy suggested including a “sit down protest”.

The forum, organised by owner of Oxford St business Paddo Pets Tim McCarthy, discussed safety concerns, the impact on customers and business logistics, and slower response times for emergency services if the cycleway became reality.

Cafe Lautrec owner Mark Duff told the forum “you can’t trust” the state government and referenced how Kingsford businesses were negatively affected as a result of the light rail development in 2014.

“Businesses along Oxford St will be totally devastated (by the cycleway),” Mr Duff said. “All these people who think they’re going to be cycling here to visit little shops, there won’t be any businesses left. It’ll be the new Kingsford.

Tim McCarthy led the forum at Paddo RSL on Wednesday night.

“All of the [Kingsford businesses] never last a lease … there’s no parking, there’s no people, then they close up and then the next one comes in thinking they’re going to start a business.”

Paddington barber Peter Ricciardo echoed Mr Duff’s fears, saying he once visited businesses at Kingsford once a month. However, due to no parking on Anzac Pde, he has been back just twice in two-and-a-half years.

Mark Duff speaking at Wednesday night’s forum.

Mr Duff’s wife Jennifer asked attendees to “visualise” how Oxford St would look like if the plans were to go ahead.

“When they put those big bunkers along the bike track in Oxford St, how much room will there be between 8am and 10am when there’s two lanes of traffic still trying to get into the city,” Ms Duff said.

She warned cyclists who “fell on those bunkers” should “forget it” as emergency services wouldn’t be able to reach them in a timely manner.

Woollahra councillor Harriet Price, who recently voted in support the draft concept plan, told the forum she was “really disappointed” the community doesn’t have all the information.

Community members at the forum.

Some small businesses on Oxford St are in support of the plans, including Jozo cafe owner Aleis Carline who previously told this publication she welcomed “30 to 40” cyclists every day and it was time for a new approach to revitalise Oxford St.

Cyclist and Paddington Fine Wines owner Stephen Harris said parking was a major concern.

“For most of the retailers around here, parking is our lifeblood,” he said. “We require people to actually buy goods that are probably too bulky and heavy for them to put on a bike. It’s quite dangerous.”

Oxford St restaurant owner Marcello Farioli also said he cycled regularly in his home country of Italy but he did not ride down Oxford St because he found it unsafe. He said a cycleway would only exacerbate existing parking issues for his customers.

Lord Mayor Clover Moore. Photo: Sam Ruttyn

Sydney Lord Mayor Clover Moore, a supporter of boosting cycleway infrastructure around Sydney’s CBD, said the plans would take people on and off roads, when asked if she envisioned a car-free city.

“By improving and increasing public and active transport options, we free up space on the road for those who need to drive, especially service and trade vehicles,” she said.

NSW Liberal Premier Dominic Perrottet and NSW Labor leader Chris Minns did not respond to questions asking if they were concerned about the impact of the proposed cycleway.

Infrastructure Minister Rob Stokes.Pics by Julian Andrews.

Infrastructure and Active Transport Minister Rob Stokes supported the introduction of the cycleway.

“You wouldn’t drive your car on a road that leads to nowhere, and that’s the problem we’re trying to solve by building a connected and complete cycleway over the Sydney Harbour Bridge, through to the CBD all the way to Bondi Junction,” he said.

“Just last month more than 500,000 cyclists used the CBD network of cycleways. It proves if you build it they will come. But we need to make sure that we build this cycleway in partnership with community and local businesses.

“We’ve heard loud and clear from businesses that retaining parking is critical, and the current proposal does this. We’ve also heard from businesses that the cycleway must come with increased landscaping and beautification works, and that reducing the air and noise pollution associated with four lanes of traffic will help to rejuvenate Oxford St.”

Transport for NSW is engaging with the community before a design is finalised.