Rose Bay promenade cycleway delayed by Covid

A planned bikeway, drawn up after the death of a cyclist, has been hit by a Covid delay – with some now calling for it to be scrapped altogether.

Cyclists will have to wait until April for construction to begin on the Rose Bay cycleway with council delaying the project due to the promenade’s popularity exploding during lockdown.

Walkers have flocked to the picturesque stretch since the June lockdown began and the cycleway project, to be constructed in three stages, would cause them to have to cross the road to navigate around the works.

Woollahra councillors Isabelle Shapiro and Mary-Lou Jarvis called for an extraordinary meeting on Monday night to urgently discuss delaying the project, originally slated for July and rescheduled to October, for a second time.

Supplied Editorial Rose Bay promenade has never been busier

Council was subsequently flooded with more than 70 submissions from residents, almost 50 of who asked for construction to be delayed.

It was put to a vote and, despite opposition from some councillors - most notably the Greens, it was decided to delay construction until after daylight savings ends in April.

“It’s a sensible, pragmatic solution given we are in a once in a century pandemic and people do need somewhere to go out and get fresh air and exercise,” Cr Jarvis said.

“The promenade has never been busier.”

Members of the public exercising at Rose Bay in August prior to the outdoor mask mandate. Picture: NCA NewsWire/Joel Carrett

Mayor Susan Wynne said she remained determined to ensure the cycleway went ahead.

“There is an absolute commitment to cyclists and cyclist safety and this shouldn’t be seen as a total disregard to cyclists,” Mayor Wynne said.

“It’s just about weighing up the needs of the whole community.”

While many residents are applauding the decision to delay the project it has devastated the close-knit cycling community.

Local cyclists have been calling for the cycleway’s construction ever since beloved father of four and paediatric ophthalmologist Henri Sueke, 36, was killed while riding to work on New South Head Road in 2015.

Dr Henri Sueke was tragically killed on New South Head Road.

BIKEast president Mark Worthington said the group was disappointed with the further delay and concerned if there is a change in sitting councillors at the December election it could jeopardise the commitment to resume works in April.

“Overall we just want them to proceed. They’ve started the work, what they’ve completed is good, but it’s not complete so it’s not going to provide cyclists with an option particularly if traffic starts to pick up and create a very dangerous situation once again,” Mr Worthington said.

“The speed limit is 60km/h and it’s a high traffic road. Any main trunk route that has that high traffic and, relative to cyclists, high speed is dangerous and so we need that off road alternative.”

A number of residents don’t just want the cycleway delayed but completely cancelled.

Rose Bay’s Ron Porter believes a path divided with walkers on one side and bikes on the other will be unsafe.

“This area unquestionably is one of the finest walks on Sydney Harbour – an icon of local beauty,” Mr Porter said.

“I would argue that the bicycle track should be scrapped not just deferred. I bring attention to the crowd that gathers for coffee outside The Boathouse. How is that going to work with bicycles whizzing by?”