Sydney Harbour Bridge cycleway design proposal slammed

Several proposals have been drawn up for an addition to the Harbour Bridge, but one of the plans has been slammed on social media.

The NSW government has finally unveiled proposed designs for a new ramp to help improve access to the Sydney Harbour Bridge cycleway – but one option has not gone down too well with cyclists.

A two-storey ramp is one of two preferred options being considered, with the other a linear ramp that would wind its way north through Bradfield Park on a gentle gradient.

The options to improve access to the northern end of the Harbour Bridge cycleway were developed by Transport for NSW and released for community feedback on Monday.

But the loop option has already been slammed as too “dizzy”, and North Sydney Mayor Jilly Gibson has already vowed to try to crush the proposed ramp altogether.

A two-storey spiral ramp is one of two preferred options being considered. Picture: Supplied

The linear option would wind its way north through Bradfield Park on a gentle gradient. Picture: Supplied

Cyclists who ride over the bridge have spent years dismounting and trekking up stairs to use the cycleway.

NSW Transport Minister Andrew Constance said the number of cyclists crossing the bridge could more than double over 10 years once a new ramp at Milsons Point replaced the long-term bottleneck where cyclists were forced to dismount.

“Cyclists who use the Sydney Harbour Bridge cycleway will not miss having to negotiate the 55 steps that they currently carry their bikes up and down each day at the northern end,” Mr Constance said.

“A new ramp will improve safety but also encourage people who are currently unable or unwilling to tackle the stairs from Bradfield Park to use what is our most popular cycleway in Sydney.”

Bicycle NSW said it preferred the linear option, but most of all they wanted the ramp to be built – “not just talked about”.

The state government said the linear ramp option would reduce conflict with pedestrians closer to the entrance to Milsons Point train station.

North Sydney Council last week voted to object the ramp proposal as it would take up precious open space in the suburb.

But Bicycle NSW said it didn’t think the mayor understood how “exclusionary the 55 steps are for families, children, elders or people with disabilities”.

They encouraged all riders to write to her and share what a safe, rideable ramp could mean for how their travel.

Cyclists walking up and down the steps to the Harbour Bridge bikeway.

One rider, Alex Holt, posted on Facebook that he didn’t understand why it had to be so difficult.

“Can’t we just have a ramp parallel with the bridge that comes out either just before or just after the station entrance,” he said.

Another said the loop could work if it was “more compact and with a shallower gradient”.

University of NSW built environment expert Mike Harris told the Sydney Morning Herald that he supported the linear design, and the loop one made him “dizzy” looking at it.

“Whichever ramp is built, the project will include improvements at ground level for the safety of local pedestrians and cyclists who commute through Milsons Point and North Sydney,” Mr Constance said

About 2000 cyclist trips are taken across the Sydney Harbour Bridge cycleway on weekdays.

Transport for NSW made the decision not to progress with a lift or travelator because they did not solve safety or congestion issues and they were not supported by the Heritage Council of NSW.

Another option was converting a lane of traffic on the Sydney Harbour Bridge into a cycleway, but that was also ruled out because of the major impact it would have on the road network.