Residents left devastated as beloved cycleway is destroyed

A path designed to make active travel safer for a huge volume of people has seemingly been destroyed, leaving locals furious.

A path designed to make active travel safer for a huge volume of people has seemingly been destroyed, leaving locals furious.

Regular users of a popular cycleway have been delivered the devastating news the route will no longer be viable after an unforgiving decision by the local council.

The green cycle path on Heath Street in Rodd Point, in Sydney’s inner west, began being ripped up this week, just five months after it was installed.

A photo shared to the Bicycle NSW Instagram page showed giant holes had been pried open along the former safe passageway.

“Heath Street Cycleway removed today. We’re sorry to all the parents whose kids can’t ride home safely, we’re sorry to all the riders who used Heath St as a connecting corridor and we’re sorry to all the prospective riders who were just that little bit closer to taking the final step and begin riding,” the advocacy group wrote in its post.

The path, which was part of a $7 million investment to link the Bay Run to Concord, had been a recent source of contention with the council, which has seemingly flip-flopped over whether it would be removed or not.

The Heath Street path has been ripped up, leaving locals furious. Picture: Instagram/Canada Bay Bicycle User Group

Council a few weeks ago said the pass would be torn up due to complaints from residents worried about traffic risks, issues with carparking, property access and low visibility.

“The separated cycleway in Heath St will be removed and replaced with a two-way mixed traffic arrangement as outlined in the attached plan,” a statement from a traffic committee meeting read.

Weeks later however the council reversed on its earlier comment, stating the path would not be removed, just modified.

“The council plans to modify (not remove) the section of cycleway at Heath Street,” a new Canada Bay Council statement said.

The photo shared this week indicates however the path might be disappearing for good.

Locals were devastated at the prospect of the cycleway being removed permanently.

“Removed? Huh? New development? So disappointing for kids’ safety and community enjoyment,” one person responded.

“So sad to see! Disappointed with Canada Bay,” another said.

“Extraordinary stupidity and backflip by Canada Bay, and all on the public purse,” a third wrote.