Premier Kristina Keneally today announced the NSW Government will spend $158 million over 10 years improving NSW’s cycle network and building new cycling connections to public transport.
Ms Keneally said the cycle plan – unveiled as part of the Metropolitan Transport Plan: Connecting the City of Cities – responds to record numbers of bicycle owners in NSW.
"While the number of NSW households with access to at least one bike is growing steadily, we know that in Sydney around half of all households now have at least two bikes," Ms Keneally said.
"We will continue to support active transport – walking and cycling – to create a healthier, more environmentally sustainable city.
The NSW Government has spent nearly $300 million over the past 10 years on cycleways throughout Sydney and regional NSW, building an average of 200 km of cycling facilities per year.
The $158 million would complete many of the high priority missing links.
"This year, we will deliver a new NSW Bike Plan 2010, which will outline how the Government will work with local councils, communities and businesses to grow cycling over the next five, 10 and 20 years.
"We have set an ambitious target of five per cent travel by bike across Sydney by 2016 in our NSW State Plan.
"In order to meet this, it’s important we continue to build proper infrastructure that is cycle friendly. This includes incorporating shared cycling/walking paths wherever possible when new roads are built."
There has been a record increase in the purchase of bicycles in NSW. Ownership grew from 360,000 in 2006 to 430,000 in 2008 alone. |
