Wollongong to be turned into a "cycling CBD"

[Retrobyte]

https://www.illawarramercury.com.au/sto ... he-future/

AUGUST 10 2021 - 6:00PM
'Get out of your car' - govt's transport plan for the future

Bus lanes on the Princes Highway, more 30km/h zones and turning the Wollongong CBD into a "cycling city" are among the proposals in the Illawarra-Shoalhaven Regional Transport Plan.

The plan, due to be released on Wednesday, includes 71 initiatives to plan for the region's transport future over the next two decades.

"An extra 100,000 people are expected to call the Illawarra-Shoalhaven home within 20 years, so it is important that we have the right transport services and infrastructure in place to support the region's growth," Transport and Roads Minister Andrew Constance said.

Among those is a concerted push to get people to choose walking, cycling or public transport over driving, which the plan stated accounts for 83 per cent of all trips in the region.

With the expected population boost in the region, the plan stated people would need to look at different ways to get around.

"With parts of the region's transport network already experiencing congestion, accommodating the anticipated growth in travel over the next 20 years without behavioural change would require significant investment in additional road infrastructure, which is likely to be cost prohibitive, challenging to deliver and unsustainable over the longer term," the plan stated.

To encourage greater bus use, the report stated Transport for NSW would investigate the introduction of bus lanes on key routes like the Princes Highway, Shellharbour Road and Memorial Drive.

The introduction of transit lanes - for cars carrying multiple passengers - is also an option.

Speed zone reviews will be undertaken across the region, with a view to considering areas that could be suitable for the introduction of a 30km/h speed zone.

In terms of links between Wollongong and Sydney, the plan mentions the New Intercity Fleet, which have now been pushed back again to 2023, an increase in train frequency and size, as well as a passing loop near Toolijooa - all of which have already been announced.

There are fresh plans to link the Illawarra with western Sydney - but not by rail.

"Acknowledging the growing importance of the connection between the Illawarra-Shoalhaven and Western Sydney, Transport for NSW will investigate improved bus services between the two regions, linking Metro Wollongong with the established centres of Campbelltown, Appin, and Picton, and the emerging Greater Macarthur and Wilton Growth Areas," it stated.

In terms of freight rail, the Maldon-Dombarton does get some attention - but not any mention of a start or completion date.

"To address the growing need for additional rail capacity to and from the Port of Port Kembla, Transport for NSW will investigate the completion of Maldon to Dombarton Line to facilitate additional freight movement between the Illawarra-Shoalhaven and Western Sydney," it stated.

The transport plan also figured now was the time to turn metro Wollongong into a "cycling city".

"Transport for NSW will work with Wollongong City and Shellharbour City Councils to develop a Principal Bicycle Network for the Wollongong and Shellharbour Local Government Areas to ensure a seamless cycle network regardless of the asset owner," the plan stated.

[g-boaf]

What about more work on linking all the disconnected cycling infrastructure in Sydney?

Penrith to Parramatta?
Parramatta to CBD?
M7 Eastern Creek to Wentworthville/Greystanes?
Prospect Canal cycleway at Guilford to Lidcombe and Cooks River Path?

A permanent all-day alternative to Prospect Dam cycleway that is locked from 4:30pm in the evening?

Crickets....

[Retrobyte]

What about more work on linking all the disconnected cycling infrastructure in Sydney?

Penrith to Parramatta?
Parramatta to CBD?
M7 Eastern Creek to Wentworthville/Greystanes?
Prospect Canal cycleway at Guilford to Lidcombe and Cooks River Path?

A permanent all-day alternative to Prospect Dam cycleway that is locked from 4:30pm in the evening?

Crickets....

Why would you want all that when you can soon ride 1km in a bike lane from one end of the Wollongong CBD to the other?

[familyguy]

What about more work on linking all the disconnected cycling infrastructure in Sydney?

Penrith to Parramatta?
Parramatta to CBD?
M7 Eastern Creek to Wentworthville/Greystanes?
Prospect Canal cycleway at Guilford to Lidcombe and Cooks River Path?

A permanent all-day alternative to Prospect Dam cycleway that is locked from 4:30pm in the evening?

Crickets....

Without being able to read the article, is it because its just a Illawarra-Shoalhaven regional plan? Don't count on them linking Sydney in that regions funding. Different tins, there. That said, Wollongong would benefit hugely from being able to ride further or faster. You can practically cycle the entire LGA on paths or quiet roads, but some direct connections via quicker roads would be nice. There are some nice areas and nice roads, but the locals in some areas leave a little to be desired.

[caneye]

.. There are some nice areas and nice roads, but the locals in some areas leave a little to be desired.

funny you mentioned that.
I saw how some locals were up in arms over the L'etape road closures for 1 DAY.
imagine if/when the UCI Worlds circus comes along and cause a week-long disruption ..

(sidetrack)

[AndrewCowley]

Yes ... I was gonna mention the L'etape experience. The locals managed to get the shorter of the two rides cancelled so that THEIR roads wouldn't be closed for as long on the day.

That said, it'll probably get cancelled again due to Covid.

[familyguy]

Yes ... I was gonna mention the L'etape experience. The locals managed to get the shorter of the two rides cancelled so that THEIR roads wouldn't be closed for as long on the day.

That said, it'll probably get cancelled again due to Covid.

I wasnt keeping across that. What was the one roundabout that caused all the consternation?

[AndrewCowley]

I wasnt keeping across that. What was the one roundabout that caused all the consternation?

The whole event has been cancelled now. The local council pulled its support.

Good chance Covid would have again killed it, but with the local council pulling it, that's even more terminal. On the basis of Covid alone, they would have waited longer before cancelling.

[g-boaf]

Yes ... I was gonna mention the L'etape experience. The locals managed to get the shorter of the two rides cancelled so that THEIR roads wouldn't be closed for as long on the day.

That said, it'll probably get cancelled again due to Covid.

I wasnt keeping across that. What was the one roundabout that caused all the consternation?

The council backed out and withdrew support. So it isn't running at all. Now the plan to turn Wollongong into a cycling CBD can be halted as well and the funding diverted to a location that is less obstructive.

[familyguy]

Yes ... I was gonna mention the L'etape experience. The locals managed to get the shorter of the two rides cancelled so that THEIR roads wouldn't be closed for as long on the day.

That said, it'll probably get cancelled again due to Covid.

I wasnt keeping across that. What was the one roundabout that caused all the consternation?

The council backed out and withdrew support. So it isn't running at all. Now the plan to turn Wollongong into a cycling CBD can be halted as well and the funding diverted to a location that is less obstructive.

So it seems it wasnt Wollongong Council that withdrew support, it was Shoalhaven. That's not a surprise, honestly.

[AndrewCowley]

With the cancelling of the shorter of the two rides earlier this year, it's pretty obvious that since this event was announced, the council were worked over by NIMBY locals, calling for it's axing. If it had just taken place when originally planned, it would have been fine. But the cancellations have merely provided those locals with time to mobilize and make their case. They have now achieved their goal of getting council to do a total backflip on the entire event. A win for small mindedness.

Very poor form from the council. Will be interesting to see what happens in Wollongong by way of comparison. Especially if the 'cycling CBD' results in lanes being reclaimed from existing streets and roads.

[g-boaf]

With the cancelling of the shorter of the two rides earlier this year, it's pretty obvious that since this event was announced, the council were worked over by NIMBY locals, calling for it's axing. If it had just taken place when originally planned, it would have been fine. But the cancellations have merely provided those locals with time to mobilize and make their case. They have now achieved their goal of getting council to do a total backflip on the entire event. A win for small mindedness.

Very poor form from the council. Will be interesting to see what happens in Wollongong by way of comparison. Especially if the 'cycling CBD' results in lanes being reclaimed from existing streets and roads.

Let's agitate and see if the UCI event can also be overturned too, just to stir the pot.

[AndrewCowley]

Well, due to the Gong ride, there should at least be better consciousness / awareness amongst Wollongong locals as to the existence of bike riders and the benefits they can bring. I assume the Gong ride is seen as a positive by the locals?

Also, as we are seeing unfold with the Harbour Bridge stairs, local councils can be overridden too.

[Derny Driver]

Let's agitate and see if the UCI event can also be overturned too, just to stir the pot.

Wollongong Council are 100% on board with the UCI. There are signs promoting it in the mall, countdown clocks counting down the days till the world championships, regular media updates. And the Illawarra mercury is running positive stories about the event regularly so they are obviously in on the action too. The Mayor is a big supporter of cycling and the UCI world champs are going ahead no matter what anyone says. The planning and investment juggernaut is well and truly rolling. Every hotel in the region is already fully booked for those dates.

As for the "bike city" business, that is a different kettle of fish. The Council are pushing it but the residents are fighting it. They dont like bikes, as is standard bogan mentality in every city in Australia.

Shoalhaven Council and Kiama residents... I joined up to a Kiama facebook page a few years ago for reasons I wont go in to. If you think Kiama is a nice place and nice people live there, well that may be the impression you get when you have an ice cream by the blowhole, but they are a nasty lot and they dont like visitors or tourists. And they don't like bikes or bike riders either. So thats why L'Etape was cancelled. Pressure from whinging Kiama residents.

[AndrewCowley]

This belongs in the L'Etape thread sorry. But anyway ...

I'm surprised Kiama locals were against L'Etape. That's the town that would have directly benefited the most.

All the other towns, albeit much smaller ones, that the event will have gone through and who would have been impacted by the road closures, would have had much less benefit I would have thought.

Maybe the locals painted the following picture ...

The event was on a Saturday and people will have travelled down on Friday arvo, done the event on Saturday and then gone home Sunday morning.

In that scenario, outside of Kiama (where most of the accomodation will have been booked), there won't have been much benefit.

[hunch]

.. There are some nice areas and nice roads, but the locals in some areas leave a little to be desired.

funny you mentioned that.
I saw how some locals were up in arms over the L'etape road closures for 1 DAY.
imagine if/when the UCI Worlds circus comes along and cause a week-long disruption ..

(sidetrack)

Hehe, prophetic! Yesterday's Herald makes it seem the event was sprung on them a few days ago. https://www.smh.com.au/national/nsw/tho ... 5bglg.html