Riders who regularly brave Military Road between Mosman and Neutral Bay, north of Sydney, will know the busy road is a veritable battlefield. Via its six lanes, the road carries up to 60,000 cars a day, and the 6km strip from the Spit Bridge to the Bradfield Highway is one of the northern suburbs’ most notorious chokepoints.
The only direct access to places such as Seaforth, Clontarf, Manly, and the Northern Beaches, the hundreds of daily riders who use the route combine bus lanes and side roads, such as Parriwi, to remain separated from other traffic. The cost of these safety measures includes adding extra time and distance to the commute.
A major change is needed, with some advocating proposals as ambitious as dedicating two of the 6 lanes to bikes, or making the bus lanes, which are shared by cyclists, 24/7. Sadly, that remains a pipe dream at this stage, but bit by bit, small sections of the popular route are in line for upgrades.
Now, some relief may be on the way. A significant step is a proposed 1.5-kilometre, two-way cycleway connecting Neutral Bay to Mosman. Taking riders off one of the busiest sections of Military Road, the backstreet corridor runs from Bent Street to Rangers Avenue.
The North Sydney Council plan includes measures to mitigate parking and traffic in the busier sections of the side roads, including Yeo Street, Wycombe Road, Harrison Street, and Spofforth Street.Â
As part of Council’s Walking and Cycling Strategy 2022 -2027, community consultation is underway with an online portal open until March 29.Â
Riders are urged to have their say via https://yoursay.northsydney.nsw.gov.au/nb2m
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