Bikes in the City

More like, bike lanes and bike racks in the City of Sydney…

Continuing from the controversial extensive bike lane invasion, apparently City of Sydney is giving the incentive of increased floor space to developers to build more bike racks in their new apartment buildings in the City instead of car space. Only one in six apartment units will get a car space, while all will be ensured a bike rack.

Source: News.com.au. Click here to read an article on the inquiry to potentially remove bike lanes in the City



Good move Clover for sustainability to get people’s butts off their cars! Bad move in delivering effective and efficient service to people!

I don’t want to have a go at you Clover just like most of the other public members have. But to achieve your Sustainable Sydney 2030 visions, you definitely need more work. Here are my humble advices:

• Lead the way! Only when you get on your bike and cycle everywhere to demonstrate its feasibility will people be convinced by your decision. Actually this will be a good marketing act. All council leaders and employees should riding their bikes to work and make a big promotion out of it so City of Sydney will have a real green image. On top of that, car spaces for the Council need first to be reduced.
• Register the bikes! Bikers use the road just like every other car driver. They need to have the same obligation and responsibility. Register them with number plates and get them to pay all the fees involved therefore they are accountable for rushing red lights and not obeying road rules like many of them currently are.
• Encourage public transports! I know I know! When people can’t drive, there’s always the option of public transports! Develop more routes and reliable and enjoyable services so people will be comfortably communing on buses and trains. Also, make public transports cheaper as my little 12-year-old cousin said. Sydney has the second most expensive public transports service in the world following Stockholm, Sweden. But public transports is not in your power is it? Not with registration either. They are state issues. But that’s the scope it involves when you are trying to implement such a big project.
• And most importantly, consult with people before you implement anything! Not going public service 101 here, but really, ask people what they really want and what will work for them. If you really believe in your visions of sustainability (well I do), convince people to adapt to it, not force your way for it. Talk to people publicly to convey your ideas and answer people’s questions and address their concerns. Get out there! No more sitting behind your desk and implement whatever you think will work but ends up with people’s disagreement and fury against you and other public servants in general!

What do you all think?