A PLAN TO CREATE A SAFE, ACCESSIBLE AND CONNECTED NETWORK OF BIKE PATHS IN SYDNEY AND REGIONAL CENTRES
The pandemic saw cycling participation increase but NSW still has the lowest cycling participation across Australia. This isn’t because people don’t want to cycle but because a lack of cycling infrastructure in NSW makes cycling scary or inconvenient for most people. In fact 70% of people in NSW said they would cycle every week if they had access to separated bicycle lanes.
The NSW government spent only 1% of the total transport budget on active transport last year. Increasing the uptake of active transport will not only decrease congestion and increase health and fitness, it’s a vital part of taking climate action, with transport currently being the third largest greenhouse gas emitter in Australia.
The Greens will:
- Properly fund active transport infrastructure with a dedicated active transport budget of $300 million, increasing the ‘Get NSW Active’ fund to $300m p/y and allocating $1 billion over ten years to drive implementation of Transport for NSW’s Principal Bicycle Network plan.
- Dedicate a portion of the Greens proposed ‘Developer Profits Tax’ towards cycling infrastructure.
- Require all new housing and transport developments in NSW to include active transport infrastructure.
- Trial a scheme allowing individuals to trade in their old polluting car for a $3,000 e-bike voucher in Sydney, Newcastle and Wollongong.
- Put bike racks on buses and trains to make hybrid journeys easier and more appealing.
DEDICATED ACTIVE TRANSPORT BUDGET
The government currently only spends 1% of its annual transport budget on active transport such as cycling and pedestrian infrastructure.
This translates to just $3.81 per person per year. By comparison, Canberra spends $14 per resident; London spends $41; Vancouver spends $50 and Amsterdam spends $130 per resident. The UN has recommended a target for governments of 20% of transport and roads expenditure.
Currently the ‘Get NSW Active’ fund receives only $50m in recurrent funding each year to fund local councils to develop active transport infrastructure. This is despite approving over $115m in projects in the last financial year and receiving applications worth $335m from local councils this financial year.
Transport for NSW lacks a dedicated active transport capital fund. This means they have been unable to complete cycling paths for Pyrmont Bridge Road, the missing Wilson Street link in Newtown, Flinders Street in Surry Hills or the Sydney Harbour Bridge southern ramp.
Without proper funding NSW will never have the active transport network it deserves. The Greens will properly fund active transport by:
- Dedicating $1 billion over a decade to drive the implementation of Transport for NSW’s Principal Bicycle Network.
- Creating a capital fund of $300 million for Transport for NSW to spend on active transport infrastructure.
- Increasing the Get Active Fund to $300m per year for Councils to build their local active transport infrastructure.
EMBED ACTIVE TRANSPORT IN PLANNING LAWS
New suburbs are popping up across Sydney but nearly all of them have grossly inadequate active transport infrastructure. Meanwhile, the government continues to build new roads without factoring in bike lanes or pedestrian infrastructure - active transport is treated as no more than an afterthought by this government.
The Greens will embed active transport in planning laws to require:
- All new developments in NSW to consider and adequately provide active transport infrastructure.
- All major new road and transport projects to include active transport infrastructure.
MAKE DEVELOPERS FUND ACTIVE TRANSPORT INFRASTRUCTURE
Property developers have made billions in NSW from building new developments yet the NSW Government has failed to make them pay their fair share and fund public infrastructure. When land is rezoned for increased density, developer landowners make millions on the gains in land value without paying their fair share for the infrastructure.
The Greens plan for a Developer Profits Tax will introduce a 75% levy on the land value gains due to rezoning bringing in over $8 billion per year. We will dedicate 5% of this tax towards local active transport infrastructure.
E-BIKE VOUCHERS
Being forced to own a car is costly and can lock lower-income families into a cycle of debt. With appropriate cycling infrastructure, E-bikes now offer a viable alternative to cars for many people.
The Greens will trial “Cars for Bikes” vouchers program that allows individuals to trade in their old polluting car for a $3,000 e-bike voucher.
3,000 vouchers will be handed out across Western Sydney, Newcastle and Wollongong at a total cost of $10.5 million. The vouchers will be means tested and restricted to individuals on a low income.
These vouchers will help families save money, decrease congestion on our roads and lower carbon emissions.
BIKE RACKS FOR TRAINS AND BUSES
Active transport often forms part of a hybrid journey between train stations or bus stops. But many trains are too crowded to allow for passengers to carry their bike with them and most buses don’t allow bikes on board.
The Greens plan will see more bike racks installed on buses and trains similar to Canberra, where 90% of buses have bike racks