Residents launch legal action over Oxford Street cycleway
Two Paddington residents are ramping up their fight to divert a contentious cycleway along Oxford Street, launching legal action against the state government and the City of Sydney council alleging the project breaches human rights laws by discriminating against elderly people and those with a disability.
Former city councillor Kathryn Greiner and Michael Waterhouse were among six residents who complained to the Australian Human Rights Commission about safety risks posed by the so-called 'island' bus stops on the route from Hyde Park in the city to Centennial Park in the eastern suburbs.
Community sentiment has been deeply divided over the NSW government's commitment to fund the Coalition-era project. Cyclists and City of Sydney Lord Mayor Clover Moore are supportive, but local opponents have argued it would be dangerous, cut off several right-hand turns from Oxford Street, and be detrimental for small businesses.
The commission terminated the group's complaint after finding there was no reasonable prospect of the matter being settled by conciliation, allowing the group 40 days to file in the Federal Court.
The pair's case centres on the 'island' bus stops created by the separated cycleway, which force passengers to cross the bike lanes to get from the footpath to the bus stop. The stops are already found along some Sydney cycleways, and are also similar to some platform-style light rail stops.
Waterhouse argued crossing a two-way cycle lane to reach a platform bus stop risked near-misses or collisions between cyclists and people who were less mobile, or had a hearing or vision impairment.
'I have a deafness problem, I don't hear a cyclist's bell,' Waterhouse said. 'If you're blind, you're on a hiding to nothing because you simply have no idea what's going on. Oxford Street has long, straight stretches, so cyclists can get to 40 or 50km/h.'
The City of Sydney has built the western section of the cycleway, from Hyde Park to Taylor Square, while Transport for NSW is planning the eastern section from the square to Centennial Park.
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