Latest news with #KathrynGreiner
Sydney Morning Herald
14-05-2025
- Politics
- Sydney Morning Herald
In Paddington, first-world problems begin with a bicycle
In Sydney, few topics incite furious debate quite like cycleways. The chasm between riders and reactionaries is as big as the north-south divide of the Harbour Bridge or the goats cheese curtain between the inner and outer city. And now, the war of the rollers will play out in the federal court with a case that argues the new cycleway on Oxford Street is an abuse of the human rights of the proud people of Paddington. I hate cycling due to a traumatic event in my otherwise uneventful childhood. Aged 10, my Malvern Star bike was my pride and joy – pink, with a white basket, silver handlebar tassels, and orange spokey-dokeys that would spin as I pedalled around my suburb. One day, while giving my neighbour a 'backie', I misjudged the driveway and smashed into the brick fence. My friend fell off and broke her arm. I can still hear her screams whenever I go near a bike – even the stationary ones at the gym give me the shudders. But today, I'm on the side of the cyclists. Because a human rights case against a cycleway screams entitlement as loud as my poor ex-friend's cries of agony. Litigants Michael Waterhouse and Kathryn Greiner argue those who are frail and hard of hearing won't hear the bells of the bikes or be able to get out of the way as they cross the cycleway to the bus stop platforms. I'm deaf in one ear and on crutches so these rock ′n' roll disabilities give me some understanding of frailty. But I'd rather cross in front of a bike than a car. And while the average age of a Paddington resident is nearly as high as their hourly income, there are other human rights at stake. Loading There's the human right of kids to ride a bike to school like we did in our childhood. Paddington is an ageing suburb because there's no human right for a child to grow up in inner Sydney in affordable housing. What about the human right of people being able to exercise without being sideswiped by a car? Oxford Street has the most accidents involving cyclists in the city area. What about the human right of MAMILs (middle-aged men in Lycra) to show off their bulging thighs? What about the human rights of those who look cute on their retro bike and don't care if they have helmet hair? (I'd also like to see the human rights of co-workers respected by cyclists having access to a shower and a blow-dry when they get to work.) What about the human rights of those who like to walk on the pavement and not have a bike sharing the space with them? What about the human right of pedestrians not to be hit by cars; fewer cars mean safer roads. And what about the right to walk without sucking in the rotten egg gas smell of petrol? What about human rights of all of us who want a reduction in carbon emissions? Most Sydney people are somewhat entitled. I feel entitled to a decent coffee every morning, and my day is just absolutely ruined if it's not up to scratch. I feel entitled to put my washing on the line in a city that seems to have more rain than Seattle. But I accept the city has changed. I once loved driving around Sydney and being able to park near the Paddington markets or RSL, but those days are gone. The city has doubled in size since I had my Malvern Star, and others have a human right to live here. That means more walking, cycling and public transport and fewer cars.
The Age
13-05-2025
- Politics
- The Age
Cyclists often grind my gears, but I'm on their side with this ‘human rights' nonsense
In Sydney, few topics incite furious debate quite like cycleways. The chasm between riders and reactionaries is as big as the north-south divide of the Harbour Bridge or the goats cheese curtain between the inner and outer city. And now, the war of the rollers will play out in the federal court with a case that argues the new cycleway on Oxford Street is an abuse of the human rights of the proud people of Paddington. I hate cycling due to a traumatic event in my otherwise uneventful childhood. Aged ten, my Malvern Star bike was my pride and joy – pink, with a white basket, silver handlebar tassels, and orange spokey-dokeys that would spin as I pedalled around my suburb. One day, while giving my neighbour a 'backie', I misjudged the driveway and smashed into the brick fence. My friend fell off and broke her arm. I can still hear her screams whenever I go near a bike – even the stationary ones at the gym give me the shudders. But today, I'm on the side of the cyclists. Because a human rights case against a cycleway screams entitlement as loud as my poor ex-friend's cries of agony. Litigants Michael Waterhouse and Kathryn Greiner argue those who are frail and hard of hearing won't hear the bells of the bikes or be able to get out of the way as they cross the cycleway to the bus stop platforms. I'm deaf in one ear and on crutches so these rock ′n' roll disabilities give me some understanding of frailty. But I'd rather cross in front of a bike than a car. And while the average age of a Paddington resident is nearly as high as their hourly income, there are other human rights at stake. Loading There's the human right of kids to ride a bike to school like we did in our childhood. Paddington is an ageing suburb because there's no human right for a child to grow up in inner Sydney in affordable housing. What about the human right of people being able to exercise without being sideswiped by a car? Oxford Street has the most accidents involving cyclists in the city area. What about the human right of MAMILs (middle-aged men in Lycra) to show off their bulging thighs? What about the human rights of those who look cute on their retro bike and don't care if they have helmet hair? (I'd also like to see the human rights of co-workers respected by cyclists having access to a shower and a blow-dry when they get to work.) What about the human rights of those who like to walk on the pavement and not have a bike sharing the space with them? What about the human right of pedestrians not to be hit by cars; fewer cars mean safer roads. And what about the right to walk without sucking in the rotten egg gas smell of petrol? What about human rights of all of us who want a reduction in carbon emissions? Most Sydney people are somewhat entitled. I feel entitled to a decent coffee every morning, and my day is just absolutely ruined if it's not up to scratch. I feel entitled to put my washing on the line in a city that seems to have more rain than Seattle. But I accept the city has changed. I once loved driving around Sydney and being able to park near the Paddington markets or RSL, but those days are gone. The city has doubled in size since I had my Malvern Star, and others have a human right to live here. That means more walking, cycling and public transport and fewer cars.
Sydney Morning Herald
13-05-2025
- Politics
- Sydney Morning Herald
Cyclists often grind my gears, but I'm on their side with this ‘human rights' nonsense
In Sydney, few topics incite furious debate quite like cycleways. The chasm between riders and reactionaries is as big as the north-south divide of the Harbour Bridge or the goats cheese curtain between the inner and outer city. And now, the war of the rollers will play out in the federal court with a case that argues the new cycleway on Oxford Street is an abuse of the human rights of the proud people of Paddington. I hate cycling due to a traumatic event in my otherwise uneventful childhood. Aged ten, my Malvern Star bike was my pride and joy – pink, with a white basket, silver handlebar tassels, and orange spokey-dokeys that would spin as I pedalled around my suburb. One day, while giving my neighbour a 'backie', I misjudged the driveway and smashed into the brick fence. My friend fell off and broke her arm. I can still hear her screams whenever I go near a bike – even the stationary ones at the gym give me the shudders. But today, I'm on the side of the cyclists. Because a human rights case against a cycleway screams entitlement as loud as my poor ex-friend's cries of agony. Litigants Michael Waterhouse and Kathryn Greiner argue those who are frail and hard of hearing won't hear the bells of the bikes or be able to get out of the way as they cross the cycleway to the bus stop platforms. I'm deaf in one ear and on crutches so these rock ′n' roll disabilities give me some understanding of frailty. But I'd rather cross in front of a bike than a car. And while the average age of a Paddington resident is nearly as high as their hourly income, there are other human rights at stake. Loading There's the human right of kids to ride a bike to school like we did in our childhood. Paddington is an ageing suburb because there's no human right for a child to grow up in inner Sydney in affordable housing. What about the human right of people being able to exercise without being sideswiped by a car? Oxford Street has the most accidents involving cyclists in the city area. What about the human right of MAMILs (middle-aged men in Lycra) to show off their bulging thighs? What about the human rights of those who look cute on their retro bike and don't care if they have helmet hair? (I'd also like to see the human rights of co-workers respected by cyclists having access to a shower and a blow-dry when they get to work.) What about the human rights of those who like to walk on the pavement and not have a bike sharing the space with them? What about the human right of pedestrians not to be hit by cars; fewer cars mean safer roads. And what about the right to walk without sucking in the rotten egg gas smell of petrol? What about human rights of all of us who want a reduction in carbon emissions? Most Sydney people are somewhat entitled. I feel entitled to a decent coffee every morning, and my day is just absolutely ruined if it's not up to scratch. I feel entitled to put my washing on the line in a city that seems to have more rain than Seattle. But I accept the city has changed. I once loved driving around Sydney and being able to park near the Paddington markets or RSL, but those days are gone. The city has doubled in size since I had my Malvern Star, and others have a human right to live here. That means more walking, cycling and public transport and fewer cars.
The Age
12-05-2025
- Politics
- The Age
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.
Sydney Morning Herald
12-05-2025
- Politics
- Sydney Morning Herald
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.
