Inner West residents demand answers as council delays $45m active transport plan

Inner West Council's decision to push back its $45 million active transport strategy has sparked frustration among residents and business owners who say the delay will cost them economically and reinforce Sydney's dangerous road culture.

The comprehensive plan, originally scheduled for implementation this financial year, aimed to deliver protected bike lanes along key corridors including Marrickville Road and King Street, plus expanded footpaths and pedestrian priority zones across Dulwich Hill, Leichhardt and Stanmore.

"We've been waiting three years for this," says a spokesperson for the Marrickville Chamber of Commerce, noting that safer cycling infrastructure consistently drives foot traffic to local retailers. "Every month of delay means businesses continue losing customers who feel unsafe riding through here."

The council cited budget constraints and the need for additional community consultation as reasons for the 12-month deferral, announced at last week's general meeting. However, residents argue the postponement ignores mounting evidence that Sydney's streets remain inhospitable for vulnerable road users, with cycling fatalities up 23 per cent across Greater Sydney since 2023.

Local schools in the area—including Marrickville Public and Dulwich Hill Public—have expressed concern about student safety. Parents who organised a petition through the Marrickville Parent Action Network collected over 1,200 signatures, highlighting that protected bike routes would enable more children to cycle independently to school rather than rely on car drop-offs that clog residential streets.

"The council asked us to co-design this strategy," explains a longtime Stanmore resident and active transport advocate. "We did the work. We showed up to every workshop. Now we're told to wait another year while nothing changes on the ground."

The delay has also frustrated environmental groups. The plan promised to reduce car dependency, potentially cutting transport-related emissions by 15 per cent in the Inner West—a critical step toward Sydney's 2040 net-zero target.

At a community forum held at the Marrickville Town Hall on June 27, dozens of residents questioned whether the council possessed the political will to challenge entrenched car culture. One long-time local noted that the Dulwich Hill shopping precinct has seen three independent bike shops close since 2022, partly due to poor cycling conditions deterring customers.

Inner West Council has promised revised timelines by September but faces mounting pressure to explain why other Sydney councils—including Strathfield and Bayside—have already begun rolling out similar infrastructure.

The community expects clarity, and soon.

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