Longueville Road bike path

Better Streets for Lane Cove is calling on Lane Cove Council and the NSW Government to prioritise investment in a protected bike path on Longueville Road between River Road West and Austin Street. This street provides a critical link within Lane Cove, providing access to the Lane Cove Village, Lane Cove Public School, St Michael's Catholic Primary School, Currambena Primary & Preschool, Northwood shops, and the future Lane Cove Sport & Recreation Centre. Longueville Road is also home to many Lane Cove residents living in higher density apartments and townhouses who are more likely to walk or ride a bike for their day-to-day needs.

Today this section of road provides poor amenity for people walking, cycling, or catching a bus. Children and parents are forced to walk or ride on a narrow footpath, while cyclists are forced into the door zone on a steep hill among buses and trucks. The speed difference along this steep section of road, combined with the risk of car doors opening and pushing riders into the path of heavy vehicles, is an unacceptable safety risk. This street is also a school zone and would benefit from slower traffic speeds. People driving, riding or walking would all benefit from greater separation on these busy footpaths and roadway.

Previous designs for a bike path on Longueville Road proposed a 3 meter bi-directional path (same as the Epping Road bike path), with a 0.5 metre buffer island on the eastern side of the street. While this configuration would provide a wide and comfortable bike path, it would remove 70 parking spaces and position cyclists directly adjacent to traffic lanes (see Lane Cove Bike Plan 2019).

While cycling demand in Lane Cove is relatively modest, and the removal of parking is unlikely to be supported by local residents, we envision a more modest 2 meter bi-directional bike path, similar to Bourke Street, Surry Hills or George Street, Redfern. This configuration can retaining the current footpaths, parking spaces, street trees, and both traffic lanes. The curb-to-curb width would be narrowed from 13m to 10.6m, similar to Mowbray Road West. This would provide 3.2m traffic lanes which are sufficiently wide enough for trucks and buses to safely operate (see TfNSW design guidelines). The curb-to-curb carriageway could be widened if the curbs were rebuilt, however this would add significant cost and would encourage higher vehicle speeds in the school zones.

Below is an illustration of the current and suggested road space allocation. The proposed layout maintains the existing curb location and adds an additional curb on one side of the street. Implementing this layout on the eastern side would require one intersection improvement, while locating the cycleway on the western side would require four intersection improvements. Either option would require five bus stop curb extensions, relocation of three bus shelters, and modification of two pedestrian crossings. Currently there are no stormwater drains on this section of Longueville Road. A cycleway on the eastern curb would be preferred as it would reduce conflicts with school drop-offs and pick-ups and better align with connections into the Lane Cove village.

Existing layout with bicycles in door zone, 13m curb-to-curb width

Suggested layout with 2m bi-directional bike path, 10.6m curb-to-curb width

Similar curb-to-curb width (11m), Mowbray Road West (west of Centennial Avenue), Lane Cove North

Similar curb-to-curb width (11m), Church Street, Hunters Hill

In addition to reallocating road space, careful attention needs to be given to potential conflict points, particularly at intersections, bus stops and pedestrian crossings. Below are illustrations of solutions provided by Transport for NSW, they include continuous footpaths and cycleways at intersections, in-lane bus stops within curb extensions, and pedestrian crossings that extended through the bike path, link here. These treatments can be used to reduce conflicts along the bike path, prioritise bus services, add landscaping near bus stops, while creating a safer and more attractive environment for walking or cycling.

Continuous cycleway raised intersection (TfNSW Cycleway Design Toolbox 2020)

In-lane bus stop within curb extension (TfNSW Cycleway Design Toolbox 2020, TfNSW Bus Priority Infrastructure Planning Guide 2021)

If you support our concept of a more modest bike path on Longueville Road, or have any other ideas or constructive comments on how to make Longueville Road a better place to walk or ride, please leave a comment below.

For reference to a similar project, see the Chatswood to St Leonards cycleway, or the Kingsford to Centennial Park cycleway.

To learn more about our recommended bike network and explore our network maps, see our bike network page here.

If you support safer, healthier and more sustainable streets in Lane Cove, please subscribe to Better Streets below.