Lilyfield Rd runs from Hawthorne Canal to Victoria Rd. It is part of a partially completed (Canada Bay slow to implement their sections) Regional Cycle route from Parramatta to the Sydney CBD, via Anzac Bridge, and is a popular commuter route, with around 200 to 300 cyclists in the 7am to 9am peak period pre COVID (may have changed since then since no counts made recently).
The former Leichhardt Council installed uphill bike lanes and bike logos on the road. Several attempts to install a separated bi-directional bike path along it have been made, but resident opposition or design disputes have precluded implementation.
The current Inner West Council has employed consultants Complete Urban to come up with a new plan. Their first attempt in about 2021-22 was an upgrade of the existing uphill bike lane /shared traffic downhill layout, with some safety improvements. It seemed to be non-contentious and was set for approval. But, giving the new bike path to Anzac Bridge through Rozelle Parklands (the former Railyards) Council decided to have another go at a design and we understand they gave Complete Urban another brief for a separated cycleway.
At a Council meeting in September 2024 IWBC was told the concept design should be completed in about mid-October. Funding still has to be obtained from Transport for NSW.
Our main requests have been for a lower speed limit, down from 50, and for a better intersection at Balmain Rd, including widening the path on Balmain Rd over the railway bridge so cyclists can better get to Lilyfield Rd. We also opposed a bi-directional path down the steep hill to the Canal, on safety grounds. Better to retain the uphill bike lane/downhill share with traffic system there.
We also want an east bound bike lane past the new park, despite there being a path to Anzac Bridge through the Park, on the grounds cyclists will still use the road to get to Denison or Gordon Sts. There has been pressure to drop any bike lanes here so angle parking can be provided for the Parklands.
When the new Parklands path was opened in late 2023 we asked for a safe crossing point at Ryan St, where the new path meets Lilyfield Rd. Kobi Shetty MP for Balmain also called for safe crossings for cyclists and pedestrians. Despite several more requests no crossing has been put in, and no warning signs for motorists to watch for turning cyclists. Several near misses have been observed, when cyclists have been attempting to make a right turn into the Park. A crossing design was done by Complete Urban in 2022 for cyclists and pedestrians, but has not been constructed.