[Greens-Media] RTA removes city bike lanes without approval

[Lee Rhiannon]

MEDIA RELEASE
14 September 2006

RTA removes city bike lanes without approval

The NSW government is allowing the RTA to dictate the transport needs of Sydney, Greens MP and transport spokesperson Lee Rhiannon said today.

Ms Rhiannon was responding to news that the RTA has removed inner city bike lanes without gaining the Planning Minister’s approval. 

“The removal of inner city bike lanes without approval indicates that the RTA is dictating the transport management of Sydney,” Ms Rhiannon said. 

“Premier Iemma has shown that he has no vision for Sydney. He should be responding to soaring petrol prices and dangerous smog levels by promoting more bike lanes not removing them. 

“We should be encouraging more people to cycle to work and for leisure. 
 
“The government has breached its own policy on motorway projects with the removal of these bike lanes. 

“New motorway projects have to include cycleways. Now we have seen this cynical government include the cycleways in the construction phase and then remove them. This is gross mismanagement. 

“The government is not obliged to retain the bicycle lanes which shows that planning conditions are poorly drafted,” Ms Rhiannon said. 




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