Public Meeting on 6 July in Glebe Town Hall addressing safety issues affecting Bridge Road cycleway (Photo: Maureen McCarthy)

By Di Anstey, Bridge Road Friends, August 2025, from Bulletin 6/2015

The room was full to overflowing at the Public Meeting on 6 July 2025 in Glebe Town Hall organised by Bridge Road Friends. The meeting was called to hear Road Safety Auditor Zoran Bakovic present the findings of a Road Safety Audit he conducted on the design of the proposed permanent cycleway on Bridge Road.

An empty chair was at the front of the room for the NSW Minister for Transport, John Graham, who was a ‘no show’, ignoring an invitation to attend.

Numerous invitations were sent to attend the meeting, including to Labor MLC Penny Sharpe who in letterbox drops to residents, variously describes herself as ‘your representative in the NSW Upper House and the person you can contact about state issues in your electorate’ and ‘here to support you on state matters affecting our local area’. It was very disappointing that the invitation to her was ignored, and no apology was received.

Officials from Transport for NSW were also invited but did not attend. 

Zoran’s presentation clearly showed that Transport for NSW have ignored or failed to address the safety issues. Zoran was unable to address in his Audit the more recent proposal to shorten the right hand turn lanes at Glebe Point Road and Ross Street, as these were not included in the design.

At the conclusion of the meeting, a vote by show of hands overwhelmingly sent the message that the permanent cycleway should NOT be constructed on Bridge Road. 

Bridge Road Friends have written again to the Minister and Josh Murray, Secretary of Transport NSW, inviting them to respond to Zoran’s presentation on the unsafe cycleway, and to meet with residents and ride on Bridge Road. We’re awaiting a response.