02 February 2010

Civic Cycle Plan

Taylor Square's two-wheeled triumph.

Plans to turn Sydney's historic Taylor Square into a cycling hub have just emerged as part of a community plan to clean up the Darlinghurst precinct.

The City of Sydney has purchased the former T2 nightclub, which will be repaired, refurbished and upgraded, in order to transform the site into a community-friendly centre for residents, workers and visitors.

"The Council has a vision to restore Taylor Square to a people-friendly precinct. We are looking at ways to activate the area through improved urban design, to make it a more lively, vibrant, attractive and safe public area," Lord Mayor Clover Moore said.

Proposals for the site include a bicycle repair centre, a bike shop, cafés, and space for tour companies to operate and cycle groups to meet.

Located at the intersection of three major bicycle routes, the hub would create a valuable orientation point, linking the new Bourke Street cycleway, which in turn links Woolloomooloo and Zetland.

The space could also evolve into a bicycle hire facility to support a city-wide bicycle hire scheme.

"We want to create a first class facility and a nerve centre for Sydney's cycling community, integrated with Taylor Square South and other bicycle routes," Ms Moore said.

The City of Sydney has allocated $76 million over the next four years to build a 200km cycling network, hoping to reduce traffic congestion, in line with the City's Sustainable Sydney 2030 Plan.

City of Sydney
cityofsydney.nsw.gov.au