Advocacy wins!

Minister Stokes with the Better Strrets badge and thank you card. Photo credit: Paul Patterson, City of Sydney

Better Streets volunteers and coalition members were amongst the crowd who were part of the (re)opening of College Street cycleway. Some even watched on with tears of joy. This represents a significant win for the better streets advocacy community in NSW over many years.
 
The College St cycleway was originally built in 2010 and quickly became a popular route for over 2000 riders a day. However, in 2015, the NSW Government removed the cycleway, which was a low point for cycling in NSW. Thanks to the persistence and hard work of activists, community members, and the City of Sydney, the cycleway has been reinstated, and we couldn't be more excited. 
 
The event today was celebrated with speeches and from Lord Mayor Clover Moore and the Minister for Cities and Active Transport Rob Stokes MP, and a joint ribbon cutting. The crowd was cheering, and there were even occasional tears of joy. We presented Minister Stokes with a card of thanks – signed by hundreds of us from Better Streets.
 
This cycleway represents a major link that will eventually create a fully separated, safe cycleway from Bondi Junction to Circular Quay and beyond. This is an important step towards creating a more sustainable and active city, and we are proud to have played a part in making it happen.
 
At Better Streets, we believe that activism and persistence can result in positive outcomes for our communities – and one of the best ways to do this is to bring politicians and the community along us for the journey. The reopening of the College St cycleway is proof of this, and we look forward to continuing to advocate for safer, more accessible streets for all.

Derrek in his 90s, lifelong campaigner for cycleways watches from the Cycling without Age trishaw. He came in from Bronte to attend the opening.