Pedestrians and cyclists share footpaths on the foot bridge over Darling Harbour leading into Sydney's CBD. Picture: John Grainger Source: The Daily Telegraph
AS one Sydney council reviews shared paths following clashes between speeding cyclists, prams, pedestrians and dogs, Sydney Lord Mayor Clover Moore has revealed plans for six more such areas.
A report into "serious safety matters" of shared paths will go before North Sydney Council in June after council staff at St Leonards Park witnessed cyclists travelling at high speeds among pedestrians, children and dogs, as well as a rider assaulting a man.
"A resident out walking his dogs was assaulted, knocked to the ground and injured by an irate cyclist who was loudly objecting about the pedestrian being in his way," a report said, adding that rangers were on alert to patrol the shared paths at the park.
Neutral Bay's Belinda Daley said her deaf dog was injured after being hit by a cyclist on a shared path.
"The guy didn't even swerve his bike," she said. "He just ran over the top of her. It injured her leg and he just kept going. They're really aggressive."
While North Sydney Council has deferred a proposal to widen shared paths until the council reviews its position, across the Bridge Sydney City Council is preparing to roll out six new share paths.
Sydney City Council will tonight consider share paths on Flinders St, South Dowling St, Moore Park Rd, Short St, Albion St and Oxford St.
Another three shared paths along sections of Macquarie St, St Marys Rd and William St have been approved.
Community feedback revealed concerns the new paths on Flinders St will be too narrow and dangerous, and that the fact building entrances opened directly on to Flinders St could cause conflict between cyclists and residents leaving their properties.
A report to the council heard residents call on the council to monitor cyclists' behaviour to slash "unsafe cycling practice". And there have been calls to enforce a speed limit of 10km/h.
Ms Moore said she had also called for speed limits and a "consistent, metropolitan-wide approach to signage and speed limits on shared paths". "While there are no specific government speed limits on shared paths, I will ask City of Sydney staff to install advisory speed limit signs on our shared paths," she said.
Transport for NSW is understood to be investigating speed limits on share paths but has not made a decision.
Ms Moore said separated cycleways were always the preferred option but shared paths form vital links between separated cycleways, helping to create a safer network for new riders, older people and parents with children.
Pedestrians always had right of way on shared paths, a Sydney City Council spokeswoman said.
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