Sydney enters a new cycle - The Daily Telegraph

A cyclist navigates busy traffic as pressure to provide better routes grows / Pic: Stephen Cooper Source: The Daily Telegraph

BIKE lanes from the city to Taronga Zoo and Bondi Beach have been flagged in Sydney City Council's new "green" tourism and retail plan.

In a bid to clean up Sydney's reputation as being unsafe, crowded and hard to navigate, the council's draft economic strategy looks to "green retail zones" and eco-tourism using public transport and cycleways to link tourism hot spots.

A key target is to "allow visitors to cycle around the city", connecting with other bike networks to attractions such as Bondi, Centennial Park and Taronga Zoo.

Sydney's $5 billion-a-year tourism industry faces numerous challenges, including more Australians holidaying overseas, competition from the Asia-Pacific and the GFC and high Aussie dollar.

But council has identified a "need to cater to growing demand for 'green' tourism and eco-tourism ... (and) deliver new, unique experiences to attract first-time and return visitors" as a way forward.

Its report highlights organic food and environmentally-friendly locally-made products, and also points to "the need to promote safety and a vibrant night-time economy balance".

The strategy seeks to form a green tourism working group and set up a website listing Sydney's sustainability information, as well as undertaking a carbon footprint study with targets for the tourism sector.

It proposes bike access at night, bespoke businesses in laneways and basements, and new tourist information kiosks in Newtown, Oxford St and Central. The council found the long-term challenge faced by the retail sector was "sustainable consumption".

"The increasing awareness of consumers towards safeguarding the environment is leading to a rise in demand for environmentally friendly goods, locally made products and organic foods," the council report said.

Developing "green retail zones in order to provide consumers with tangible experiences" was a key priority - as well as working with property owners in struggling strips such as Oxford St, Darlinghurst Rd, William St and Glebe.

Transforming George St into a pedestrian, retail and light rail boulevard, with outdoor dining, $9 million of public art and activation was a major part of the plan. The strategy will go before council on Monday.