Cyclists in the Australia city of Sydney are celebrating the opening of a new cycle ramp after decades of wheeling bikes up a steep concrete stairway.
The 3m wide ramp on the northern end of the bridge over the Parramatta River makes the crossing accessible to older cyclists, as well as people using heavier electric bikes.
The new ramp has been designed to fit its setting alongside the listed bridge. It is constructed using granite from the same source as the stone used in the bridge’s pylons, and its bronze balustrades make reference to another city icon, the Sydney Opera House. The paint used on the ramp is heritage-listed Sydney Harbour Bridge Grey and the structure features pavers carved with an eel design by Aboriginal artists.
New South Wales Minister for Transport John Graham said: “John Bradfield’s original vision for the Harbour Bridge incorporated space for bicycles on the deck of the Bridge, but they were squeezed out by the growth of vehicle traffic by 1962. This ramp is a long-overdue improvement for cyclists while being an architecturally sensitive addition to Bradfield’s famous Coathanger.” He went on to thank the designers, engineers and construction workers.
Lauren Streifer of the Public Transport Association Australia and New Zealand commented on recent improvements to Sydney’s cycle network, adding: “We know bike trips across our iconic Harbour Bridge will surge, too, with this globally significant new bike ramp giving communities healthier, greener, transport choices. That’s something we should all be excited about.”
