Sydney Cycling on Tram Tracks Hay Street City of Sydney

The relationship between cyclists, pedestrians and motorists is fraught at the best of times.

Motorists opening car doors on cyclists or driving too close; cyclists whizzing past pedestrians or wilfully ignoring signs; and pedestrians glued to their mobile phones as they walk across busy streets, oblivious to motorists and the rest of the world.

Cyclists will not be allowed to ride along the light rail line on George Street when it opens. Credit:James Brickwood

Throw trams into the equation, and it raises the potential conflict between the groups. By December, 67-metre trams will be passing through the heart of Sydney along George Street as regularly as every four minutes in either direction from 5am to 1am.

The start of passenger services within months raises questions about what cyclists, pedestrians and motorists are allowed – or more to the point, not permitted – to do in and around the multibillion-dollar light rail line from the central city to Sydney's south eastern suburbs.

Police have already been more active in warning cyclists against riding along tram tracks, and pedestrians disregarding signs along the light rail route, especially in the CBD.

Cyclists

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The Inner West light rail line along Hay Street in Haymarket has been a well worn route for cyclists crossing the southern end of the CBD for years.

But the state's transport agency said "no-entry" signs restrict access for cyclists and motorists to the the tram line. The penalty for disobeying no-entry signs is a $114 fine. There is also a $268 fine for cyclists entering tramways, which is off limits under the road rules.

A tramway is marked on the left side of the tracks by two lines parallel, or a structure such as a fence. "As with existing rules for the Inner West light rail, cyclists will not be permitted to ride bikes within the CBD and South East light rail corridor due to safety issues arising from sharing the corridor with moving trams," Transport for NSW said.

Cyclists will be permitted to cross the new light rail corridor through the CBD if they are pulling into a driveway on George Street. And they will be allowed to carry bicycles when travelling as passengers on the trams "unless staff determine at busy times that it is unsafe to do so".

Cyclists face fines for riding along the light rail lines. Credit:James Alcock

But transport officials are reminding cyclists to dismount and walk their bike across tram tracks, or ride across at an angle to avoid wheels getting caught in the tracks. "They should also ride predictably and obey traffic lights, stop and give way signs," the agency said.

Pedestrians

While encouraged to cross roads at designated crossings, pedestrians are permitted to cross the tram tracks at any point along the light rail line so long as they are more than 20 metres from the nearest traffic signals and "they look up and remain aware of moving trams".

NSW road rules permit pedestrians to legally cross a road if they are more than 20 metres away from traffic signals, meaning they do not incur a jaywalking fine.

The pedestrianised section of the light rail line along George Street in Sydney's CBD. Credit:James Alcock

And pedestrians will be allowed to walk across the light rail line on the so-called boulevard section of George Street between Bathurst and Hunter streets in the CBD.

But the authorities say people should treat the light rail line like they would a road. They must not walk in, or along tram tracks, for instance.

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The penalty for pedestrians breaching these rules is $76.

The project team for the light rail will decide the "end-state configuration of the road space and the required regulatory signage". Once the public domain for light rail is handed back, the City of Sydney Council will be responsible for enforcing the regulations.

The council said people would be able to "walk freely" on the pedestrianised section of George Street "just as they do on Pitt Street". "However, the light rail tracks must be kept clear. Normal road rules apply to these pedestrianised zones," a spokeswoman said.

Sydney's new 67-metre trams are among the longest in the world. Credit:Brook Mitchell

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Motorists

The penalty for a motorist driving in a tramway is a $268 fine and one demerit point.

And like for cyclists, the penalty for motorists disobeying a "no entry" sign is $114.

Motorists are also advised not to queue across intersections between the light rail line and roads, to avoid blocking trams.

Trams are becoming a more regular sight as part of testing ahead of the scheduled opening of the 12.7-kilometre line from Circular Quay to Randwick in December, followed by a branch line to Kingsford by March.

Their arrival is a reminder that motorists, cyclists and pedestrians will have to get used to each other traversing an increasingly congested space. And the opening of Newcastle's light rail line in February serves as a lesson for Sydney. In July, a 51-year-old cyclist was killed when he fell off his bike while crossing light rail tracks in the city centre.

Sydney Cycling on Tram Tracks Hay Street City of Sydney

Source: https://www.smh.com.au/national/nsw/how-to-jaywalk-cycle-and-drive-near-sydney-s-new-light-rail-legally-20190805-p52e03.html

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