LABOR has pledged to end the war on cyclists and will commit $5 million to cycleways to connect Newcastle's west and east if elected on Saturday.
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Newcastle MP Tim Crakanthorp said the Liberal government had done "absolutely nothing" for cyclists in Newcastle, had waged a war against cycling statewide and had inexplicably left cycleways out of the revitalisation of Newcastle.
He said the failure to include a dedicated cycleway as part of the light rail development in Hunter Street was leading to "road rage" incidents between cyclists and motorists.
Alongside Newcastle deputy lord mayor Declan Clausen, Heart Foundation's Deborah Moore and Metro Cycles owner Bernard Hockings, Mr Crakanthorp announced on Sunday that, under a Labor government, City of Newcastle's $5 million cycleways budget would be doubled.
The proposed cycleways will connect Newcastle West with Newcastle East from the corner of Donald and Selma streets to Union Street, Griffiths Road to Chinchen Street at Islington and Merewether with the Newcastle CBD.
"We want to prioritise the west to city link, which we think is absolutely vital to get life back into the CBD in terms of cyclists in particular," Mr Crakanthorp said.
"We want to turbocharge cycleways in Newcastle because of the incredible problems occurring now in Hunter Street."
Mr Hockings said the number one issue for cyclists heading into the city was safety, meaning infrastructure was key.
"I think this is a fantastic announcement as a cycling advocate who wants to see more people riding," he said. "But also as a Newcastle West business owner I think this investment in cycling infrastructure will do more to revitalise the city than anything we've seen in the last couple of decades."
