Application outcome

Thank to everyone who provided input! Unfortunately, our grant application was unsuccessful. However, we are currently exploring other funding opportunities to deliver the identified cycling connections.

Overview

Bloomberg Philanthropies recently launched the Bloomberg Initiative for Cycling Infrastructure (BICI), a competitive grant program that will foster catalytic change in city cycling infrastructure around the world. Led in partnership with the Global Designing Cities Initiative (GDCI), BICI will help ten cities across the globe to implement ambitious cycling projects, setting a new precedent for what’s possible.

The program was founded upon the belief that cities thrive when they provide safe, healthy, and sustainable transportation options, and that city leaders face an urgent need to build bigger, more connected and more innovative cycling infrastructure. We intend to submit a robust, exciting and innovative application.

The working title 'Parkway to Honeysuckle' will encompass a range of initiatives for cycleway improvements for a study area bounded by Parkway Avenue to the south, Honeysuckle Foreshore to the north, Union Street to the east and National Park Street to the west.

Promposed-study-area.png

This area has been selected due to the diversity and density of challenges and opportunities. Some of these include significant proposed upgrades to Newcastle High School, large-scale residential and commercial developments planned, the existing Marketown Shopping Centre, sporting fields in National Park and local and visitor recreational activities along Honeysuckle Foreshore. In addition, there are other challenges in coming years in this area, including the reconstruction of Cottage Creek Bridge on Hunter Street, and a number of busy intersections for which we know we need to improve cyclist safety.

Successful cities gain access to GDCI expert technical guidance and collaboration with other participating cities.

Project scope

Infographic map of proposed cycleways

Thanks for having your say!

Thank you to everyone who provided comment on the City of Newcastle's grant application for the Bloomberg Initiative for Cycling Infrastructure.

31 submissions were received, with 84% support, 10% mixed level support, and 6% unsupportive. Key themes from submissions were:

  • Safety is paramount, with people unwilling to use cycleways if they do not feel safe on them
  • Cycling infrastructure needs to ensure safety of pedestrians and minimise conflict between users
  • Landscaping can be a key facilitator of safety
  • Cycleways need to be connected, part of a larger network of multimodal transport and allow future connections
  • Benefits of cycling infrastructure are understood to include environmental, reduced congestion, pollution and allowing healthy lifestyles
  • Cycling infrastructure needs to include facilities for storage and maintenance, rest areas and slow sections

These comments were reflected in the application which City of Newcastle submitted on 3 February.

We also thank our key project stakeholders who have provided support for our application:

Grant winners were announced June 2023. Unfortunately, our application was unsuccessful. However, we are currently exploring other funding opportunities to deliver the identified cycling connections.