After decades of campaigning, shelved plans, and local debate, a transformative new piece of cycling infrastructure has finally opened in Sydney. The Sydney Harbour Bridge now boasts a smooth, continuous ramp for cyclists, replacing a much-maligned 55-step staircase that had long been a barrier for many.
A Decades-Long Campaign Realised
The opening of the ramp on Tuesday marks the culmination of a vision first proposed in 1999. Over the years, designs were repeatedly scrapped and revived, often facing opposition from some residents in Milsons Point concerned about green space. The project was finally approved for construction in 2023 at a cost of $39m (approximately £20m).
For campaigners like Russ Webber, who had advocated for the ramp since 2000, the opening was a bittersweet victory. Having lost the ability to cycle before construction began, he celebrated by crossing the bridge in a trishaw pedalled by a volunteer from the Cycling Without Age charity. "This ramp will be a terrific thing," Webber stated.
Unlocking the Bridge for All Cyclists
The primary goal of the new structure is to make the iconic crossing accessible to a far wider range of people. The old staircase was a significant obstacle for riders of heavy e-bikes, cyclists with trailers, older residents, and families.
Tony Stanley, a local from Crows Nest, exemplified this change. For the first time, he was able to cross the bridge with his wife and five-year-old daughter, who rode her own bike adorned with Christmas tinsel. "She was able to ride over the harbour bridge all by herself today – it’s just fantastic," Stanley said. "It opens up where you can travel to now."
The ramp, which rises from Bradfield Park in Milsons Point to join the dedicated bike path on the bridge's west side, is expected to significantly boost traffic. Currently, about 1,500 cycling trips are made across the bridge each day. New South Wales Transport Minister John Graham called the project "long-overdue" and predicted it would attract more users.
Integrating into a Growing Network
This upgrade is not an isolated project but a crucial link in Sydney's expanding cycleway network. It follows the recent completion of the GreenWay path in December. Cyclists can now enjoy a nearly continuous, safe route from North Sydney, through the CBD, across the Anzac Bridge and down to the Cooks River, with connections to suburbs like Brighton-le-Sands and Olympic Park.
Jullietta Jung, president of the Better Streets advocacy group, highlighted the strategic importance of such links. "It’s all these missing links that we’re slowly getting to build up … for all ages and abilities to be able to ride safely in our cities," she said. The opening, she added, increases momentum for further cycling infrastructure by showing how it can enhance the urban landscape.
The first riders on Tuesday painted a picture of the ramp's diverse future users: food couriers on e-bikes, commuters on hire bikes, tradespeople, families with children in trailers, and even dogs in special carriages. For commuters like Stuart Lobb, who has used the route for 24 years, the new flow is a revelation. "It all flows nicely. It’s the best way to get to work: the bridge, the water, the ferries; it’s amazing," he said.
With this final hurdle removed, the dream of a seamless, scenic, and inclusive cycling journey across one of the world's most famous bridges has finally become a reality.
