Update Monday
All shared pathway signs have been removed from a busy corner in the Sutherland CBD amid concerns over the danger to pedestrians.
Initially, Sutherland Shire Council erased pavement logos, but replaced them with a sign on a nearby power pole.
However, following the Leader’s online report on Friday, the sign on the pole disappeared, too.
“All shared path signs have been removed from the corner, no doubt with thanks to the Leader’s story,” said businessman Kevin McKay, who complained to the council of the danger.
“However, the shared path still delivers cyclists to this point, and so one fears pedestrians may be at a greater risk of being hit with no warning of what may come hurtling around the corner.
“It feels like the haggle with council will continue.”
Friday story
Shared pathway logos, encouraging cyclists to ride on the footpath around a busy corner in the Sutherland CBD, have been removed following warnings of danger to pedestrians.
However, a replacement pole sign installed by Sutherland Shire Council was no better, said a businessman who raised the matter.
Kevin McKay called the council in late September after shared pathway signs “appeared overnight” on the footpath at the corner of President Avenue and Rawson Avenue (Old Princes Highway).
He said a senior council officer told him more than 400 cyclists an hour passed that corner on Saturday mornings, and the council had no option.
Mr McKay said when he asked whether the cyclists would be safer on the road he was told, “Ninety per cent will probably stay on the road”.
His response had been, “So we can expect 40 riders an hour to ride around this blind corner? What about the safety of pedestrians and anyone exiting the real estate office on a tight blind corner”.
Mr McKay said, after he emailed the Leader, a council officer inspected the site and said the cycle icon would be removed, and the shared pathway would start around the corner.
A council spokesman said the shared pathway had been “reconsidered due to the pathway’s proximity to business entrances and recent community feedback”.
He said the logos would be removed and the shared pathway would start 20 metres to the south.
“An alternative extension into the Sutherland Centre will be designed in the future,” he said.
This week, the council removed the logos, but McKay was stunned to find a replacement shared pathway sign on a pole just a few metres away.
”It would appear the council has no intention to follow through on the weak concession to end the shared path 20 meters from the corner,” he said.
Mr McKay said the intersection was already “a nightmare, with roundabout traffic catching pedestrians off guard, particularly the elderly when crossing from the Coles side of the street”.
“I believe a pedestrian crossing or traffic lights are needed to make this safer, and putting bicycles on the footpath is just an ill-conceived plan that needs to be scrapped altogether.”
