Long-awaited new cycle paths through Sydney's inner west and to the northern side of the Harbour Bridge have been mothballed or pushed back for years under the O'Farrell government's 20-year bike plan.

But the government has announced construction will start next year on a new cycleway project along the Parramatta River to connect two existing paths in western Sydney.

Cyclists ride over the Sydney Harbour Bridge. Credit:Kate Geraghty

The “Sydney's Cycling Future” document, released on Thursday by Transport Minister Gladys Berejiklian and Roads Minister Duncan Gay, says the government wants to focus on the 70 per cent of NSW residents who would like to regularly ride for transport if it was only more convenient to do so.

But two of the most high-profile proposed bike projects in recent years, designed to improve access through the city for large catchments of inner west and north shore and northern suburbs cyclists, have been pushed off for years in the document.