The first thing you should know – the most recent plan to build a separated cycleway on Castlereagh Street in the Sydney CBD wasn't Lord Mayor Clover Moore's decision. It was the NSW government's idea.

In 2011, the north-south crossing on the eastern side of the city was slated for Wentworth and College streets – with much of the latter already completed.

Cyclists on the College Street cycleway, which is facing removal. Credit:Peter Rae

That year, the Coalition won government, and quickly halted the building of bike lanes. Some were in the wrong place, said Roads Minister Duncan Gay, and needed to be relocated.

Two years of infrastructure inaction followed. Despite this, the number of cyclists grew exponentially – in Parliament last week Gay acknowledged that cycling trips in the city doubled between 2010 and 2012. Yes, doubled.