But in November last year Roads Minister Duncan Gay Part-time lane planned: A cyclist on Castlereagh Street. Credit:Sahlan Hayes Mr Gay said this principle could be applied to all future cycleways in Sydney. But what he did not say was that the government had commissioned advice on the feasibility of operating a part-time cycleway, and that advice recommended against it. Off-peak loading zones were "not supported", said the advice from transport consultant Warren Salomon, because they delivered a very low level of service to cyclists.

Instead, Mr Salomon argued for closing an adjacent lane of traffic for deliveries, or simply maintaining the College Street cycleway. "College Street provides a better north-south connection to the proposed King Street east-west link and the gateway to the Eastern Suburbs at Whitlam Square than Castlereagh Street," Mr Salomon wrote for Transport for NSW, in documents obtained using freedom of information laws. "The removal of the College Street cycleway without a Liverpool Street east-west link will sever cycle network access to the CBD for Eastern Suburbs cyclists," he wrote. (This is what is proposed to happen: the government plans to build a Liverpool Street cycleway, but it would not connect completely to cycleways to the eastern suburbs.)

The government's own analysis shows it is aware of the problems that can arise with a part-time cycleway. "There is no precedent in Sydney for a part-time cycleway," says a presentation sent from the former director-general of Transport for NSW, Dave Stewart, to the chief executive of Roads and Maritime Services, Peter Duncan. The document lists 10 "cons" for the part-time policy, and four "pros". The pros include that it will not impact on traffic lanes and will minimise impact on loading zones. Cons include the difficulty with informing cyclists when the cycleway is open or closed, "particularly for northbound cyclists who cannot ride on road on Castlereagh Street, which is southbound only." "Northbound cyclists may choose to ride on road to access the north east of the Sydney CBD as it would be a more direct route," the presentation says. "Some may choose to illegally ride on footpaths."

In an emailed response through a spokeswoman, Mr Gay said: "The advice you refer to was provided by an external adviser to the department. "The Minister for Roads and Minister for Transport regularly [receives] advice and [makes]decisions in the best interests of all road users," Mr Gay said. The southern section of the Castlereagh Street cycleway, from Hay to Liverpool streets, will be finished this month. Work on the northern sections from Liverpool Street to King Street will then start. Construction on a planned Liverpool Street cycleway will begin this month. A spokeswoman for Transport for NSW said in an email the department was finalising the design.

"In reaching a decision on a trial option, Transport for NSW is combining the best elements of two designs, taking into account the physical constraints of the street, safety and stakeholder feedback," the spokeswoman said.