The proposal would mean that with the loss of the College Street cycleway, there would be no full-time north-south cycleway through the southern end of the Sydney CBD.

Numerous elements of this plan, which the government has not yet confirmed, remain unclear.

The government had wanted to build the new cycleways before it started construction of a light rail line down George Street in April.

It is running out of time to do that. This means there is a chance the new cycleways may not be built for years.

It is also unclear whether the "part-time" cycleway would have a permanent barrier from the road traffic, as is the case with some cycleways in Sydney, or if it is to be marked with paint on the roadway.