If commuter suits and skycycle paths, have yet to get you psychled (i.e. psyched about bikes), the latest in two-wheeling news should. Taylor Square’s former seedy nightclub T2 is about to be transformed into an Amsterdam-esque bike hub.

The 1,200 committed pedallers who sweat past on a daily basis will soon be able to stop for a coffee, chat with fellow cyclists and even pop in for a film screening or two. The building will feature a collection of spaces including a cafe, meeting places, public lecture rooms, multimedia facilities and shops. Plus, there’ll be bike-specific services on site including a workshop, repairs and even bikes for hire. The icing on the cake? An accessible rooftop terrace and garden, which you and your bike can visit via lift. Together.

A long-time crusader for a more bike-friendly Sydney, Lord Mayor Clover Moore is super excited. "Bike hubs exist around the world," she says. "We want to create a place for people riding to and from work with places to park their bike and grab a coffee. It will also help tourists and families wanting to hire a bike or people looking for safety lessons."

City of Sydney Council bought the building in 2009 and — after extensive research — approved of the concept last month. Further detailed designing and planning has been set in motion, with construction set to start around this time next year.

"Research showed a bike hub could help reactivate the daytime economy in Oxford Street and make the area around Taylor Square safer," Moore explains. "The building sits on a major intersection for bike riders connecting Woolloomooloo, Waterloo, Paddington and the inner city. The building, at the intersection of all three major cycle routes, is a central gathering space for pedestrians and bike riders... The flexible studio spaces that form part of the new design will be available for use by a range of groups including start-ups, GLBTI advocacy groups and other community groups.”

Since 2010, there’s been a 113 per cent increase in the number of bike journeys undertaken in Sydney. A recent National Cycling Participation Survey revealed that 26% per cent of Sydney-siders had cycled in the previous month and nearly 20% had ridden in the previous week.

Published on April 22, 2014 by Jasmine Crittenden