Action for Bikes-BikePlan 2010

Ms LEE RHIANNON: I direct my question to the Minister for Roads. Will the Minister inform the House of the progress on the Roads and Traffic Authority's Action for Bikes—BikePlan 2010 considering that this report stipulates that two of the cycleways—one from Chatswood to Warringah Mall and the other from the Sydney Harbour Bridge to Warringah Mall—will be completed by 2009? Can the Minister inform the House of any progress reports on these two projects and if local bicycle groups and councils have been consulted? When will work on this project commence, as it is supposed to be completed next year, and are detailed maps or plans available? If local bike groups and local councils have not been consulted, will the Minister commit to ensure that this happens before the project commences?

The Hon. ERIC ROOZENDAAL: I have recently become the owner of a bike, a nice 27-speed bike, which was a gift from my wife for my birthday. She included a helmet as well, as it is very important for people to wear helmets. On becoming the owner of a bike I decided to check how many kilometres of cycleways we have in New South Wales and I am advised that we have over 3,900 kilometres of cycleways in New South Wales for cyclists. In 1999 the New South Wales Government committed $251 million over 10 years to deliver an average of 200 kilometres of cycling facilities per year.

I am pleased to advise that the Government has provided an average of 233 kilometres of cycling facilities each year since 1999, which exceeds the projections. A further $15 million of works are to be completed this financial year. I am advised that the Roads and Traffic Authority is directly funding bicycle-specific programs valued at $7.6 million. These will deliver cycling-specific infrastructure, education and promotion, including more than $3 million to match local government contributions for 93 local bicycle projects.

The Hon. Michael Gallacher: Can't you just see Eric in lycra tights?

The Hon. ERIC ROOZENDAAL: Actually, I have some bike shorts and I look very nice in them too. The Roads and Traffic Authority is also providing facilities for the use of cyclists as part of major road construction projects. Such facilities include both sealed shoulders and paths shared with pedestrians to the value of $7.4 million in the 2007-08 year. The Government is committed to building off-road shared paths wherever practicable when new roads are built and to link these with existing cycleways wherever possible. One of the most recent cycleways that the Government has introduced is the Epping Road cycleway, which is an excellent piece of infrastructure, as part of the final aspects of the completion of the Lane Cove Tunnel and expanded Gore Hill Freeway. The Government remains committed to improving cycling for all the community around New South Wales.

Ms LEE RHIANNON: I ask a supplementary question. Does the Minister's inability to answer the question about the Roads and Traffic Authority's Action for Bikes—BikePlan 2010 mean that he has never heard about it, or he is not committed to it, or it is not proceeding?

The PRESIDENT: Order! That is not a supplementary question.