New bike ramp beats bridge obstacle for cyclists

12 January 2018

A new bike ramp on a local rail overpass pedestrian bridge is helping local cyclists turn an obstacle into an easy thoroughfare.

Cr Stephen Nugent said the new ramp is the latest step in a long-term strategy by Orange City Council, aimed at making Orange a more bike-friendly city.

"The Council’s Active Travel Plan has involved programs in schools, mapping, signage, paths, boardwalks, on-road markings and bike racks installed throughout the city," Stephen Nugent said. "And it's all with the aim of encouraging more people to ride or walk to school or work."

"During some community consultations about how cyclists are moving about the city, it became clear that locations like the pedestrian bridge over the railway line were a potential obstacle for riders.

"Having to carry a bike up and over the bridge could be a barrier for some cyclists and one of the aims of the Active Travel Plan is to remove barriers to people choosing ‘active travel’ options."

The ramps are a simple metal angle fixed to the side of the steps, powder-coated safety yellow so they are highly visible.

Bike riders simply wheel their bike at an angle into the ramp, and the push their bike up and over the bridge. The design aimed to keep the ramp as small and simple as possible to have minimal impact on the bridge appearance and use.

The project cost approximately $5,000. This work is happening in partnership with the NSW Government, through the RMS, under the ‘Cycling Towns’ program.

Because the new feature was being attached to a rail bridge, the project needed to be approved by Transport for NSW and state Heritage authorities.

The original timber posts on the western end of the bridge were restored as part of the work.

RAMP : Orange cyclist Hayley Barrett tries out the new ramp, built on the rail pedestrian bridge next to the railway station.