The long-awaited Sydney Harbour Bridge cycleway has officially opened to the public as of January 5, 2026, marking a new milestone in the city’s transport network and cycling infrastructure.
The $39 million project, which began construction in October 2024, provides step-free access to the bridge’s western side, connecting Milsons Point and North Sydney with the city centre.
The new ramp replaces the steep staircase ramp, a major barrier for cyclists and riders with mobility needs, completing a 15-month build that advocates have pushed for over two decades.
The project was jointly delivered by Transport for NSW and the NSW government, following extensive community consultation and environmental review processes.
Lauren Streifer, CEO of the Public Transport Association Australia New Zealand (PTAANZ), said the opening represents a defining moment in Sydney’s transport transformation.
“This is Sydney’s summer of cycling, and providing step-free access to the Harbour Bridge is centre stage,” said Streifer.
“Expanding the bike network is quick and affordable, and delivers immediate benefits including better public health, and reduced congestion for everyone — including people who have to drive.
“Decision-makers should feel confident to go further, and invest more in active travel to help keep Sydneysiders moving.”
Streifer said the success of projects like the Oxford Street cycleway, already hosting over 3,000 daily trips, and the busy Inner West Greenway shows how new routes on King and College Streets are closing long-standing gaps and improving network connectivity.
She added that the Harbour Bridge’s new bike ramp is expected to drive a surge in cycling, offering Sydney communities cleaner, healthier transport options to be proud of.
The Harbour Bridge ramp adds to a string of recent cycleway expansions across Sydney, part of a broader NSW strategy to create safer and more accessible infrastructure for active transport.
According to City of Sydney data (2025), cycling trips in the city have more than doubled since 2020, with over 7,000 riders crossing the bridge on peak days prior to the new ramp’s opening.
Transport for NSW says the project is expected to increase weekday bike trips across the Harbour Bridge by up to 30 per cent within the next year, contributing to lower carbon emissions and improved traffic flow.
Active transport advocates have hailed the cycleway as a global benchmark for sustainable urban design.
The ramp features gentle gradients, separated walking and cycling paths, and improved lighting and landscaping to enhance both safety and amenity.
The opening comes amid growing investment in Sydney’s “strategic cycleway network,” aimed at linking suburbs from the inner west to the eastern beaches.
The recent Oxford Street and King Street upgrades, along with the Harbour Bridge ramp, form part of a $950 million active transport funding commitment made under the NSW Future Transport Strategy 2061.
As Sydney embraces its “summer of cycling,” the new step-free Harbour Bridge cycleway stands as both a practical and symbolic step forward — connecting communities and promoting healthier, more sustainable travel across Australia’s largest city.
