Sydney Harbour Bridge cycleway is finally step free!
Photo: First young people to ride over the Sydney Harbour Cycleway North Ramp.
The long awaited day has finally arrived. There is no more need to climb 55 steps ever again with your bike, or kid in tow as demonstrated by this dad in this photo waiting for his little kid to walk down.
“This new connection is something to celebrate. We congratulate the NSW Government, Council, designers, engineers and builders — and especially the advocates who kept pushing for decades to make this happen. The Harbour Bridge cycleway shows what’s possible when we commit to safe, inclusive cycling infrastructure. Now we hope to see the rest of the Sydney bike network delivered — and much faster than the 93 years it took to get here.”
This week marks a long-awaited milestone for Sydney: the opening of the Sydney Harbour Cycleway North ramp, finally providing a step-free connection across the Harbour Bridge for people walking and riding.
It’s a moment nearly 93 years in the making, since the Sydney Harbour Bridge was first opened..
For decades, advocates have called for a safe, accessible way to cross the harbour by bike — one that works for everyday riders, families, older people, cargo bikes, and people using adaptive cycles. Today, that vision has become reality.
The new ramp transforms how people move across one of Sydney’s most iconic pieces of infrastructure. What was once a physical barrier is now a genuine connection — enabling people to ride across the harbour without lifting bikes up stairs or navigating awkward detours.
This project didn’t happen overnight. It is the result of years of advocacy, persistence, and collaboration. Better Streets congratulates the NSW Government, Council, designers, engineers, builders — and most importantly the community advocates who never let this idea fade.
The opening of the ramp is about more than convenience. It’s about access and inclusion. Step-free infrastructure means more people can choose to walk or ride — whether that’s commuting, visiting friends, or simply enjoying the city.
It’s also a reminder of what’s possible when we invest in people-centred transport. Sydney’s walking and cycling network is growing, but there is still much more to do. This connection shows the value of enhancing and growing the network.
As we celebrate this long-overdue win, we also look ahead. We hope this moment sparks renewed momentum to expand Sydney’s walking and cycling network — and to deliver it faster than it took to reach this historic milestone.
Because safer, more welcoming streets don’t just improve transport — they improve everyday life.
Read more about the making of the ramp at the Bicycle NSW website here.
Watching so that children don’t stack it walking their bike down the steps.
Photo: Bike riders walking up the steps in morning peak hour.
Trying to get a cargo bike down the steps without tripping and breaking one’s neck was a challenge.
Rider who can’t walk but can ride is now able to ride across the bridge.
Riders with cargo.
Photo: Russ, lifelong advocate is first to ride the ramp after decades of advocating for better cycling in the North.
