"On the road" - thoughts on City of Newcastle's (draft) Local Streets Plan 2026

1 day ago
4 min read

Relevant links

Some of the text of this blog post was generated using an AI tool, where the tool was guided to perform its analysis of the plan.

Is Newcastle’s Draft Local Streets Plan Good for Cycling?

A balanced take for Newcastle Cycleways Movement members

The City of Newcastle’s Draft Local Streets Plan (“On the Road”) is now out for feedback. At first glance, it contains many of the right words: safer streets, greener neighbourhoods, and support for active travel.

But the key question for everyday riders is simple: Will this plan actually deliver safer, low-stress cycling - or is it mainly a high-level framework?

🚲 The Good News

There are several positives that Newcastle Cycleways Movement (NCM) members should recognise.

✅ Active travel is clearly acknowledged

The plan recognises that local streets are important for walking and cycling, and that they should support safer movement for people - not just cars. That’s an important cultural shift and aligns with modern street design thinking.

✅ Focus on safer, calmer local streets

The emphasis on safety, lower speeds, and better street environments is broadly positive for bike riders. If implemented well, calmer local streets can become valuable low-stress links in the cycling network.

✅ Integration with other Newcastle transport plans

The Local Streets Plan is intended to work alongside On Our Bikes (Cycling Plan 2021-2030) and other movement strategies. In theory, this creates an opportunity for local street upgrades to help fill gaps in the cycling network.

Bottom line: The direction of travel is encouraging.

⚠️ The Big Gaps

However, from a cycling advocacy perspective, the plan currently has some significant weaknesses.

❌ It is largely strategic, not delivery-focused

This is primarily a framework document. It explains how Council will think about streets, but it does not:

Commit to specific cycling projects
Set delivery timelines
Allocate funding
Map low-stress cycling routes

That doesn’t make it useless - but it does mean outcomes will depend heavily on future decisions.

❌ Modal filters and low-traffic neighbourhoods are largely absent

One of the most noticeable omissions is the lack of explicit recognition of modal filters (e.g. bollards, planters, or closures that allow bikes through but restrict rat-running traffic).

These treatments are:

Low cost
Quick to implement
Proven internationally
Highly effective at creating bike-friendly local streets

Yet the draft plan barely acknowledges them as a tool in the toolkit.

For a plan focused on safer local streets, this is a missed opportunity.

❌ No measurable targets for cycling outcomes

The plan speaks positively about active travel, but it does not clearly set measurable targets for:

Cycling mode share
Network completion
Low-traffic street creation
Delivery timeframes

Without metrics, it becomes much harder to hold decision-makers accountable.

🧭 So... Does NCM Support the Plan?

Yes - but with constructive conditions.

There is value in the strategic direction. The plan moves Newcastle’s street thinking in the right direction and provides a framework that could support better cycling outcomes.

However, unconditional support would miss an important advocacy opportunity.

The most effective position is:

✔️ Support the intent✏️ Strengthen the delivery mechanisms🚲 Make cycling outcomes explicit

📢 What NCM Members Might Recommend in Their Submissions

If members are making individual submissions, here are the key improvements worth advocating for.

1. Make cycling a core performance requirement

Local street upgrades should explicitly prioritise safe, low-stress cycling connections - not treat them as optional extras.

2. Explicitly include modal filters and low-traffic streets

The plan should clearly recognise filtered permeability and low-traffic neighbourhood treatments as standard tools for:

Reducing rat-running
Lowering speeds
Creating bike-friendly local routes

This is one of the highest-impact, lowest-cost improvements available.

3. Add measurable active transport targets

Ask Council to include clear, time-bound metrics such as:

Cycling mode share targets
Kilometres of low-stress network delivered
Number of local streets calmed or filtered

What gets measured gets delivered.

4. Strengthen alignment with the Cycling Plan

The Local Streets Plan should clearly show how local street upgrades will help complete the cycling network identified in On Our Bikes.

Local streets are where many of the missing links will be solved - but only if this is made explicit.

5. Improve transparency in prioritisation

Members should call for clearer public reporting on:

Which streets are prioritised
Why they are chosen
How cycling benefits are assessed

Transparency builds trust and momentum.

🚴 The Opportunity Ahead

This draft plan is not the finished product for better cycling in Newcastle - but it is an important lever.

With the right refinements, it could:

Unlock quieter neighbourhood routes
Embed cycling into routine street renewals
Accelerate delivery of a connected low-stress network

Without those refinements, it risks remaining a well-worded strategy that delivers change too slowly.

✍️ Have Your Say

NCM encourages members and supporters to engage constructively with the consultation process - https://haveyoursay.newcastle.nsw.gov.au/local-streets-plan

Strong, thoughtful submissions now can help ensure Newcastle’s local streets truly become places that are: