TfNSW's first response to campaign for secure bike storage at Hunter train stations

It took some prodding but we garnered a response from Transport for NSW for our "Lock it in, Newcastle" campaign for better bike storage facilities at the Hunter region's train stations.

The salient points of the response are included here:

Thank you for contacting Transport for NSW regarding your ‘Lock It In, Newcastle’ campaign advocating for improved bike parking infrastructure at transport interchanges on the Hunter Intercity Train Network and Newcastle Light Rail Network. Transport is committed to improving the bike parking experience of our customers. To help achieve this, a bike parking audit of Sydney and Intercity transport interchanges has been undertaken.  Subject to available funding, future upgrades will be prioritised at locations across NSW (including the Greater Newcastle and Lower Hunter area) where existing and future forecast demand is highest and/or where other factors, such as security concerns, support investment. Community requests, including those as a result of your recent campaign, can also help inform the prioritisation of any future upgrades. It should also be noted that the type and form of any upgraded or new bike parking facilities will depend on a number of factors including site constraints as well as the need to meet various Transport for NSW and Sydney Trains’ Standards. While we acknowledge customer interest in improved bike parking facilities across the network, with a focus on priority locations, the audit data also indicates relatively low demand at some locations in the region which may result in them having a lower priority for any future funding that may become available to support bike parking at Transport interchanges. Nevertheless, Transport can confirm that your campaign generated a strong community response, with 102 individual submissions between 2nd June – 1st July 2026 indicating where respondents would like to see new or improved bike parking facilities. As part of this, Newcastle Interchange attracted the highest level of support (53 requests), followed by Broadmeadow Station (30 requests) and Hamilton Station (20 requests). This feedback will be considered alongside audit findings, demand data and funding availability when assessing future bike parking improvements. We recognise that providing convenient and secure bike parking at Transport interchanges can support greater cycling participation and encourage mode shift. However, Transport for NSW does not currently have a confirmed allocation of dedicated funding for the delivery of new or upgraded bike parking facilities. We appreciate your advocacy and interest in improving parking to support people riding their bikes to train stations. Your feedback has been recorded and will be considered as part of future planning and funding discussions.  ... Yours sincerely, Active Transport team

102 requests is a strong result

We think the most encouraging part of this response is the confirmation that 102 individual people submitted requests during our campaign.

That's a significant response to a relatively simple community campaign, particularly given that secure bike parking is not something that has traditionally received much attention in the Hunter.

The locations people identified are also interesting:

• Newcastle Interchange - 53 requests

• Broadmeadow Station - 30 requests

• Hamilton Station - 20 requests

This gives Transport for NSW something that previously didn't exist: a clear indication of community interest in specific locations.

But there is a catch

While we are pleased that Transport for NSW has acknowledged the strength of the community response, its response also highlights the next challenge.

There is currently no dedicated funding allocation for new or upgraded bike parking facilities.

In other words, Transport for NSW has told us that community requests can help inform its priorities, but ultimately nothing can be delivered without funding.

This is where we believe our local politicians have an important role to play.

If the NSW Government wants more people to combine cycling with public transport, then secure bike parking needs to be treated as part of the transport network rather than an optional extra.

The Hunter shouldn't have to wait indefinitely for a small number of lockers and bike sheds to appear whenever funding happens to become available.

We will therefore be taking the results of the campaign to our local State MPs and asking them to support funding for secure bike parking in the Hunter.

The message is a simple one:

The community has asked. Now we need the Government to invest.

There is another question we want to explore

There is also an interesting issue raised by the TfNSW response which we think deserves further discussion.

TfNSW says that its audit has identified relatively low demand at some locations in the Hunter, which could result in those stations receiving a lower priority for future investment.

We understand the logic of using demand to guide investment. However, there is a fundamental question when it comes to secure bike parking:

How do you accurately measure demand for a facility that largely doesn't exist?

If a station has little or no secure bike parking, someone who would otherwise ride there may quite reasonably choose to drive, get dropped off, walk, or find another way to access the station.

Their absence from the bike parking statistics doesn't necessarily mean there is no demand. It may simply mean that the infrastructure needed to unlock that demand isn't there. This is particularly relevant in the Hunter, where secure bike parking has historically been so limited.

A positive next step

We have recently had a phone conversation with a senior member of the Transport for NSW Active Transport Integration team.

They have offered to meet with Newcastle Cycleways Movement to explain more about the methodology used for the bike parking audit and how demand and other factors are assessed when determining priorities.

We see this as a very positive development.

We raised our questions about the audit methodology because we want to better understand how the results have been reached, particularly in a region where secure bike parking has never been widely available.

We welcome the opportunity to sit down with TfNSW, understand the data and discuss how the Hunter can move forward.

This isn't about arguing with the data. It's about making sure the data gives decision-makers the best possible picture of what is needed.

So what's next?

The Lock It In, Newcastle campaign has achieved what we set out to do: we have demonstrated that there is significant community interest in secure bike parking at Hunter train stations.

Now we need to turn that interest into action.

Our next steps will be:

1. Meet with Transport for NSW

We will take up the offer to discuss the bike parking audit, understand the methodology behind it and discuss how future demand for secure bike parking in the Hunter can be assessed.

2. Engage our local State MPs

We will present them with the results of the campaign and ask them to advocate for funding for secure bike parking in the Hunter.

3. Keep the community involved

The 102 people who made submissions have helped establish a strong starting point. We will continue to keep our supporters informed and look for opportunities for the community to make its voice heard.

4. Keep pushing for practical outcomes

Ultimately, the measure of success won't be the number of submissions, meetings or emails. It will be seeing secure bike lockers and bike sheds actually installed at Hunter stations.

This is only the beginning

We'd like to thank everyone who took the time to participate in Lock It In, Newcastle. The campaign has shown that when we give people a simple opportunity to tell decision-makers what they want, they will respond.

102 people asked for better bike parking.

Now the next question is what happens with those requests.

We are encouraged by Transport for NSW's willingness to meet with us, and we look forward to having a constructive conversation about the audit and the future of bike parking in the Hunter.

At the same time, we will be asking our elected representatives to help secure the funding needed to turn community demand into actual infrastructure.

The community has spoken. Now let's see what happens next.

We'll keep you posted