Sydney cycleway to be 'modified' after just five months following complaints from locals

A Sydney council has denied it is ripping up a cycle path close to the popular Bay Run after complaints from residents.

But the City of Canada Bay has admitted it will "modify" the bike path on Heath Street in Rodd Point, which is part of a bigger $7 million cycleway to connect the Bay Run and Concord.

The $17,000 path has only been there for five months, but reports said it was set to be "removed" this week.

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Canada Bay Mayor Angelo Tsirekas told residents in a letter the works would "improve the overall safety of all users", the Sydney Morning Herald reports.

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The council told 9News it will only modify a 200m section of the cycle path, including taking out some traffic islands.

"Council plans to modify (not remove) the section of cycleway at Heath Street to create a safer environment for all road users," a spokeswoman said.

"The modification involves the removal of concrete islands parallel to the kerb along Heath Street, and some modification of the line marking.

"This decision to modify the cycleway was adopted at Council's March Council Meeting following an independent risk assessment, which was consulted on with local residents and considered by the Local Traffic Committee."

Cyclists called reports the path was to be scrapped a "knee-jerk reaction" and called locals NIMBYs (a reference to "not in my backyard").

"They just decided they wanted to get rid of it," David Martin said.

One local who lives in the street told the Sydney Morning Herald he was worried about safety after a man tripped on a concrete island and car doors were opened into the paths of cyclists.

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