Nearly every cyclist in Sydney knows the pain of carrying their bike up or down the steps at the north end of the Sydney Harbour Bridge, in Milsons Point.

As one regular rider told me, "It's not much fun."

That pain is now just something to tell the grandkids about, because the new bike ramp is a game changer. It gives riders a continuous, ride-on connection to the Harbour Bridge cycleway for the first time.

It’s simple infrastructure, but it transforms the Harbour Bridge from a painful crossing to a must-ride experience.

What Changed

The $39 million ramp rises gently from Milsons Point up to the bridge’s western cycleway. It’s around 150–170 metres long and wide enough for two bikes to pass. The gradient is never above 5%.

The ramp uses Moruya granite, which is the same stone as the bridge pylons, and custom bronze handrails designed to match the bridge’s colour and geometry.

Built into the structure is aboriginal artwork referencing eels and movement through the harbour.

CycleHub's Verdict

This ramp solves a decades-long problem in a beautiful way. It removes friction from one of Sydney’s most important bike routes and is another link in the burgeoning cycle-path network slowly being built throughout Sydney.

If you ride across the harbour regularly, the ramp will change your day. If you avoided the bridge because of the stairs, it may change whether you ride at all.

And, as NSW Transport Minister John Graham said, "This is a cycleway people will come from around the world to ride."

I know I'll be riding the bridge more often. I'll see you there.