Sydney Ferries service being operated on the Parramatta River by PS "Surprise" from 1831. Cross-harbour services began in 1842 and this business grew to such an extent that a public company was formed, the North Shore Steam Ferry Co. Ltd. in 1878. In 1900, the North Shore company was reincorporated as Sydney Ferries Limited (SFL), which progressively took over most other harbour ferry services (except notably the Manly service operated by the Port Jackson & Manly Steamship Company), and became the world's largest ferry operator by fleet size. After the Sydney Harbour Bridge opened in March 1932, SFL patronage dropped almost overnight,
Sydney Harbour Bridge cycleway is at Burton Street, , just below Milsons Point railway station. From this location riders ascend 55 stairs in order to access the path that is located on the roadway level, some above the water level. A campaign to eliminate the steps on this popular cycling route to the CBD has been running since at least 2008. The absence of an efficient or safe cycleway or cycle paths to access the Bridge has resulted in the HarbourLink proposal to give better access to the Sydney Harbour Bridge's northern approach. The NSW Bike Plan 2010 identified to the Harbour Bridge as