Bike paths in Sydney
Most were built or designed when cycling was viewed as a pleasant pastime rather than a practical form of travel and are now poorly suited to commuting.
[5] These are part of Transport for NSW's CovidSafe Travel Plan with about 20 km of cycleways being designated in Randwick, Parramatta and Sydney CBD.
The Sydney City Council is progressively building an increasing network of 220 kilometres (140 mi) separated cycleways, shared paths and other infrastructure in and adjacent to the central business district.
[7] The council lists the following popular rides:[8][9] A number of freeways and tollways have been constructed with dedicated separate bicycle paths built alongside.
The Gore Hill and Epping Road cycleways comprise two conjoined shared use path for cyclists and pedestrians with a total length of 8.4 kilometres (5.2 mi) from the east and west of the lower north shore.
During that time, cyclists were required to use an alternate route on suburban streets that was 5 kilometres (3.1 mi) longer, steeper and slower.
The M7 cycleway is a 40-kilometre-long (25 mi)[21] shared use path for cyclists and pedestrians that is generally aligned with the Westlink M7 in Greater Western Sydney.
In the twelve months to February 2014, between 200 and 350 cyclists used on the M7 cycleway at Glenwood and at Rooty Hill on an average weekday, with a greater number on the weekends.
There are signs on the bridge indicating a maximum speed of 10 kilometres per hour (6.2 mph) and requesting that cyclists ride slowly.
[4] At the eastern (Pyrmont) end there is a spiral ramp that begins at the corner of Saunders Street and Quarry Master Drive.
[4] At the southern (Balmain) end the Iron Cove Bridge is linked to the Anzac Bridge by Victoria Road; and to King George Park and the Bay Run by a cycle path on the western side and by an underpass from the eastern side via Terry Street and Warayama Place.
[31] The Alfords Point Bridge has a shared path on the eastern side from Clancy Street, Padstow Heights to Fowler Road, Illawong.
[36] Anecdotal evidence suggests that the section linking Princes Highway at Tempe to Kyeemah Reserve has some non-intuitive routefinding[37] and may benefit from additional signage.
[39][40] There is a short on-road section along Lancaster Road Melrose Park, an elevated steel mesh boardwalks through Ermington Nature Reserve.
In the 12 months to February 2014, between 175 and 300 cyclists used the Parramatta Valley cycleway at Rydalmere on an average weekday, with a greater number on the weekend.
By combining with the Lower Prospect Canal, the T-Way cycleway provides continuous off-road path from Hoxton Park to Parramatta.
At Fairfield the trail passes through some commuter car parks (which are quiet on weekends) and traverses a short section of road.
A water bubbler has been provided near the Taylor Street access path (2 km west of the Cumberland Highway).
[45] The path was restored to working order in September 2010[46] and is currently usable at the western end to the Prospect Dam area boundary with an at grade traffic light crossing of Reconciliation Road.
The Gipps Road in Smithfield underpass can fill with water during heavy rain, however an at grade crossing nearby can be used.
There is a 10 km shared path along Orphan School Creek from Canley Vale railway station to Abbotsbury.
It connects to the Parramatta to Liverpool Rail Trail Cycleway at Canley Vale railway station, to the Clear Paddock Creek shared path at King Road, Fairfield West, to the Liverpool to Parramatta T-way at Myrtle Road, and to the Prospect Dam to Abbotsbury cyclepath at Abbotsbury.
An 8 km fully paved section of off-road cycleway runs from the dam wall picnic ground to the Calmsley Hill City Farm at Abbotsbury.
Excellent access to Western Sydney Regional Park and a large number of mountain bike trails of all standards.
Between the 14-mile (23 km) stretch from Westmead to Rouse Hill there are some 26 traffic light controlled road crossings and therefore riding along this cycleway is a very stop-start process.
Many cyclist commuters use parts of the Bay Run, either to access Lilyfield Road or the Iron Cove Bridge.
[11][12][50] At the mouth of Hawthorne Canal, near the junction of Hawthorne Parade, Lilyfield Road, Maliyawul Street, and Dobroyd Parade, there is the option to add an additional 1.8 kilometres (1.1 mi) to the loop circuit by heading south until crossing the footbridge on Barton Street and returning north up the other side of the canal.
A rough figure-8 route was designed joining Olympic Park with Bass Hill, Abbotsbury, Prospect and Guildford.
Works over the years have seen a large portion of the western loop of the route constructed from Bankstown Veledrome to Abbotsbury, Prospect Dam and Guildford.
Currently, the only constructed portion is between Sutherland and Kirrawee[51] It consists in some places of shared paths, and in other locations dedicated separated cycleways and footpaths.
