Australia - New Zealand - Lane Cove Tunnel bike route

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trombone
12-02-07, 02:59 PM
Hello!

Later today I have to ride from North Sydney to North Ryde, and have read some info about a cycleway that runs that direction, together with various information about the Epping Road not being easy etc etc.

Does anyone know the route? I have found bucket loads of info, but I don't think all of it is up to date.

I read somewhere that you can get onto a cycleway at the junction with Pacific Hwy and Gore Hill Freeway, then head west on the cycleway as far as the Lane Cove river, where you can pick up the M2 for a short distance. Does this make sense? Can anyone offer any advice on the route?

I'm a confident cyclist, happy to ride in traffic / on busy roads.

Thanks!

trombone
12-03-07, 12:16 AM
OK, so I found the route, for any Sydneysiders who are interested. The entrance to the cycleway by the Lane Cove tunnel is promisingly signposted 'Macquarie Park', so I followed it down a spiral ramp (with some very sharp bends - not very good, really) only to find it didn't go west - only the eastern section is open.

So I took Epping Road instead; there's no shoulder and in fact mostly concrete barriers on the LH side, so you have to take a whole lane. That section is mainly downhill though, so you can spin along with the traffic at a good pace.

The reason for the barriers is that they are clearly building the bike lane - it's just not finished yet. I had since found out it's scheduled to open in Feb 08.

When you reach Mowbray Rd, the bike lane is there, so I took it. It's OK - wide enough, clearly marked for 2-way cycles and separately for pedestrians. There was no-one on it, so I was able to keep up a good speed.

Then, shortly before the route 3 junction, the bike lane basically stops. It's still signed as a bike lane to start with (there is a bike phase on the lights), but actually it's just a pavement, not very good condition, only about 1m wide. Hmmmm. Not ideal.

On the way back I hesitated to go back up Epping Road, as being on a fast 3 lane road with no shoulder through some uphill sections didn't feel like it as going to be a load of fun. So I took Mowbray Rd instead, and just followed it back to the Pacific Hwy. Not so direct, but not a bad road for riding.

Anyway, hope that info helps someone!