Parramatta Valley Cyclway

scotty72 said:

I emailed the Parramatta City Council to ask about the "missing link" between Rydalmere Wharf and Charles Street (Parramatta CBD).

Good news guys, I've emailed back for estimated dates, but construction seems to be underway. In particular, the two bridges needed are almost finished (one is, one being built). For the time being at least, the PVC won't follow the river, but will skip up and follow south street then, go over Subiaco and Vineyard Creeks before rejoining the river behind UWS then up to Thomas street. Hopefully in the future, the river side path may be built.

Here is part of the reply I got... hope it is accurate.

Parramatta City Council will very soon be finalising a master plan for the Parramatta Valley Cycleway. The master plan aims to be an implementation guide/plan outlining investigative needs, constraints and opportunities.

The predominant focus of implementation will be from the City centre east.

However, there are some constraints and opportunities with that. In particular, Council has constructed a bridge over vineyard creek and shall be finalising Subiaco bridge shortly. This will link with the University of Western Sydney bike path that, i understand, is currently under construction (nearing completion?).

Scott, these current projects will, in the future, enable you to bypass Victoria road join the existing on road Thomas Street route via South Street from Park Road.

thanks for passing on the info

i have been sick of south st due to the amount of traffic vs car doors

i have gone back to crossing the dreaded thackery bridge and riding along polluted but at least it is safer and more relaxing... it also seems shorter

i too made an enquiry about the work being done... at the time the parra end of PVC from Silverwater bridge was blocked offf.... the construction project manager was very helpful in explaining what was happening over email

robalert said:

i have gone back to crossing the dreaded thackery bridge and riding along polluted but at least it is safer and more relaxing... it also seems shorter

i too made an enquiry about the work being done... at the time the parra end of PVC from Silverwater bridge was blocked offf.... the construction project manager was very helpful in explaining what was happening over email

Is the thackery bridge that monsterous footbridge with the pipeline over to the clyde indust area?

If so, that is a terrible bridge.

What did they council tell you?

Scotty

scotty72 said:

Is the thackery bridge that monsterous footbridge with the pipeline over to the clyde indust area?

If so, that is a terrible bridge.

What did they council tell you?

Scotty

they were meant to be widening it but it isn't any wider

i just hate south st.... to many near misses there

once your over the bridge, the ride is shorter and flatter..... truckies are much more courteous than tradespeople...

Hi guys,
I live in Parramatta, and have just started cycling to improve my fitness. I am far too afraid to cycle on the roads as drivers just dont seem to appreciate that cyclists have a right to be on the road.

So I have been using the Thomas St, UWS link, and onto South St and onto the cycling paths along parramatta river.

Is this the often mentioned Parramatta Valley cyclway?

Are there any other safe cycling routes, which use back roads, and avoid the main roads?

I fear 4WD, they dont even respect the presence of smaller cars on the road, what more a bicycle going at 20-30km/h? (er ... my top speed that is)

Thanks

thomas_cho said:

Hi guys,
I live in Parramatta, and have just started cycling to improve my fitness. I am far too afraid to cycle on the roads as drivers just dont seem to appreciate that cyclists have a right to be on the road.

So I have been using the Thomas St, UWS link, and onto South St and onto the cycling paths along parramatta river.

Is this the often mentioned Parramatta Valley cyclway?

Are there any other safe cycling routes, which use back roads, and avoid the main roads?

I fear 4WD, they dont even respect the presence of smaller cars on the road, what more a bicycle going at 20-30km/h? (er ... my top speed that is)

Thanks

Yeah, that's the PVC. Or bits of it.

How do you get from UWS to South street? You have to use Victoria Road (unless you can fly - and if so, why are you cycling?).

They are in the slow process of extending the cycleway into Parramatta itself.

Write to the council and express your interest in seeing this fast tracked.

If you are going to ride on main roads make sure you take your lane (esp on multilane roads). Ride down the middle. There is nothing with a greater guarantee of you getting to meet a pretty nurse than clinging to the gutter.

If you cling to the gutter, every one will try to squeeze past and may well accidently knock you.

If you take the lane, some may scream, but if they touch you it is because they wanted to hurt you. Very unlikely, and those are the people who'll get you whether your biking, walking of drinking coffee at Maccas.

Scotty

scotty72 said:

Yeah, that's the PVC. Or bits of it.

How do you get from UWS to South street? You have to use Victoria Road (unless you can fly - and if so, why are you cycling?).

They are in the slow process of extending the cycleway into Parramatta itself.

Write to the council and express your interest in seeing this fast tracked.

If you are going to ride on main roads make sure you take your lane (esp on multilane roads). Ride down the middle. There is nothing with a greater guarantee of you getting to meet a pretty nurse than clinging to the gutter.

If you cling to the gutter, every one will try to squeeze past and may well accidently knock you.

If you take the lane, some may scream, but if they touch you it is because they wanted to hurt you. Very unlikely, and those are the people who'll get you whether your biking, walking of drinking coffee at Maccas.

Scotty

From UWS, I turn right not onto Victoria Road, but onto the footpath, and cycle up and then turn right when I reach the BP station.

Thanks for the advice, I will stop clinging on to the gutter.

thomas_cho said:

From UWS, I turn right not onto Victoria Road, but onto the footpath, and cycle up and then turn right when I reach the BP station.

Thanks for the advice, I will stop clinging on to the gutter.

I'd be careful doing that, coppers might book you for being on the footpath

scotty72 said:

I'd be careful doing that, coppers might book you for being on the footpath

Thanks for the tip, I'd better stick to Victoria Rd then.

thomas_cho said:

Thanks for the tip, I'd better stick to Victoria Rd then.

i took the same route as thomas too... never had probs with cops or anyone... the gutter is quite wide and should be converted to a shared path considering the width

it ain't worth it to come out of UWS (which is a no right turn) then try to turn right again at the BP on victoria rd

personally, i don't like south st unless there are very little parked cars around (weekends and outside of buisness hours)... i much prefer grand ave camelia (despite the thackery st bridge climb and pollution)

where do you ride to?... and where are you coming from in Parra?

Hi Rob
I normally just cycle on the weekends, and use the Parramatta, park on the week days.

I have tried using Grand avenue, but when I was there last the access to the bridge was closed.

So is that bridge open again?

thomas_cho said:

Hi Rob
I normally just cycle on the weekends, and use the Parramatta, park on the week days.

I have tried using Grand avenue, but when I was there last the access to the bridge was closed.

So is that bridge open again?

the thackery bridge is open now BUT there have been no improvement made to it

i thought they were widening it, but i was mistaken

robalert said:

the thackery bridge is open now BUT there have been no improvement made to it

i thought they were widening it, but i was mistaken

Thanks I am going to try it out this weekend. Are these step climable with road shoes?

How is the air around Grand Avenue? Does it still smell?

thomas_cho said:

Thanks I am going to try it out this weekend. Are these step climable with road shoes?

How is the air around Grand Avenue? Does it still smell?

The stairs are a little steep, old and uneven. Definitely not designed for carrying bulky things over. But doable.

The air is definitely a little "chewy" but not as bad as the old days

Scotty

thomas_cho said:

Thanks I am going to try it out this weekend. Are these step climable with road shoes?

How is the air around Grand Avenue? Does it still smell?

it may be a bit tricky with road shoes... don't want you falling

if you are only riding on weekends, south st would be dead quiet

in fact, victoria road should be a breeze on weekends

geez, how do you ride the UWS underpass on a road bike... that would be shockin'

there is actually another way for road bikes... col at bikenorth showed me (heading towards parra) take the right branch (instead of left) in UWS and head towards the pedestrian footbridge that runs along victoria rd... it dumps you under james ruse drive and spits you out at the top of an ajoining street to thomas st

for me, if i was heading for a weekend ride, i would just take victoria rd or take the M4 cycleway to olympic park

Hey, have you decided on your next BN ride? 🙂

robalert said:

it may be a bit tricky with road shoes... don't want you falling

if you are only riding on weekends, south st would be dead quiet

in fact, victoria road should be a breeze on weekends

geez, how do you ride the UWS underpass on a road bike... that would be shockin'

there is actually another way for road bikes... col at bikenorth showed me (heading towards parra) take the right branch (instead of left) in UWS and head towards the pedestrian footbridge that runs along victoria rd... it dumps you under james ruse drive and spits you out at the top of an ajoining street to thomas st

for me, if i was heading for a weekend ride, i would just take victoria rd or take the M4 cycleway to olympic park

Where is this M4 cycleway? I would like to cycle to the olympic park. How do I get on it?

thomas_cho said:

Where is this M4 cycleway? I would like to cycle to the olympic park. How do I get on it?

Hi Thomas,

How are you?

The M4 Cyclepath starts (really) at the intersection of Church Street and the M4 Viaduct (you can enter off Junction Street). It initially goes under the viaduct until it comes up along side the M4 as it goes over James Ruse Dr.

It'll then go back under the M4 to Martha Street - Over Duck Creek onto Adderly Street. Cross Siverwater Rd to Haslams Creek then turn left into the Olympic Park area.

thomas_cho said:

Where is this M4 cycleway? I would like to cycle to the olympic park. How do I get on it?

pretty easy...

most of the streets heading towards M4 from parra hit the cycleway... you can enter past harris park station and follow the bike signs... (the street behind mitsubishi head downs to the track)... but so does wigram (ie - go down charles st and then cross road to wigram)...

once you hit the m4 viaduct just follow it east, it will take you all the way to olympic park

it is a great cycleway!

scotty72 said:

Hey, have you decided on your next BN ride? 🙂

scott, I'm planning to do this ride on Sunday but only to Parramatta... then off to church from there

Date: Sun 14/08/2005

Ride: The Big Loop

Grade: Medium, BNSW Grade: OTP Distance: 55

Contact: Malcolm Hart, 9744 9760

Starts at: 08:00. Eastwood stn west. Medium ride to M2, Winston Hills. Down to Parramatta for coffee. Return via M4 to Meadowbank & uphill to Eastwood.


call me if you are keen to ride it (0411663349)