windsor NSW Australia

From the point of view of someone who drives part of that route a lot, but is a total cycling newbie...

Old Windsor Road from the end of the M2 up to where it joins Windsor Road seems OK now that they've finished widening it. There's a nice wide shoulder for the most part, and there's a bike or shared path along part of it too (I think it's going to run to Parramatta eventually but there are still gaps, including small sections deliberately unfinished at construction traffic access points; I haven't ridden it but I can see it from the road).

In the morning peak periods cars often drive in the shoulder lane on sections of Old Windsor Road southbound to the M2, because the Old Windsor Road/Norwest Boulevarde traffic lights were programmed by a [censored] and traffic banks up north of there for kilometres (so people wanting to turn left at that intersection or the preceding two just trundle down the shoulder lane). I haven't noticed problems at other times, but being a computer nerd I mostly only see it at strange hours of the day (well, night).

Windsor Road (north of the Old Windsor Road intersection) is currently being widened too, and judging by what's happened so far there'll be a few kilometres of it somewhere in a total mess until 2007 when they get out to Windsor. Currently the mess starts shortly after the Old Windsor Road intersection and finishes a little bit past the Rouse Hill shopping area. There's no shoulder and only narrow lanes where the roadwork diversions are, and I'm not game to ride that bit at the moment although I've seen cyclists there (cars can't get past unless there's no traffic coming in the other direction). There's very heavy southbound traffic for a few hours on weekday mornings, and also lateish on Sunday afternoons. Northbound traffic can be busy but I've never seen it really bad. But it also looks like it will be great for cycling, eventually.

I haven't actually been out to Windsor (incredibly slack, although I didn't think about quite how slack until now! 😄) so I don't know what that section of the road or Windsor itself is like. But I've been along Annandale Road (which is fairly quiet) out Dural way and that's nice.

As for the traffic, it's probably pretty safe as long as I'm not around.

Hopefully someone who's a proper cyclist can tell you a bit more!

thanks mouse patato that's a great reply

I'm not a proper cycist as per say, but I know the road as I do ride it on my MTB

The work on old windsor road is nearly done. There is ample cycling space there for you, and I've ridden up to the corner of old windsor and sunnyholt rd. Now going down sunnyholt road.. dont bother.. they've completely knocked apart the road.

I'm looking to also ride to windsor aswell, just going up from the M2, and at the Intersection that that goes into Kings Langley, I'll go right there, and up through Castle Hill, and out to Richmond RAAF that way 🙂

Kez

Current update - September 2004

The section of road from M2/Old Windsor Rd to Seven Hills Rd/Old Windsor Rd does not have a shoulder. It would be less than 1km, but majority is up hill. Past this point, there is a shoulder until the Old Windsor Rd/Windsor Rd intersection. Also, there is a wide path (shared walking / biking) from approx Sunnyholt Rd to the Old Windsor Rd/Windsor Rd intersection.

Just past the Seven Hills Rd/Old Windsor Rd intersection, there are road works in progress and the shoulder is reduced or non existant for a few metres. This is due to the construction of the orbital overpass across Old Windsor Rd.
Past the Old Windsor Rd/Windsor Rd intersection, I am unfamiliar with the road shoulder, although I do know that the wide path continues. I am positive that the shoulder resumes after this, but not for a great distance. This is because once you reach around the Rouse Hill shops/Mile End Rd, road upgrades/road construction ceases and the original road continues - just bitumen with no kerb and the shoulder would be dirt. Therefore I would not recomend that road cyclists take this path if wishing to ride to Windsor (the speed limit is 80km/h, and if you know Sydney drivers, they would be doing at least 95km/h).

A cycleway is due to be completed by 2006 that should allow all cyclists to ride to Windsor in safety on a specially constructed track. check out the RTA site. rta.nsw.gov.auindex.htmlOpen ↗

If you ride MTB, there is a small piece of land that would be checking out. I have ridden here previously. It is located between Riverstone and Vineyard. It mostly consists of dirt roads and dirt tracks. Sometimes mountorbikes are here on weekends, so watch out.
The area in detail can be seen when looking at whereis.com.auwhereis.com.auOpen ↗
Type in Vineyard as the suburb, and select NSW for the state. When the map appears, the dirt roads are signified by the dotted lines. Also, be careful of cars, they are legal roads and cars, trucks, etc can still use them. Also, there is some private land, and a dog that chases me from a house located near an electricity pylon at the bottom of a hill. The dog is quick, but not quick enough. Im not familiar with dogs, but its not a rotty, doberman, german shepard etc, its smaller. I HAVE WARNED YOU.

One way of getting there would be to catch the train to Vineyard station. Travel along Riverstone Parade towards Riverstone on the opposite side of the road that the train line is. You will start to see a bit a of a single track. Follow it and then you will get to the main area. Be careful from this set of tracks. The track will go down along the electricity lines and then turn to your right and continue towards Riverstone. If you go straight ahead and down the hill, over a few logs or telegraph poles lying on the ground, (not really a path here), you will come to a house and may met THE DOG.

Cheers
whackyscientist