We had just completed a ride up the railway from his bus at Central Station.

I was glad to show him some of our specials like the Goods Line, Wilson St, the new cafe in Camperdown Park and the Stanmore cycleway. Oh yeah and The Greenway 💚♻️

Enjoy my 🗣️🎙️

If you ride this route, you know the shared path is infamous for its rattling metal joints and booming acoustics. But with the right line choice, a little speed control, and a few clever techniques, you can glide across the river without making a racket.

Old Houses: Stanmore Station to Whites Creek Lane The ride begins by getting from Stanmore Station to Whites Creek Lane. This is an on-road ride heading across Stanmore in a mostly northerly direction. Traffic in this area tends to run east-west, so it is not too bad for riding. Cross Parramatta Road carefully, and you are soon at Whites Creek Lane. Ride starts on Bruce St in Stanmore.

A Great Explore: Whites Creek Lane Riding from Albion St in Annandale to Rozelle Parklands via Whites Creek Lane is relaxing and a bit bumpy. Stretching for 2km, this dead-flat back road only crosses three roads and provides a colorful, surprisingly car-free extension into Annandale.

Functioning as a narrow 10 km/h Shared Zone, the route has you bouncing around behind residential garages, rolling through lovely community parks, taking in local street art, and passing right under Australia’s first reinforced concrete aqueduct.

The path connects conveniently to Rozelle Bay and the Anzac Bridge Cycleway. If you are looking to travel at higher speeds, switch to the adjacent residential streets with white-painted bike symbols.

🗺️ See the RideWithGPS here See the Cooks Collection here Google MyMaps >>

A Big Hill and Old Houses: Rozelle Park to Callan Park

Whilst design work, council approvals and a new shared path are still ahead for the obvious Lillyfield road to Iron Cove connection, we prefer more interesting riding that takes us in a northerly direction to Iron Cove. First up we start on Cecily St which is a steep road heading north. The houses on Cecily street are old and great to look at. Cecily is on the Parramatta to Sydney Foreshore Link.

Then you can earn your coffee and cake by sightseeing around historic Callan Park (Orange Grove Plaza has a couple of nice places) or just follow this ride to the waters edge on Iron Cove Bay.

If you have an eBike and don’t like Lillyfield Rd much, this hilly alternative is a bit of fun. More on Callan Park for paid subscribers

The Iron Cove Loop: More Than Just the “Bay Run” If you’re looking for a picturesque, flat, and family-friendly ride in Sydney’s Inner West, Iron Cove is a must. While local runners and walkers focus on the famous 7km “Bay Run” loop, cyclists can easily stitch together 15km of connected, wide trails throughout the area. The super popular Greenway is a standout but other options include exploring Balmain and Ride 54 - Abbotsford Waters.

Iron Cove Tips:

Timing is Everything: It is stunningly picturesque, but if the sun is out after 8:00 AM on a weekend, expect heavy walking and running traffic.

Family Tip: If you’re riding with younger children who might struggle to “hold a line,” stick to the south side of the cove—there are no adjacent roads to worry about.

Road Bike : The unofficial local technique for those on road bikes is to loop anti-clockwise, utilizing the paths on the Rozelle side and transitioning to the road on the Russell Lea (north) side. Take it easy on the paths, in dogs we don’t trust.

Whether you’re after a high-speed lap or a slow meander with the family, you won’t be disappointed.

Here is the trail on our Eastern Suburbs Maps >> . Look for the suburbs of Stanmore and Annandale and the loop around Iron Cove

Check out some street art and cool frog infra in Whites Creek Lane

That’s most of what you need to know, once again the ride links follow. Paid users can dig a a little deeper with the following videos.

See the Cooks Collection here Google MyMaps >>

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The Journey Map:
The Fish Market Connection: Starting near the edge of Blackwattle Bay.

The Lift Hack: Crossing Wattle St without breaking a sweat.

Quarry Green: Navigating the leafy (and slightly confusing) one-way maze of Jones St.

The Secret Link: Finding the hidden bridge at Upper Fig Lane that runs right alongside the freeway.

The Descent: Taking the final lift down into the 'paradise' of Darling Harbour, with a clear run all the way to King St or the water’s edge at Circular Quay.

It’s one of those 'local knowledge' rides that turns a hectic commute into a mathematical tour. Let’s roll!"

0:00 Starting near the Fishmarkets
0:35 Lift to get to Quarry St and Park
1:47 Heading north on a one-way road
2:20 The hidden bridge across to Darling Harbour

🗺️ CycleSydney Map Link

Starting just behind the Royal Sydney Golf course, this path travels along the esplanade and then follows New South Head road until just after the wonderful Red Leaf beach. Map link >> RideWithGPS Link RideWithGPS Collection

First up, we tackle the pedestrian bridge over the busy Foreshore Drive, which drops you straight down into Sir Joseph Banks Park. We’ll talk more about this famously long, skinny park in a bit, but before we leave, make sure to check out the local wildlife. The geese are real enough, but you’ll have to settle for the life-sized statues of the gorillas and wild elephants—a quirky nod to the park’s history as a zoological garden. Photos of the trail

Cruising out of the park, we head down Wilson Street in Botany and pass the terrific Botanix Lifestyle Cafe. Keep an eye out directly opposite the cafe: this building was the set for the 2023 ABC documentary series Back In Time For The Corner Shop. Hosted by Annabel Crabb, the show followed the Ferrone family as they lived and worked in an authentic corner store, watching it transform through the eras from the 1850s all the way to the 1990s. It’s a great piece of local trivia.

Next up is the notoriously windy bridge crossing the freight railway line on Banksia Street. After a short, punchy climb, you pop out onto Wentworth Avenue. It’s all road riding for this stretch across Botany and Pagewood south, but the upside is that the heavy traffic mostly steers clear of this pocket.

Wentworth Avenue & Rosebery

Pagewood We join a shared cycleway on the edge of a busy Wentworth Avenue that ducks right under the Southern Cross freeway. While cruising this section, you will catch a glimpse of the water hazards at Eastlakes and The Lakes golf clubs. It’s also the perfect spot to dream about tackling the massive Greater Sydney Bike Trail, which you’re actually rolling on for this short stretch.

As we hit the Mascot & Eastlakes area, its time to show you the ride on a map so you can get your bearings.

You can check out Ride 18 over here on RideWithGPS and find it in the Eastern Suburbs Collection here.

Through Rosebery to Zetland After crossing Wentworth Avenue, we zag back along the edge of The Lakes golf course, using Sparks Street* to find and slip through a graffit clad tunnel straight under Gardiners Road.

*Now, if you’re in a tearing hurry, you can just turn at Hicks Road and beeline for Primrose Avenue in Rosebery. But that’s not our style. We much prefer to stick to the quieter pockets of Rosebery, utilizing a neat little park along Southern Cross Drive and weaving our way through some clever paths between the buildings.

Nearing Zetland, we hop onto Dalmeny Avenue and navigate through the slick new medium-density apartment blocks. The finish line for this leg is the terrific Gunyama Park Swimming Pool and Sports Field—a great spot to pull up and cool down. It has a really good Hydrotherapy pool. From here, Ride 9 takes over the baton.

Lets check out the Ride in 3D in this video. Remember we start at the north end of Botany Bay, the large less popular bay that gives Sydney its water character.

Zetland Library and Station and a great pool

For paying subscribers, lets return to Sir Joseph Banks Park

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There is a specific kind of satisfaction in watching a once-stressful commute transform into a scenic tour of Kensington’s best-kept secrets. For years, Doncaster Avenue was known as a popular but high-stress thoroughfare where the risk of “car-dooring” was a constant shadow for local riders.

That narrative changed in 2023 when the corridor was reimagined as a premier, protected link. This isn’t just a path; it’s an award-winning example of how urban streets can be repurposed for people, taking you from the edge of Kingsford straight to the gates of Centennial Park.

The Ride Breakdown

1. The Banks Avenue Preamble

The Ride 16 journey kicks off at Banks Avenue. While the start here is still a bit “rough” around the edges, think of it as the necessary “backstreet shuffle” before you hit the high-quality infrastructure waiting ahead.

2. Houston Road: Finding the Flow

Halfway down Houston Road, the vibe shifts as the dedicated, separated cycleway begins. This is the transition point where you leave the road behind and enter a protected environment. See the first pic above. Many stay on road at this stage and enter the separated path further down. Crossing Day Avenue is probably the biggest annoyance of the path on Huston.

3. The Main Event: Doncaster Avenue

The hero of this ride is the 1.6km separated path on Doncaster Avenue. This stretch is a masterclass in urban repurposing:

• Safety First: The wide street layout was redesigned to eliminate the “car-dooring” risks that previously plagued the route.

• Tech-Forward: Keep an eye out for the innovative dual cyclist and walker lanterns at crossings, designed to keep both pedestrians and riders moving intuitively. This was one of the first time these lanterns were used in Sydney.

• Kingsford Link: The path provides a smooth run that reaches almost to the Centennial Park including crossing the Kingsford tram line on Anzac Pde.

4. The Grand Finale: Kensington Ponds Bridge

The newest highlight is the fantastic new bridge over the Kensington Ponds. It provides a seamless, “no-interruption” entry into Centennial Park, delivering you from the suburban streetscape directly into the greenery of the parklands. Your coffee awaits though you may have to do a couple of laps to earn it.

Here are your map links

RideWithGPS Eastern Sydney Ride Collection (ride 7) On CycleSydney Map

Award-Winning Infrastructure

This route didn’t just improve the local commute; it earned official recognition for its design excellence:

• 2023 Cycling Infrastructure Awards: 2nd Place

• The Competition: In that year it stood alongside other major projects like the Carlingford Rail Trail and the Rozelle Parklands

Ride Details & Media

• Distance: 3.3 km.

• Terrain: Flat and accessible for all ages.

See it in 3D

Check out this 3D flyover of Ride 16, tracing the path from Banks Avenue all the way to the park:

Where to next?

• 🌳 Centennial Park: Your are 99% likely to be heading to Centennial. Great scenery and you can pretty well ride till you drop and not stop.
  https://cyclesydney.com/p/ride8

Now some more in depth places to go for Paid Subscribers

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University and Victoria Park

The ride kicks off at the University of Sydney’s Cadigal Green, where the grand sandstone architecture and wide-open campus grounds set a stately, relaxed tone. It’s a casual start, but you’ll soon reach the edge of the university precinct where the city’s pace picks up. Crossing City Road (Princes Hwy) is the first major “slice”—be sure to use the lights to cross safely before rolling into the leafy sanctuary of Victoria Park. As you pass the pool, the noise of the traffic fades, replaced by the greenery of one of Sydney’s most established parklands. It’s the perfect transition from the academic hub toward the residential heart of Glebe.

Getting to Johnstons Creek

Leaving the park, the route transitions into a solid on-road link via Arundel Street. This is a vital piece of the puzzle for local riders; Arundel is notably two-way for bicycles, allowing you to bypass the heavier traffic of the surrounding main roads. You’ll navigate a quick “dog-leg” through the Forest Lodge streets—crossing a busy Ross St with care and turning at Short Street, moving onto Johnston Street, and crossing Bridge Road using a new crossing. A final run down Hereford Street marks the end of the suburban street-work as the horizon opens up toward the canal.

Johnstons Creek and the Tramsheds

As you join the paths on the Canal Reserve, the atmosphere shifts from urban navigation to a paths under trees and a bridge crossing or two. A dog is likely your biggest hurdle. You’re now following the Johnstons Creek trail, passing right under the massive arches of the 📷 historic (dare I say sewage) aquaduct.

The trail brings you right to the doorstep of the Tramsheds, the beautifully restored heritage site that serves as the area’s premier pitstop for coffee or a meal. The journey concludes at Jubilee Park, the home of local AFL and Cricket, right at the water’s edge. It’s a fantastic spot to end the ride, though keep in mind that this a weekend favorite with the locals.

Distance: 3.8 km | Duration: 18 minutes
Avg Speed: 15 km/h
Total Climb: 15 m | Total Descent: 36 m

Where to next?

If you’ve completed the Forest Lodge Traverse, you are perfectly positioned to link up with several other key routes in the City sub-collection. Ride 15 is a little complex, you may also be well served to retrace your tracks to get used to it.

At the Start: Connect to Ride 7 The beginning of this route near the University puts you right on the doorstep of the Wilson Street Cycleway, a major piece of Ride 7. That ride covers the “Railway Run” from Lewisham West tram stop (The Greenway) all the way to Redfern Station. It’s a bit higgledy-piggledy to start with, but the final stretch along Wilson Street is a genuine cycling treat and a great way to extend your journey toward the inner west or the city south.

At the Finish: Connect to Ride 10 Rozelle Bay is a feature of Ride 10, the meandering best of City photography ride. If you feel like some fish and chips, you can pick up that route to explore the scenic foreshore and the intricate details of the local bays.

Read more

I disembarked and rode down to the fabulous Woronora Bridge where a wonderful path beckons cyclists under the huge busy bridge. From there it was shared paths all the way to Padstow Heights. It was stinking hot, I had coffee and a sandwich and headed to Revesby Station. At this point I could have continued around Sydney. I use an eBike and I had barely used a 1/4 of the 500wHour battery. I returned to my start point at Centennial Park. My journey had begun.

That night I committed to the full ride, I found an express train that went from Green Square to Edmonsons Park via Revesby. I boarded it at 6:20 and arrived Edmonsons Park at 7am. There was no one on the train. Now I had to ride up the M7 and as the heat was due to hit at at 11, I was glad I started early. I made my way 45km up the M7 and up to Bella Vista. Its a pretty decent slog with solid hills including Sugar Loaf Ridge, a go around point on the Sydney lap. Breakfast at Bella Vista and then I jumped on the Metro all the way to Macquarie Park. If you haven’t been on the Metro trains, they are sensational and terrific for bicycles.

As part of running this SubStack as a donat-able knowledgebase, I plough some of the funds back into charities related to Cycling around Sydney. To this end, Dungog is on a city line train and you can get your bike there. I purchased quite a few tickets. They get a new flow track, I might win. All good Raffle Tickets here

At Macquarie Park, I rolled up to the blue Lachlans Line Bridge. You can also go through Lane Cove National Park and climb up the easier Plassey Entry Rd to see this bridge. To finish off the ride you head to Milsons Point (or North Sydney). Arriving at Milsons Point is so good, I highly recommend going clockwise around the city just for this pleasure. Then its over the Coat Hanger and make your way up to Centennial Park, the final go around marker.

Join this Facebook group, make a pledge and and ask others how they rode around Sydney. You can ask questions and review answers in the group. Read what Bicycle NSW said about the challenge here

This is the version of the trail I did to get to 100lm. See the legend on the side of the map[/caption]

Below is the map that contains a variety of different options to go around Sydney. Check the map out here in Google My Maps >>

Here are the rules for going around Sydney. Go around the four yellow markers in the map above. End of rules. You can do this using trains as long as your bike accompanies you. Here are the markers in more detail.

Use the legend in the map, there are a lot of rides on the map that are hidden to make it simpler. People tend to ride it different way because of what they know, what the sort of bike they are riding. One day there will be a fully supported decent trail around Sydney, for now its a big explore. This was my third time around the city, my first ride of 220km included a train from Cronulla to Sutherland. My second was 150km and was close to the shortest way around the four markers. Read more on The Greater Sydney bike trail here >>

Here is the video of the Ride and Train journey

Here are all the Greater Sydney bike trail videos in a YouTube play list.

Date: April 15, 2026

1. Executive Summary: The 220km Vision

The Greater Sydney Bike Trail (GSBT) is an under-recognised asset—a 220km continuous loop that defines the geography of our city. Rather than a future project requiring full construction, the GSBT is a largely complete circuit where 85% of the infrastructure is already delivered via high-quality shared paths and dedicated cycleways. The remaining sections utilize functional on-road connections that are already being navigated by a growing community of riders.

At 220km, the GSBT outscales international benchmarks like the Stelling van Amsterdam (170km) and the Berlin Wall Trail (160km). With over 750 riders already completing or attempting the circuit, the appetite for this experience is established. We believe local councils along the GSBT would welcome targeted assistance to maintain or upgrade existing paths that form part of this prestigious loop.

2. Rivers, Bays, and an Insight into Our Massive, Diverse City

The trail’s strength lies in its ability to link Sydney’s vast geography into one continuous journey. The route is defined by the rivers and bays that give the city its soul, moving from the lush Parramatta and Georges River valleys to the sweeping vistas of the coastal south. Along the way, the trail passes through established cycling meccas like Centennial Park, the M7 Cycleway, Lane Cove National Park, and La Perouse, which act as massive drawcards for thousands of riders every weekend. These hubs serve as the trail’s anchors, culminating in a world-famous finish at the Sydney Harbour Bridge and the Opera House.

3. High-Impact Connectivity Opportunities

To maximize the value of this existing asset, we have identified three priority areas where targeted design assistance will provide immediate returns for both the local community and the continuity of the loop:

• The Liverpool-Casula Link: This is a major opportunity to transform the neglected riverfront parkland along the Georges River into a marquee segment of the GSBT. By leveraging existing bridge supports, a seamless connection can be established between Liverpool Station, Haigh Park, and the Papermill. Much of this exists but lacks focus that would come from an over weir connection and maybe a lift to the station.

• The North Sydney nightmare: Addressing the current fragmentation in North Sydney will create an intuitive, world-class approach to the Harbour Bridge, ensuring the “final mile” of the loop matches the quality of the regional network.

• Lane Cove NP Approaches: We suggest a clearer definition of the on-road corridor from Shrimptons Creek and a protected transit zone on the steepest part of the climb from Lane Cove National Park up Fullers Road towards Chatswood.

  

  

4. User Experience & Community Advocacy

The GSBT has achieved significant mainstream recognition, evidenced by a two-page spread in the Sydney Morning Herald, a popular Bicycle NSW feature, and a dedicated article in RideOn Magazine.

Established advocacy groups like Bike North, Western Sydney Cycling Network, and Bike Leichhardt—leveraging the 4,500-strong GSBT Facebook community—provide the "ground truth" to accelerate formal planning. By leveraging these networks as a primary data source and live consultation platform, Government can streamline discovery and reduce consultancy costs through pre-verified site insights and deep local stakeholder knowledge.

5. Multi-Modal Integration & Economic Impact

The GSBT is uniquely positioned as a high-access “segmented” loop. Frequent intersections with heavy rail and metro networks—specifically at hubs like Wolli Creek, Revesby, Glenfield and Bella Vista Metro—allow the 220km journey to be completed in manageable stages, maximizing accessibility for a wide demographic of riders.

Drawing on performance data from successful regional rail-trails, formalizing the GSBT will act as a consistent economic stimulus for local hospitality along the route. We have already seen this in practice, with hotels in Tempe and Cabramatta being utilized by large cycling groups. Official recognition will serve to convert existing recreational transit into measurable economic activity, supporting local accommodation and "staycation" tourism by providing a world-class urban adventure right on the doorstep of 5 million residents.

6. Strategic Recommendation: A Flagship Project for Sydney and NSW

It is a reasonable expectation that cyclists attracted to regional landmarks, such as the Northern Rivers Rail Trail, will seek equally high-quality options within the state capital. The Greater Sydney Bike Trail is the flagship project to meet this demand and should be championed as the urban centerpiece of NSW’s cycling strategy.

We recommend Bicycle NSW advocate for:

• Official Recognition: Formalizing the GSBT as a premier metropolitan loop to bridge the gap between regional rail trails and urban recreation.

• Wayfinding & Identity: A coordinated signage program at the primary meccas (Centennial Park, M7, Lane Cove NP, and Taylor Square) to anchor the experience and provide official digital navigation.

• Targeted Infrastructure Guidance: Prioritizing design support for high-impact segments—specifically the Liverpool-Casula Link and the Fullers Road climb—to resolve existing friction points through community-led expertise.

By elevating the GSBT alongside regional landmarks, we ensure Sydney and NSW take their rightful place as a premier global cycling attraction.

Supporting Evidence:

• The Deep Dive (200km Loop): Josh Kwan’s 13-hour journey

• The Everyday Journey: Mike Coles’ Holiday at Home

• External description: Bicycle NSW article

• Technical Mapping and Links: CycleSydney.com post on the GSBT here.
  

  

  
  

This video is really for the rest of us—the ones who make progress in fits and starts and often find ourselves taking the long way around. Mike’s multi-day trek shows that you don’t need to be a professional to explore your own world; you just need the grit to handle the rain, the mechanical hiccups, and the occasional hour-long wait for a rescue when things go sideways [11:18]. It’s a great reminder that there is a quiet dignity in the grind, even when you feel “rubbish” at following the map [17:52]. If you’ve been feeling like you’re just wandering or moving too slowly, watching Mike find genuine joy in the middle of a messy, beautiful detour might be exactly the encouragement you need to keep pedaling.

Watch the full video here:

Information on the GSBT on this Page

Maps - GPS Here

So I start this beat the bus trail at the South Turramurra shops. You ride down Kissing Point Road till it turns into a shared path track for walkers and cyclists. Then it gets steeper to the river You cross the river on a weir that can flood so don’t cross it then. Then its a solid climb to the tunnel under the M2 and a ride into Macquarie Park shops and Uni. Pretty good really. Total time 18 minutes at 17km per hour. The great part about this path is the busses and cars have to go the long way round.

If it rains when you are across the creek, you can ride a really long way around via Yanko Rd. The footpath looks ok if you hate busy roads like me. Otherwise leave your bike and catch the bus.

The bus takes about 26 minutes. Driving the car will be a little quicker but free parking is a going to see you walking about 2km to work or the uni.

Summary – South Turramurra Shops to Macquarie Shops is 17 mins by bike at 17km per hour saves 10 minutes on the bus – There are hills in this trail but not for that long.

A great option could be to park on the north side of Lan Cove National Park, pull your bike out of the car and ride through Browns Creek.

The Ride with GPS Trail here >>

I am not making it up

If you think I am making this up - see Josephs Great Video on the same commute here where he blitzes cars as well thru Browns Water Hole. Good for more tips as well

Full analysis of the beat the car at the 10 minute mark of the video above.

Other Cycling Options to Macquarie Park and Uni

From the south there is a great flat 5 km trail from Top Ryde called Shrimptons Creek

From Epping there is a good enough 5km trail called Epping Rd

From the East you can come in through Lane Cove National park on a really hilly route of 8kms

From the South East, Epping Rd Cycleway is a very good route with hills that extends off road all the way to St Leonards

All are on the map of Sydney here >> or will turn up in this Lane Cove collection here

🌧️ What happens when it rains ? 🌧️

If you use the Browns Creek Path after rain, be careful as it could get slippery, worse still it may close or you may think you can cross it when it floods (well don’t). Anyway the obvious option is to ride down to the A3 and cross the bridge on the path on the west side and go up Yanko. This is OK for a bit and then it gets downright dangerous. Would be more so in wet weather. Maybe you lock up your bike and catch the bus.

In the following map snippet I show how you can ride to Lofberg Oval in West Pymple using shared paths. Not a bad ride. The roads in that area north of Yanko are generally all decent enough though they could be rat runs at peak time. See the map >>

Overview: I am writing a series of articles called Beat the Bus in Sydney. The purpose of these articles is to come up with popular ride where you can easily beat public transport whilst not riding too fast. To qualify, a ride needs to be going to a place with a decent sized working population, the roads need to be shared path or at least a decent enough well marked council road. Average speed must be under 20km per hour. And the whole journey needs to be under 45 minutes.

Anyone can do this in any city, just study your maps, do a few practice rides on Sunday morning, get fit and ride some or all the way to work if you can find decent enough roads. If you can’t find a way, can you ride to a station or take your bike part of the way in a car. Give it a go.

🚌 See all the beat the bus articles

Read on at the Proper location of https://www.cyclesydney.com/p/ride14

Notice how each ride has a name ending in the code rideXX eg ride14

🗺️ Map links follow if that is all you want
RideWithGPS City Ride Collection (ride 14) On CycleSydney Map

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So I set off on the shared paths from NSW University to ride to Circular Quay where the tram ends. On the cycle ride I skipped the tram crossings near the end of Kensington Ponds on the bike by going around Martin Rd and through Fox studios. That way I didn’t have to stop.

Easy win to the bike and it was wet so I took it easy on the tram. The tram schedule was seven minutes longer than the 45 mins the ride took so it could have been an easier win.

Result: a Win to the Bicycle by 9 minutes

See the RideWithGPS route here

The Tram

Not to be too negative on the tram, the run from Central to NSW uni is quite efficient especially the section under Anzac pde.

You can join this trail near the Top Ryde shops. Ride up Blaxland Rd and make a tricky crossing to Reservoir Lane. Do a little zig zag down to Santa Rosa Park. Cross on a better crossing and now you are heading north on the trail for 3 km to Waterloo Rd. Its always, fun, there are a few walkers so take it easy and you can do this on any old bike which is probably what you will need if you are doing a lock up.

At Waterloo, the Metro station is across the road with the shops and you will know all about the university.

The bus takes about 28 minutes at peak. Driving the car will be a little quicker but free parking is a going to see you walking about 2km to work or the uni so thats a bust.

Cycling will take about 25 minutes

Summary – Top Ryde to Macquarie Shops is 25 mins by bike saves 2-5 minutes on the bus – No hills in this trail unless you live in Meadowbank where there is a big hill. Blaxland Rd runs along the ridge.

The route is Purple on the Sydney Map here with the extension to the Top Ryde shops in commuter green. On RideWithGPS here

Photos near Macquarie Shops

Other Cycling Options to Macquarie Park and Uni

From the north there is Browns Creek Waterhole

From Epping there is a good enough 5km trail More to follow

From the East you can come in through Lane Cove National park on a really hilly route of 8kms

From the South East, Epping Rd Cycleway is a very good route with hills that extends off road to St Leonards

All are on the map of Sydney here >>

Overview: I am writing a series of articles called Beat the Bus in Sydney. The purpose of these articles is to come up with popular ride where you can easily beat public transport whilst not riding too fast. To qualify, a ride needs to be going to a place with a decent sized working population, the roads need to be shared path or at least a decent enough well marked council road. Average speed must be under 20km per hour. And the whole journey needs to be under 45 minutes.

Anyone can do this in any city, just study your maps, do a few practice rides on Sunday morning, get fit and ride some or all the way to work if you can find decent enough roads. If you can’t find a way, can you ride to a station or take your bike part of the way in a car. Give it a go.

We had just completed a ride up the railway from his bus at Central Station.

I was glad to show him some of our specials like the Goods Line, Wilson St, the new cafe in Camperdown Park and the Stanmore cycleway. Oh yeah and The Greenway 💚♻️

Enjoy my 🗣️🎙️

More Map Specific Articles here

This layer is packed with the practical stuff: where to park your car to start a ride, where to find the best historic sights, and where to take the kids for some off-road fun. Here is what we’ve included beyond the local pools which we feature when tomorrow is going to be 35 degrees hot ☀️.

For the Thrill-Seekers and Families

If you’re looking for something a bit more rugged than a smooth cycleway, we’ve mapped out the best dirt and pump tracks across the city:

• MTB Parks: Major hubs like Bare Creek in Belrose and Wylde in Western Sydney Parklands are detailed with current entry info.

• Pump Tracks: We have a growing list of tar and gravel tracks, including the “epic” Kirkham Park (named Pump Track of the Year) , St Peters at Camdenville Oval , and the three-track facility at Haslams in Olympic Park.

• Kids’ Tracks: For the little ones, we’ve highlighted spots like Wangal Park, the Meadowbank bike track , and the Bicycle Education Centre in Campbelltown

Find the MTB, Pump tracks in the legend on the left on a PC

History and Sights Along the Way

We love a ride that ends with a bit of culture or a great view. This layer points out:

• Historic Houses: Take a detour to Old Government House , Elizabeth Farm , or the picturesque Hambledon Cottage.

• Engineering Marvels: Look out for the Johnstons Creek Aqueduct, Australia’s first reinforced concrete structure.

• Viewpoints: We’ve marked the best aerial views, such as the lookout over Barangaroo from High Street and the high point at Vaucluse Water Tower.

On a phone, the Legend is a link once you click on a feature in the map

How to Turn This Layer On

Because there is so much information, we usually keep this layer “hidden” so the main map stays clean. Here is how we can enable it:

1. Open the CycleSydney Map: Access the main Google My Maps link on your phone or desktop.

2. Open the Legend: Click the “View Map Legend” or sidebar icon (usually on the left).

3. Find the Layer: Scroll down until you see the layer titled: “MTB, pump, sights, pools and parking”.

4. Check the Box: Simply click the checkbox next to the title. All the icons for pump tracks, historic sites, and parking will immediately appear on your map.

Pro Tip: If the map starts looking too crowded, just uncheck it again to go back to the basic route view!

Now we get into the parking spots. We wouldn’t want those to get too busy ….

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From the airport, we head along the canal for a bit and then we are on the road to Mascot. It is called Coward St. There actually is a shared path on the south side that switched to the north side near Mascot. Its ok but most folks take the lane and ride the road. Once you hit Bourke Rd, you’ll be on a dedicated northward bike path that starts outside Mascot Station (Central - Revesby line). See the 3D Flyover

As we progress, the scenery shifts from the dense apartments of Mascot into a corridor that is, shall we say, “less than splendid.” This is a working-class industrial stretch. The off-road cycleway here is popular but requires your full attention. You’ll be weaving through multiple industrial driveways and bus stops. Keep a sharp eye out for construction, roadworks, and the narrower shared path sections where the path can get a bit tight.

The Alexandria Pit-Stop At the cafes of “The Mills Of Alexandria” it’s a great spot for a snack and a selfie, but a word of advice: take a bike lock. You won’t be able to drag your bike into the cafe areas or the market itself, and you'll want it secure while you grab a coffee.

The Green Square Avoidance Trick Green Square can be a bit of a maze and very heavy traffic with scant regard for the cyclist. So we use the City of Sydney cycling bypass to keep the momentum going. We duck off the main drag via Mandible St in Waterloo—stay alert for concrete trucks here!—then transition through Allen St and Short St to rejoin Bourke Rd. This "trick" saves you the hassle of the busiest intersections while keeping you on track.

The Final Bourke Rd section is average. Its a not so wide shared footpath and now there are gigantic apartment blocks being built in the Dank St area. Take it easy. It ends and the fun begins at Waterloo near Coles where Bourke Rd becomes Bourke St - Our Ride Numero Uno.

Distance: 5.8 km RideWithGPS link See it on the Google MyMaps

Where to next?

• 🌳 Sydney Park: A perfect spot to end the day with a snack before heading to St Peters station. Soon after leaving Mascot you passed Campbell Rd. Take that to Sydney Park.

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If you ride your electric bicycle to work, you have made your car 100% percent more fuel efficient.

If you find a consistently half empty train service in Sydney, cheating with your bike on the train is really efficient. Same applies to ferrys.

I know lots of good car parks where I can take my bicycle and unload. I keep these spots to myself.

I am a bicycle car cheat and an ebike cheat and I am saving the planet at the same time. Bicycle cheating is good…