Ride11

Wilson St in Redfern to Kent St in the City

Is this the better way into the CBD?

For years, the default move for anyone riding into the city from the Inner West was City Ride No. 2—bombing down George St and Elizabeth St. But those with extra network knowledge might tell you, there is another way.

If your destination is anywhere on the western side of the city, you really need to experiment with this ride. While the George/Elizabeth run is direct, Ride 11 (the “West Side” trip) features some great buildings and some quiet streets, and—depending on the lights—maybe potentially even quicker for many.

Cruising through The Goods Line down Mary - Anne St

The ride highlighted by the dots - click on picture to see map

The Ride Breakdown

1. The Darlington Hub
We kick off on Wilson St—the backbone of the inner-west-to-city run. From there, we navigate the transition through Shepherd St and Myrtle St. These are classic Sydney backstreets: narrow, historic, and increasingly bicycle-friendly.

Shepard St with the turn off to Sydney Uni on the left

2. Chippendale Green & The Education Corridor
The ride opens up as we hit Chippendale Green. It’s a fantastic bit of “green lungs” for the city. From here, we pick up the Jones St cycleway, which flows seamlessly into Mary Ann St.

This is where the visuals really ramp up. You’ll ride right past the Frank Gehry-designed UTS building (the “crumpled paper bag”) pictured above. Seeing it from the seat of a bike gives you a perspective you just don’t get from a car.

Chippendale Green - you got to marvel at the greenery and The Saint logo

3. The Goods Line & Dancers Alley
Next, we hit The Goods Line. This is Sydney’s version of the New York High Line—an elevated park built on a former rail corridor. It’s flat, wide, and perfectly separated from traffic.

We follow Darling Drive down toward the tram stop and pass through Dancers Alley (Moriarty Walk). If you’re lucky, you’ll catch some of the local breakdance crews practicing under the urban canopy.

The vibrant atmosphere of Dancers Alley

4. Darling Harbour to Kent St
The final leg takes us across the wide-open spaces of Tumbalong Park and up Liverpool St to connect with the Kent St cycleway.

Heading across bridges from Tumbalong Park

Sydney’s first diagonal cycling crossing on Liverpool St

The Great Debate: Ride 11 vs. City Ride No. 2

So, which one should you choose?

• Heading West? If you’re going to Barangaroo, Darlinghurst, or the Wynyard end of town, Ride 11 is the clear winner. It drops you right onto the Kent St cycleway, bypassing the bus-heavy congestion of the eastern corridors.

• Heading East? If your destination is closer to Hyde Park or Town Hall, it’s debatable. City Ride No. 2 via George/Elizabeth is more direct, but it can feel more “urban” and high-pressure around Central.

• The Fun Factor: Ride 11 wins on building scenery. Between the Gehry building, the Goods Line, and the harbor views at Tumbalong Park, it feels less like a commute and more like a tour of Sydney’s best modern architecture. Ride 2 goes through Prince Alfred Park

🎥 Click the picture to see a ride along Mary Ann St to Rozelle 🎥

Watch the 3D Map & Ride Video

The video for this ride features a full 3D map flyover so you can see exactly how these “West Side” links stitch together.

Resources

For more deep dives into the best ways to get around the City, check out our dedicated section on the city.
👉 Cycle Sydney: City of Sydney Area or the RideWithGPS collection of the city

Enjoy the explore, and I’ll see you on the path!