Ride7
City Ride 7 - The Greenway to Redfern
The Inner West Shuffle: A Masterclass in Backstreet Navigation
There is a specific kind of satisfaction in finding the “optimal” path through a city that wasn’t exactly built for you. It’s the feeling of knowing the secret handshake—the sequence of turns that transforms a stressful commute into a scenic tour of the Inner West’s best-kept secrets.
This isn’t a ride about flashy, multi-million dollar “veloways” that run uninterrupted for ten kilometers. This is about the art of the urban commute: mastering the narrow gaps, dodging the arterial chaos of Parramatta Road, and finding the flow state between Lewisham and Redfern.
Let’s go.
Lewisham to Petersham
We kick off at Lewisham West, the intersection of the light rail and the Greenway. While the Greenway gets all the glory, the real work happens in the transition.
Navigating Longport, Jubilee, and Dennison Road feels like a rite of passage. It’s the “backstreet shuffle” required to reach the rail line. But once you hit Railway Terrace, the vibe shifts. You’re no longer fighting the grid; you’re riding the spine of the Inner West. This stretch is a low-traffic dream, flanked by some of the best street art in Sydney. It’s quiet, it’s leafy, and it’s the perfect warm-up.
The Stanmore Shared Path
If you’re looking for the “hero” of the first half, it’s the Stanmore Shared Path. Just past the station, this section of infrastructure is a glimpse of what the whole city could look like. It’s wide, intuitive, and lets you keep your momentum through one of the densest parts of the suburbs.
The King Street Crossing
Every great ride has a crux, and for this route, it’s the Newtown Transition. Crossing King Street is the “Boss Level”—it requires patience and a bit of tactical positioning. But the reward on the other side is worth it. As soon as you clear the Newtown hub, the texture of the ride changes. You’ve left the chaos behind and entered the final, high-speed run.
The Crown Jewel: Wilson Street
We finish on Wilson Street, and honestly? It’s a gem. If Wilson Street were a person, it would be the friend who always knows the fastest way to the bar. As a premier, separated cycleway, it offers a smooth, protected, and incredibly fast run straight into the heart of Redfern. The GPS shows the route across to the George St Cycleway. Take your time, there are a few nuances.
RideWithGPS City Ride Collection (ride 7) On CycleSydney Map
Note: Ride 7 starts in the Cooks RWGPS collection
And here is a highlights video of the ride from the Greenway to Redfern Sation