T
Terry Collins
Guest
We went for a fruit-cake Sunday[1] drive along the M7 today (last free
day) and some info since no one else has posted. Sadly 4 wheel based
observation.
If you are a roadie, serious trainer, like nice grades or a commuter,
then you will just do the normal ride in the breakdown lane. The usual
beware of bicyles sign posting is there (Well, Prestons to Old Windsor
Rd) with bicycle crossing places etc.
Are hand rails normal at these crossing places? Noted thatyou get a hand
rail for balance when waiting to cross motor vehicle exit roads, but not
MV entry roads.
Northbound, the break down lane seemed to have a heavy load of re-tread
rubber (some quite big strips too) for the southern half.
South bound, it was isolated rubbish; including one small wheelie bin.
Also seemed to more than the usual share of MV requiring assistance
compared to othe M roads.
The recreational shared bicycle/pedestrian path is very definitely
"recreational". Grades are all over the place, including a few steep
grunters. It is below, above, crosses under, crosses over the roadway
all the time. It is also entirely separated from the motor vehicle area,
so you can not easily change from one to the other.
By the impressive size of the stailess steel crossings over the roadway,
I suspect that this is really a combination service road, which means
the road surface is going to be very cactus very soon.
In some places there are severe kinks in the "cage", so you will not be
able to stretch out and let go. I say "cage" because it looked to be
fenced both sides the entire length. Perhaps someone who has ridden it
can deny this. Hint, a few picnic table would have been nice, or even
places to rest and enjoy the scenery, stars, grass, etc.
I'll reserve my comments on the lighting until I can do a night ride. I
really prefer to provide my own lights on roadways as I find that most
street lighting ruins my night vision. The lighting looked like front
gate lighting to me. Anyway, will see if it is effective.
We saw six walkers and about 30+ bicyclist on the section we drove, so
it is getting used and bicylists are ranging from the local kids (Glen
wood lot), through family groups to keen ones riding the full length. We
called out to someone at the Prestons end as to where they had come from
and they replied "Eastwood" and they had ridden the full length.
The Prestons end of the recreational path is really a schmozzle atm. It
comes to an end at Camden Valley Way and instantly you are thrown into
the worst example of "bicycle dis-engineering" I've seen.
You cross Camden Valley Way with pedestrian lights and can take a very
dangerous (sharp metal protusions) and narrow (for pedestrians) concrete
foot path east/left towards Casula (bulk retail, Cross Roads Pub, Hunt's
Motel, or what looks to be a good coffee shop, but I'm yet to see 2
wheels outside it). If you are road confident, it is probably easier to
ride the road, but watch for lane changing vehicle here.
If you want to go right, then you will need to ride on the busy road
(confirm?) roadway. Alternatively, on the norther side, there is about
100 metres of foot path constructed zone, before a nice 2m wide foot
path starts. If it is finished to that standard, this will cater very
nicely for the family/kids riders.
We went up with a view of finding a place to park the vehicle to do the
ride as a routine off road ride. Unfortunately, there is no safe place.
Safe as in "easy and safe access".
You could park at the picnic tables ouside the Tree Valley Golf course,
(SW corner of intersection), but then you would have to ride a very busy
road to access the recreational bicycle path.
Given the "bicycle dis-engineering" on the SE corner, I am not surprised
that no intelligence was applied to the NW corner. The place is
basically McMansions arseing right up to the M7/M5/M? junction, but with
a mssive power line right through it. It would have been marvellous if
they have provided parking and a park under the powerlines.
Anyway, other feed back welcome.
[1] sunday drivers are generally fruit-cakes and Wendy was driving and
going "calm blue sea, calm blue sea, calm blue sea...." for a fair bit
of it. Hate to see it come morning peak.
day) and some info since no one else has posted. Sadly 4 wheel based
observation.
If you are a roadie, serious trainer, like nice grades or a commuter,
then you will just do the normal ride in the breakdown lane. The usual
beware of bicyles sign posting is there (Well, Prestons to Old Windsor
Rd) with bicycle crossing places etc.
Are hand rails normal at these crossing places? Noted thatyou get a hand
rail for balance when waiting to cross motor vehicle exit roads, but not
MV entry roads.
Northbound, the break down lane seemed to have a heavy load of re-tread
rubber (some quite big strips too) for the southern half.
South bound, it was isolated rubbish; including one small wheelie bin.
Also seemed to more than the usual share of MV requiring assistance
compared to othe M roads.
The recreational shared bicycle/pedestrian path is very definitely
"recreational". Grades are all over the place, including a few steep
grunters. It is below, above, crosses under, crosses over the roadway
all the time. It is also entirely separated from the motor vehicle area,
so you can not easily change from one to the other.
By the impressive size of the stailess steel crossings over the roadway,
I suspect that this is really a combination service road, which means
the road surface is going to be very cactus very soon.
In some places there are severe kinks in the "cage", so you will not be
able to stretch out and let go. I say "cage" because it looked to be
fenced both sides the entire length. Perhaps someone who has ridden it
can deny this. Hint, a few picnic table would have been nice, or even
places to rest and enjoy the scenery, stars, grass, etc.
I'll reserve my comments on the lighting until I can do a night ride. I
really prefer to provide my own lights on roadways as I find that most
street lighting ruins my night vision. The lighting looked like front
gate lighting to me. Anyway, will see if it is effective.
We saw six walkers and about 30+ bicyclist on the section we drove, so
it is getting used and bicylists are ranging from the local kids (Glen
wood lot), through family groups to keen ones riding the full length. We
called out to someone at the Prestons end as to where they had come from
and they replied "Eastwood" and they had ridden the full length.
The Prestons end of the recreational path is really a schmozzle atm. It
comes to an end at Camden Valley Way and instantly you are thrown into
the worst example of "bicycle dis-engineering" I've seen.
You cross Camden Valley Way with pedestrian lights and can take a very
dangerous (sharp metal protusions) and narrow (for pedestrians) concrete
foot path east/left towards Casula (bulk retail, Cross Roads Pub, Hunt's
Motel, or what looks to be a good coffee shop, but I'm yet to see 2
wheels outside it). If you are road confident, it is probably easier to
ride the road, but watch for lane changing vehicle here.
If you want to go right, then you will need to ride on the busy road
(confirm?) roadway. Alternatively, on the norther side, there is about
100 metres of foot path constructed zone, before a nice 2m wide foot
path starts. If it is finished to that standard, this will cater very
nicely for the family/kids riders.
We went up with a view of finding a place to park the vehicle to do the
ride as a routine off road ride. Unfortunately, there is no safe place.
Safe as in "easy and safe access".
You could park at the picnic tables ouside the Tree Valley Golf course,
(SW corner of intersection), but then you would have to ride a very busy
road to access the recreational bicycle path.
Given the "bicycle dis-engineering" on the SE corner, I am not surprised
that no intelligence was applied to the NW corner. The place is
basically McMansions arseing right up to the M7/M5/M? junction, but with
a mssive power line right through it. It would have been marvellous if
they have provided parking and a park under the powerlines.
Anyway, other feed back welcome.
[1] sunday drivers are generally fruit-cakes and Wendy was driving and
going "calm blue sea, calm blue sea, calm blue sea...." for a fair bit
of it. Hate to see it come morning peak.
