Night time M7 Riding

[vince]

hey all, I'm about to lose my saturday morning rides due to work/family commitments but i'm considering hitting the M7 around 10 - 11pm friday nights instead. what is the 7 like of a night? usual things safety, lighting people numbers etc.
thanks
vince

[bigfriendlyvegan]

M7 at night is a dream. 'tis lovely, quiet and well lit. Enjoy it on these summer nights.

[vince]

thanks BFV, i'll try my luck next friday i think,

[find_bruce]

I am curious as to the Friday night behaviour of the local "wildlife"

[r2160]

Still make sure you have a good front and rear light.

I have ridden it at night and its great, but not all of it is well lit.

cheers
Glenn

[wombatK]

I am curious as to the Friday night behaviour of the local "wildlife"

Biggest risk is from the toolbags who string man-traps across the path. So a very good headlight
and some caution around the known trouble spots especially Dean Park between Richmond Rd
and Simmons Rd in school holiday times.

Otherwise, it's quite a pleasant ride at night - I've done it regularly just after sunset in winter time.

[kom123]

I've done a few night rides there over the last couple of weeks starting at the Sunnyholt Road western entrance and going either to just past Rooty Hill or as far as Elizabeth Drive. Starting times ranged from 8.30pm to 10.00pm and thankfully no trouble yet. Usually see a few riders on my way down but I'm often solo on the return leg.

[westab]

It is generally OK - like others here good lights are a must. Also the ammount of glass on the M7 in the school holidays goes up (probably double) so tyres with good puncture protection is also required.

Personally I have had no problems riding at night alone but like always a health amount of common sense is required. There are at some times the odd person who is up to no good - in the last 3 years riding home on Thursday night (about 40 weeks per year) at about 10pm I have seen about half a dozen people that have inspired extra pace and the next exit (in case there are more around). So not realy concerning - so it realy is "Be alert & smart". I find at that time of night back roads in the Blacktown area have more "silly" people than this.

It is still a great places to ride even at night.

[wombatK]

It is still a great places to ride even at night.

To counter-balance some of our cautions above, the police do get out and patrol it regularly. It's not a just
once-up-and-down to show the flag - their patrol is typically 6 hours in the evening.

Last time I saw them was last Wednesday. If you have any concerns about behavior you see around the
cycleway, give the police a call; they determine how often to patrol based on reports like that, and
appreciate intel about where to focus their attention.

Cheers

[Xplora]

Biggest risk is from the toolbags who string man-traps across the path.