Kalamunda Zig Zag - closed to cars 2020, open for cycling?

[Mububban]

I just found out the Zig Zag is currently closed to vehicles:

Created: 23 April 2020
The City of Kalamunda has announced they will be closing the Kalamunda Zig Zag scenic drive to vehicles from 30 May 2020. The closure will initially be a six month trial which will be used to gauge community support.

The closure has come about due to ongoing community concerns around hooning and antisocial behaviour.

I haven't been on the Zig Zag for 20 years, where is the entry point at the bottom if I wanted to cycle to the top? Is Ridge Hill Rd the top of it?

[jaseyjase]

I believe Ridge Hill is the bottom, hence one way going down.

Pretty sure cyclists go up anyway which causes friction with drivers.

[RoFlmaTiC]

You can ride both ways now that it's closed to cars

[colinmc400]

Being one way traffic only, is one of the perks of working hard to get up there and then going "weeeeeeeeeeeee" all the way down. Not sure i would be quite so inclined to bother, if i am going to meet somebody coming up the other way, as i am practising my best TDF descending skills.

[rolandp]

Feedback on this closure to motorised vehicles available here
https://engage.kalamunda.wa.gov.au/zig-zag-road-closure

Following on from a temporary 6-month closure of Zig Zag drive due to hooning and other anti-social activity, The City of Kalamunda will be considering a permanent decision regarding motor vehicle access to the iconic Zig Zag drive and wishes to consult with the community on this topic.

Comments close 5pm, Monday 7 September 2020.

[IncognitoMosquito]

Being one way traffic only, is one of the perks of working hard to get up there and then going "weeeeeeeeeeeee" all the way down. Not sure i would be quite so inclined to bother, if i am going to meet somebody coming up the other way, as i am practising my best TDF descending skills.

There have always been riders coming up even when closed to uphill traffic. And also plenty of walkers, so you have always had to have a fair degree of caution. I see it as a good thing, if only because there is less rubbish of all types collecting up there.

This is a reasonably funny look at the issue

[owly]

where is the entry point at the bottom if I wanted to cycle to the top?

Up through the old quarry tracks with the gravel bike

[Cycleops70]

I rode up there Sunday morning. It was beautiful. No rubbish anywhere, no mess at all, even the plant growth seems to have taken an opportunity to expand. It may be phycological, but it looked a completely different environment.

Long may it continue.

[NASHIE]

I rode up there Sunday morning. It was beautiful. No rubbish anywhere, no mess at all, even the plant growth seems to have taken an opportunity to expand. It may be phycological, but it looked a completely different environment.

Long may it continue.

Thats great news. I grew up in Gooseberry Hill and the decline of the roadside verge over the years has been really bad. Mum is still up there and she mentioned locals are wanting it opened again. Based on that the shire has not been able to manage it to date, then staying closed is the best option IMO. We do enjoy the drive down after a diner etc in the evenings but can live without it. I think a good option would be to open it one or two Sunday's a month to allow locals and touists etc the drive down. Or gate it from 5pm till 8am. Its a nice walk up and down aswell. Never ridden up and probably never will......its the soft way up

[Mububban]

My group did reverse Ridge Hill Rd so we paused for a breather at the Zig Zag but didn't ride it. Ride leader said "next time" so maybe this weekend

[ColinOldnCranky]

As a point of interest, there is also a Zig Zag in Baldivis south of Perth. For some reason it does not well known and hold the notoriety of the Kalamunda Zig Zag.

When I was a primary school kid and we were out looking for mushrooms my Mum used to let me drive the Austin A40 along Zig Zag Road in Baldivis.

I must have been tall for my age as I don't recall ever having a cushion on the drivers seat but I DO recall keeping to the road by lining up some part of the bonnet with the side of the road.

Anyway, check it out on Google maps.

[IncognitoMosquito]

As a point of interest, there is also a Zig Zag in Baldivis south of Perth. For some reason it does not well known and hold the notoriety of the Kalamunda Zig Zag.

When I was a primary school kid and we were out looking for mushrooms my Mum used to let me drive the Austin A40 along Zig Zag Road in Baldivis.

I must have been tall for my age as I don't recall ever having a cushion on the drivers seat but I DO recall keeping to the road by lining up some part of the bonnet with the side of the road.

Anyway, check it out on Google maps.

Zig Zag Road in Baldivis lacks both zigs and zags from what I know of it. Might be shorter than in your day. Almost as misleading as Megalong St in Nedlands, which is neither Mega or long.

[ColinOldnCranky]

Zig Zag Road in Baldivis lacks both zigs and zags from what I know of it. Might be shorter than in your day. Almost as misleading as Megalong St in Nedlands, which is neither Mega or long.

Much the same reasoning behind Aussies calling blokes with red hair "Bluey". Hence the need to refer to Google Maps when reading my contribution.

[dmwill]

Went up today.

Descended hundreds of times thinking it would be awful, was actually quit nice.

+1 on next to no rubbish about. So good!

[Mububban]

Finally rode up the Zig Zag on the weekend. Beautiful views on a lovely morning. It seemed like every inch of the road surface is covered by burnout marks so no surprise residents complained.
The ~10 minute steady climb after it, before descending Kalamunda Rd, was a steady slog. And descending in strong crosswinds was....interesting!

[billy70]

I love the climb, have tried to make e most of it whilst we can. You can go pretty hard as the gradient is super gentle, and then keep the gas on all the way through to Kalamunda centre

[BrownBike]

Is this still OK to ride up on a bike? Still closed to cars I see, haven't been there in years. You'd think the closure would make going up less of an issue. Nice climb.

[Mububban]

Is this still OK to ride up on a bike? Still closed to cars I see, haven't been there in years. You'd think the closure would make going up less of an issue. Nice climb.

It was closed to cars ~3 weeks ago when I last rode it

[BrownBike]

Still closed to cars. Kalamunda website says no cars until June. Hopefully it stays that way - bikes and walking in either direction are OK.

[dmwill]

Took longer than I expected for someone to have a go at getting through....

[Thoglette]

Took longer than I expected for someone to have a go at getting through....

Saw that this morning and wondered if there was a camera present. Can't have been accidental!

[Cycleops70]

Took longer than I expected for someone to have a go at getting through....

This is why we can't have nice things!

[Mububban]

Seriously?!?!?!?

[Joeblake]

I've ridden down a couple of times on my trike. This video was taken in 2012, before closure.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2ujdfdEl23s

Riding back up is great. I'm planning a ride down Welshpool road, along Canning River and Swan river, back along Kalamunda road (where there's a brand new overpass on the Highway) and up Zig Zag.

The closure of Zig Zag Rd should be publicised to encourage cycle tourists to the Hills. Hope they make it permanent.

[Joeblake]

The front page of the Kalamunda edition of the Echo Newspaper today:

https://echonewspaper.com.au/thoughts-o ... g-divides/