Commute from Padstow to Sydney CBD

[peter]

So Ride to Work Day is coming up next week, I'm thinking about riding to work. I used to commute for fitness years ago through M5 to Bexley North then Wolli Creek, Mascot, and so on.

But M5 is no longer an option due to road work at King Georges interchange. Anyone know if this is a viable alternative? https://goo.gl/maps/H52jxmmfupG2 (may check it out this Saturday in case of any surprises.)

[SteveTheTiger]

I use part of this route for my commute (when I do it). I would definitely check it out before attempting it. Signage is negligable and WestConnex has closed some paths, but they have kept one path open so currently you can ride from Riverwood all the way to Kingsgrove/Bexley North on shared path. Something like this - https://goo.gl/maps/E7cv7bPpBBv (Google Maps is quite out of date tho).

Penshurst Road has no designated crossing, so just use driveways as ramps. I would cross King Georges at the M5 interchange, as Shorter Ave is longer (ironically).

[peter]

Went out to explore this morning and saw some interesting scenery I did not know before. The ride to Riverwood was fairly straightforward, made a couple of wrong turns but not bad for first attempt.

I took Shorter Avenue to cross King Georges Road (because only need to cross one set of light), so I continued on the new cycleway running parallel north of M5, which ends at Elouera Street North. Had to make a detour to Moorefields Road to go around the golf course and re-enter the cycleway at Rosebank Avenue. Clearly I was not thinking because I could have just back tracked to Cooloongatta Road to get over to the south side cycleway.

The remaining journey was much the same as before, cruised to Mascot and was going to go further but got called back so took the train home. I drove pass M5/King Georges interchange later in the day and noticed that the south side cycleway appears to be open, will have to check it out next time.

[peter]

Thanks for the info Steve, I didn't know about the shared path from Riverwood to King Georges Road, it's a better option than M5 shoulder.

I have since taking that route 3 days this week and very much enjoying the commute.

Padstow > King Georges Road: https://goo.gl/maps/27rVieyhFxL2
(The shared path from Penshurst Road goes all the way to Rosetta Street, there's no need to detour to Midlothian Avenue as shown on Google Map.)

King Georges Road > Bexley Road: https://goo.gl/maps/i741YL1Yrc32
(After crossing Kingsgrove Road, just continue on south side parallel path all the way to Bexley Road, there's no need to cross over to north side parallel path as shown on Google Map.)

[SteveTheTiger]

Happy to help. Its a good path, just a big rough between Bonds Road and Penshurst Rd.

Out of curiousity, which way do you go eastbound when you get to Bexley Road? OpenStreetMap - http://www.openstreetmap.org/#map=14/-3 ... 4&layers=C - shows a route through Clemton Park, but its not very efficient if heading towards the airport. Do you go through Bardwell Park?

[peter]

I take Slade Road to Bardwell Park through to Turrella and then Wolli Creek and so on: https://goo.gl/maps/5Ztcibez4cz

The nice thing about this route is that if it gets dark in the evening there are a number of opportunities to hop onto the train.

[brumby33]

I take Slade Road to Bardwell Park through to Turrella and then Wolli Creek and so on: https://goo.gl/maps/5Ztcibez4cz

The nice thing about this route is that if it gets dark in the evening there are a number of opportunities to hop onto the train.

Yes....and apart from that little hump hill just before Bardwell Park and just after the lights....it's relatively flat....then i go through Arncliffe and Wolli Creek....but not as a commute but just recreation riding...I live just on the edge of Penshurst near the old RTA building.....on Stoney Creek rd....it's a bit of a bugger to get across that road and King Georges road sometimes...gotta use the traffic lights, then I cut across the car park near the Post office then onto Morgan street to Kingsgrove road then right into Slade road.

Cheers

brumby33

[peter]

Yeah, King Georges Road if a pain to cross. Need to cross 3 sets of lights from Rosetta Street to get to the other side.

Alternative is to take Shorter Street (north of M5), only need to cross 1 set of light or just ride across the foot bridge, then take Cooloongatta Road to get back to the south side parallel shared path: https://goo.gl/maps/i3CLAfUEsyJ2

[SteveTheTiger]

I take Slade Road to Bardwell Park through to Turrella and then Wolli Creek and so on: https://goo.gl/maps/5Ztcibez4cz

That link doesnt show the route you described.

[peter]

Strange, I actually tested the link in incognito to make sure that it's not from a saved browser session. Anyhow, here's a screenshot of it. (Click for full size)