Distance: 46km return
Road Conditions: Bicycle path with some quiet roads.
Route: Follow the cycle path signs from Settler's Park, Ryde, along the cooks River to Botany Bay.
Maps: A map of the path is available from ??
Starting Point: Settler's Park, Ryde
Description:
Normally I don’t enjoy riding in Sydney. It is too noisy, too polluted, too congested, too many people, too many cars and no bike paths. I’m always glad I don’t have to live there. However, I have been converted somewhat. I have discovered a wonderful bike path from Ryde to Botany Bay. The length of the cycleway is 23 kilometres, and comprises a variety of riding conditions. Approximately 80 per cent of the route is off road. The cycleway has been funded by Federal, State and Local Governments and has been constructed with the assistance of Burwood, Canterbury, Concord, Marrickville, Ryde and Strathfield Councils under the co-ordination of the NSW Roads and Traffic Authority.
Rod and myself heard about this route and decided to try it and it really is true, this path meanders through the suburbs, past lots of playgrounds, sporting ovals, toilets and drink stops and shops on the way. It is scenic, it is safe, it is quiet, and has a level surface. We couldn’t believe it. Credit certainly goes to the foresight of the councils involved and the implementation of their visionary plan.
The start of the cycleway is at Settlers Park, Ryde, from where it crosses the Parramatta River via the path on the eastern side of the Ryde Bridge, especially widened for cycles as well as pedestrians. From there on there are signs, proper signs, white background, a picture of a bike in blue and Botany Bay in blue lettering. The Cycleway is sign posted in each direction with these advisory signs. Going the other way it reads Ryde. The Cycleway goes through Bicentennial Park to the Victoria Avenue gates. Bicentennial Park was opened in 1988 and is a very large park, which has lots of attractions should you have time to explore it and we were again surprised to find this in the middle of Sydney.
The path then enters Powells Creek Reserve, and adjoins sporting fields and tennis courts. This is the leisure corridor for Western Sydney. It is necessary to cross Parramatta Road, but there are traffic lights at Bridge Road to assist you. Another nice park is Airey Park and then Melville Reserve. Keep following the signs to Freshwater Park, Strathfield. The route now follows the banks of Cooks River and passes under the Hume Highway. More parks to ride through are Ford Park, Whiddon Reserve, Brown Reserve, Flockhart Park, Sando Park, Rosedale Park, Croydon Park, Lees Park, behind Cantebury Racecourse, Tasker Park, Ewen Park, Beaman Park, Wanstead Avenue Reserve, and Gough Whitlam Park.
Soon you cross Unwins Bridge via the path and turn into the Tempe Railway Station car park. Do you recall the prayer “….and lead us not into TempeStation”. Follow the path under the railway line into Kendrick Park, Tempe. There is car parking available here, if you wish to start from this end.
Stage two is not completed yet, but it is possible to guess where it will go, under the Princes Highway and then onto near the airport. After that it will go to Botany Bay, so all the locals from these eastern suburbs will have access to the Cycleway.
I realised that when the last link is in place, it will be possible to fly into Sydney airport with your bike, and wonders of wonders, ride all the way to Homebush Bay on safe bike paths and then on to Olympic Park. Now Olympic Park is where the Sydney 2000 Olympics will be staged. Wouldn’t it be great to cycle to the Olympics. I’m not sure what arrangements will be made for bike parking, will there be a huge lock up bike park?, with an attendant to give you a ticket for your bike?, or will the authorities insist that everyone use the train system as they did in Atlanta? An article in “The Australian” said that there will be a 3 platform rail station at the Olympic site capable of handling 50,000 people an hour, and bus stands capable of transporting 28,000 people an hour. It didn’t mention bikes. Perhaps we should start asking the right people now?
Annemarie Driver