Bicycle Network: Where to Ride

The New South Wales Government’s track record for bicycle infrastructure is not impressive; the recently-released Bicycle 2010 plan includes a myriad of projects left unbuilt from the 2000 Bicycle Plan.

But one successful piece of riding infrastructure that has appeared in the last ten years is the M7 cycleway, an off-road shared pedestrian and bicycle path that follows the 42km of the new M7 orbital motorway. The M7 passes through the Liverpool suburbs of Prestons, Hinchinbrook, Hoxton Park, West Hoxton and Cecil Park and has 62 cycleway connections allowing riders to select the distance they travel. The M7 connects Sydney’s south-west fringe to its north-west suburbs, encircling most of Sydney to its east.

Both ends of the path are more than 25km from the coast, which makes just reaching the M7 a decent ride from the city’s inner suburbs.

Kind of bike: All kinds of bikes

Distance: 75km in total; the M7 cycleway is 42km one way

Scenery: Suburban, rural fringe, light industrial

Key Attractions: No cars! Easy riding, impressive architecture and views.

Useful sites: http://www.westlinkm7.com.au

This article first appeared in the June-July 2010 issue of Ride On magazine.

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