For the full-time team at Bicycle NSW and the volunteer Board Members, every office-based work day begins and ends with a commute, riding along the very infrastructure that we’ve campaigned for.
We have the chance to enjoy the rewards of 50 years of Bicycle NSW advocacy, and watch as Sydney continues to become a safer and more accessible place for every day bicycle riders.
Over the past few weeks, our series of #BicycleNSWCommutes has spotlighted a number of different routes into Sydney’s CBD, from the direction of Ryde, Manly, Maroubra, Erskineville and Narellan.
Head to the #BicycleNSWCommutes map to explore the routes and download Ride With GPS files (Image: Bicycle NSW / GoogleMaps)
In this article, we share five tips for choosing a commuting route, based on the experiences of the Bicycle NSW team.
1. Seek the infrastructure that exists
Knowing where to find the right infrastructure can make all the difference between a stressful ride and a genuinely enjoyable one. So one of the smartest things a new cycling commuter can do is discover what's already out there waiting to be used.
For Loretta Fong, Chief Financial Officer at Bicycle NSW, the 12km commute from Hunters Hill threads through a network of shared paths, cycleways, and bridges. It includes the Gladesville Bridge, the shared path through Rozelle to the Anzac Bridge, and the Miller Street cycleway through Union Square to Pyrmont Bridge.
A good tip is to use Google Maps and select the ‘Biking’ layer. This allows you to see the dedicated bike lanes and bicycle-friendly roads that you can use to get to your destination.
The quantity of green is a nice reminder of Sydney’s progress to be a more cyclable city (Imaps: Google Maps)
CycleSydney.com also provides excellent resources and maps for planning trips on shared paths and cycleways away from traffic.
2. Opt for quiet streets
Not every part of a cycling commute needs to follow a dedicated cycleway. Sometimes the best riding is found by simply choosing the quieter road running parallel to the busy one.
Bicycle NSW’s bike planner, Sarah Bickford, does exactly this. Over time, her route has been developed through understanding which streets are calm at which hours, and how to put together a journey that keeps you away from the noise and pressure of peak-hour traffic.
Ellalong Road in Cremorne has been closed at one end with a small park. A dedicated bicycle path provides access to the next street. There is no through traffic. And it’s safe enough for a game of street cricket! (Image: Bicycle NSW)
For commuters that are nervous about sharing space with cars, starting on low-traffic streets is a practical and confidence-building first step.
3. Detour for something different
Sometimes the best reason to choose a particular route has nothing to do with speed, it's about what you'll find along the way.
Ali MacLeod, who works on communications and campaigns at Bicycle NSW, rides just 4km to the office, but he's deliberate about the path he takes. A highlight is wriggling through the South Eveleigh precinct, a lively urban pocket where the atmosphere shifts depending on the time of day, whether it’s tennis being played in the early hours, or gelato being enjoyed by the afternoon. There’s always something to see, and it’s entirely car-free.
Without any dedicated cycleway in the South Eveleigh precinct, cyclists must ride slowly and considerately through the area (Image: Bicycle NSW)
Ali's commute is a reminder that a slight detour through an interesting neighbourhood, park or precinct can completely change the feel of your ride. The route doesn't have to be the most direct one, it just has to be the one that makes you glad you chose to ride.
4. Speak to other cyclists
In her years of commuting, Yvonne has found that cyclists are remarkably generous with route advice.
Ask someone locking up their bike at work which way they came and you'll often get a detailed rundown of every shortcut, pinch point, and hidden gem between suburbs.
If you're new to commuting by bike, or thinking about trying a different route, the simplest thing you can do is start a conversation with someone who's already doing it.
As well as her work at Bicycle NSW, Yvonne (left, at the opening of the first stage of the Kingsford to Centennial Park Cycleway) is a key figure in supporting cycling advocacy through Bicycle User Group BIKEast (Photo: Randwick City Council)
Online communities, such as Sydney Bicycle Commuters, are a rich source of practical, up-to-date knowledge. Fellow cyclists know which paths flood after rain, where the road surface is rough, and which intersections feel uncomfortable at certain times of day.
5. Combine your ride with other forms of transport
For volunteer board member Anne Grunseit, her commute to the UTS building is a masterclass in multimodal travel. She rides from Freshwater to Manly Wharf, boards the fast ferry for a 20-minute crossing of the harbour, then picks up the second leg of her ride from Circular Quay through Barangaroo and along the Goods Line to UTS.
Her choice to ride the ferry isn't a compromise, it's a highlight, turning what could be a gruelling long-distance ride into something that can be done day after day. Combining cycling with public transport opens up commuting possibilities that neither mode could achieve alone.
Anne’s commute navigates along Manly beach at sunrise before taking the ferry to Circular Quay (Image: Anne Grunseit)
Ferries, trains, and light rail across Greater Sydney all accommodate bikes to varying degrees, allowing riders to extend their range without exhausting themselves. If a full door-to-door ride feels too daunting, a hybrid approach is a perfect place to start, and for many commuters, like Anne, it becomes the preferred way to travel indefinitely.
(From top left, clockwise) Membership Coordinator Yvonne Poon, CEO Peter McLean, Board Member Anne Grunseit, Bike Planner Sarah Bickford, Communications Coordinator Ali Macleod and CFO Loretta Fong all feature in the #BicycleNSWCommutes social media series (Image: Bicycle NSW)
More resources, links and tips, as well as blog articles about rides in Sydney, can be found on our Cycling in Sydney page.
Join Bicycle NSW to begin your cycling journey
Bicycle NSW's Personal Accident and Public Liability cover is a cost effective way to:
- Give yourself and your loved ones peace of mind while you are out riding
- Protect yourself and your loved ones
- Provide protection from financial risk when something goes wrong
Become a member today and be instantly covered by the best insurance available to recreational riders in NSW.
Membership starts from $121 per year (less than $2.50 a week).