Nicola Rutzou
Sydney is not a city that is known for its great cycling infrastructure, so it’s great to see that Bicycling Australia’s home town has recently improved its cycling paths with the addition of three greatly improved facilities – the Harbour Bridge ramp, the Inner West Greenway and the Muddy Creek cycleway in the south.
Sydney Harbour Bridge ramp
The new Harbour Bridge ramp at the northern exit of the cycleway is a fantastic addition for cyclists traversing this great landmark. It’s a project that has been talked about for more years than most Sydney cyclists can remember, so it’s a joy to behold.
The $39 million cycleway ramp is 170 metres long and 3 metres wide, creating a continuous north–south route across the Harbour Bridge with links into the city centre via Kent Street, out to the east via the Oxford Street Cycleway, and out to the west via the ANZAC Bridge.
Riders will no longer have to lug their bikes up the 55 stairs, which has discouraged older riders and those with heavier e-bikes from crossing the harbour.
Inner West Greenway
Opening to equal fanfare last month is Sydney’s Inner West Greenway path. The six-kilometre walking and cycling corridor links the Cooks River at Earlwood with the Parramatta River at Iron Cove and the Bay Run.
It mostly follows the route of the Inner West light rail and Hawthorne Canal and takes around 25 minutes to ride. The project has been in the works for nearly 20 years, involving extensive community campaigning before it became a government-funded initiative.
Muddy Creek cycleway
A lesser-known cycling path also opened in the south late last year. Called the Muddy Creek cycleway, it is part of the new M6 Stage active transport links that create a continuous “green spine” from the scenic Muddy Creek path (Bestic to Bay St) down to Monterey.
The southern section features a signature bridge over President Avenue and elevated boardwalks through Scarborough Park to Chuter St, allowing users to bypass traffic and traverse wetlands safely.
Together, these wide, fully lit off-road pathways replace hazardous on-road routes, offering a seamless and nature-focused connection for Rockdale and Monterey residents.
Make sure you get out and ride these paths soon, and let us know about other cycling paths that have opened near you.
Email BA at editor@bicyclingaustralia.com
Nicola Rutzou – a long-time contributor and, most recently, the editor of Bicycling Australia. Nicola is a keen Sydney-based road cyclist who writes reviews, news, and destination pieces, as well as the weekly e-newsletter for BA online.
