When will M2 reopen...

[skydance]

Rode M2 on Sat 25th westbound to Old Windsor. Bike path/shoulder was all good and clean, no glass, dead birds or debris. Obviously ridable - saw 2 other riders ahead.
M2 Citibound still closed at PHR. Detour is horrible, esp. at Beecroft Rd and Terrys Creek.

Beware of nasty magpie at Old Windsor Rd and Groves Ave intersection. And don't ride Mt Bowen when it's +37...

[SheikYerbouti]

Rode M2 on Sat 25th westbound to Old Windsor. Bike path/shoulder was all good and clean, no glass, dead birds or debris.

I found the same thing on the same route the Sunday before.

[rogan]

My take on the M2 issues as follows:

1. They wouldn't be delaying the works just to stuff cyclists around. I'd be comfortable in saying the barriers are necessary for their works.
2. However, Transurban, and their CEO, Scott Charlton, have a history of opposing bikes on "their" motorways (see interview, July edition "Boss" magazine). They won't go out of their way to help us, either.
3. Which may or may not explain the Christie Rd to Lane Cove Rd eastbound exclusion nonsense, which has been previously discussed in this thread.
4. Also previously discussed, Northconnex will start at some point, which will almost certainly see us removed from part of the road again. IMO east of Beecroft Rd should be OK, but who knows? No clear ETA on the start, by the way, the exhaust stacks appear to be the focus for everyone interested in the project. TU maybe won't commit to a start date till they are sure they are in the clear on the stack location. Apparently putting it near homes near Eaton Rd in West Pennant Hills is more suitable than in the golf course across Pennant Hills Rd [but that's a whole other story].

Big line of tipper trucks were there this morning when I drove past, which suggests they are either bringing in more dirt, or taking it away. Just because the crane is gone doesn't mean the work is nearly finished. They likely also have some landscaping and green remediation to do, even when the civils are over. I don't have an ETA, but last time I spoke to someone who should know (maybe 6 months ago), 20 months total was still the estimate.

[Xplora]

Without knowing the site specifics, it's hard to say of course, I'm simply asking the question "is this still necessary?" because obviously during peak work it is necessary, but are we still in peak work? I'm not convinced it is needed.

[am50em]

Riding up thru Browns Waterhole you can see there is huge amount of earthworks still happening. I would not expect M2 to reopen for cyclist any time soon around Vimera Rd. Probably will be the full 20 months. But I hope it is sooner!

[SheikYerbouti]

Hi to the moron on the white Malvern Star riding eastbound this arvo straight past the signs indicating no bikes, and on down the m2. It's ********s like you who give the rest of us a bad name.

[Xplora]

Hi to the moron on the white Malvern Star riding eastbound this arvo straight past the signs indicating no bikes, and on down the m2. It's ********s like you who give the rest of us a bad name.

SY, you might need to get over yourself on this one - the ONLY concern I have about riding down the M2 eastbound all the way is I don't have a MTB and I suspect those barriered areas after the tunnel have some serious chunks of rock and clay on the road from the trucks that will put me on my butt. I'm not going to ride there or slow down in the car to find out. But do not think for a second that a sign is the key indicator of the safety of the area.

[SheikYerbouti]

So road rules are optional for cyclists? Come on. The road is closed to bikes. That means you don't ride down there. Disagree with the rule but don't break it.

[Xplora]

But don't let victimless crimes get you down... that sign is there to protect the rider, if he can't be bothered paying attention no skin off your shins. Just his.

Cyclists have a bad name because the human heart is corrupt and some people just want any excuse they can find to hate on someone else.

[trek52]

I ride eastbound everyday past the signs, ride down to beecrof rd and up the on ramp. Call me whatever names you want, it is a million times safer than the crap way through carlingford.

i have been riding and racing bike for more than 25 years, I make decisions on the road in the best interest of me getting home safely. I do not base them on the rules.

[SheikYerbouti]

I make decisions on the road in the best interest of me getting home safely. I do not base them on the rules.

[Xplora]

How do you go with the Beecroft Road onramp? Looks pretty crazy - I grew up around Beecroft Squash Centre so the Murray Farm/Midson/Ray bypass doesn't faze me too much.

(Sheik, you can guarantee you WILL get hospitalised if you rely on the rules more than your common sense riding a bike). I am guessing trek52 has been riding longer than you've been alive

[SheikYerbouti]

(Sheik, you can guarantee you WILL get hospitalised if you rely on the rules more than your common sense riding a bike).

Where's the line? If each person chooses which rules to follow and happily ignores any he doesn't like, how does a cooperative system work?

I am guessing trek52 has been riding longer than you've been alive

Maybe. I started riding in 1979, so it's quite possible. He could have started in 1879 though, won't make me agree with it being OK to ride on a road that's closed to bikes, any more than I'd say it's fine to ride the wrong way down a 1-way street.

[Xplora]

The line is pretty simple to judge - people make mistakes. Either mistakes driving, or mistakes building the road, or mistakes designing the road. Since you cannot rely on the road rules to perfectly resolve all issues, you need to use common sense defensive driving as a default. On a bike, it is even more defensive - changing route or ignoring signs and rules that don't cater for your personal needs.

I agree it makes the whole thing much harder, but that's why natural consequence is more effective than the law to teach us right from wrong. IE I am very careful cornering in all situations because my accidents either on bike or in a car have all been corner related I learnt the hard way. I didn't break the road rules doing so either.

[biker jk]

The line is pretty simple to judge - people make mistakes. Either mistakes driving, or mistakes building the road, or mistakes designing the road. Since you cannot rely on the road rules to perfectly resolve all issues, you need to use common sense defensive driving as a default. On a bike, it is even more defensive - changing route or ignoring signs and rules that don't cater for your personal needs.

I agree it makes the whole thing much harder, but that's why natural consequence is more effective than the law to teach us right from wrong. IE I am very careful cornering in all situations because my accidents either on bike or in a car have all been corner related I learnt the hard way. I didn't break the road rules doing so either.

Allow me to summarise your argument.

[trek52]

Mate it's fine the road is only closed as there is no exit ramp before the road work. We just ride up the breakdown lane on the off ramp. It is 630 am though and then just the normal route from there. It is safer and quicker. We have been doing it for 18months.

[warren.suen]

I did this on the weekend, no issues save a whole bunch of time and keep you rhythm going.

then coming up the onramp at beecroft is no problem since there are no cyclist going down that part. turn left at the top and its maybe 200m to the cycle path behind epping station

much better and so much safer than the detour they have in place.. roundabouts are just not enjoyable from the perspective of a bike

[queequeg]

I did this on the weekend, no issues save a whole bunch of time and keep you rhythm going.

then coming up the onramp at beecroft is no problem since there are no cyclist going down that part. turn left at the top and its maybe 200m to the cycle path behind epping station

much better and so much safer than the detour they have in place.. roundabouts are just not enjoyable from the perspective of a bike

I don't gain much from the Pennant Hills Rd to Beecroft Rd section, as I use Beecroft Rd and average in the mid-40's for the ride down to Epping.
The section I would love to avoid is from Epping to North Ryde, which sadly won't be for a while yet. Once that opens it may be worth the detour to the start of of the M2.

[skydance]

Both sections are crappy. Both PHT and Beecroft road are hard to cross. PHT traffic light takes ages to turn green.
Epping to North Ryde - Terrys Creek bike path is covered with leaves, slippery as hell.

[rogan]

I hear the works near Vimiera are scheduled to finish in February. Bikes back on soon after (but it's not just Transurban, RMS has partial control).

[biker jk]

Just a heads up for those illegally riding east of Pennant Hills Rd. I heard Ray Hadley having a spray at cyclists he's seen early in the morning riding the illegal section of the M2. He was going to pressure the police to do something about it.

[Boognoss]

Just a heads up for those illegally riding east of Pennant Hills Rd. I heard Ray Hadley having a spray at cyclists he's seen early in the morning riding the illegal section of the M2. He was going to pressure the police to do something about it.

That doesn't surprise me (the Ray bit particularly). From what I've read on BNA the police seem to be doing plenty and on sections I ride daily I see at least one police car on the side. The power of 2GB will no doubt have police brought in from interstate to halt the cycling scourge. (It should be noted that I don't ride on that section of the M2 but I personally don't think it's anywhere nearly as bad as I can only imagine Ray getting fired up about).

[Xplora]

Yep, storm in a teacup. You'll be lucky to drive past 2-3 riders on the M2 during peak, let alone anyone riding illegally.

If it wasn't such a hot button topic, you'd laugh them off the air for being such crybabies. I bet he won't call for more fines of drivers doing 2kmh over the limit, despite this being equally compelling radio

[queequeg]

Just a heads up for those illegally riding east of Pennant Hills Rd. I heard Ray Hadley having a spray at cyclists he's seen early in the morning riding the illegal section of the M2. He was going to pressure the police to do something about it.

Is Ray driving in the road shoulder to jump the queue and getting stuck?

I often see cyclists heading eastbound on the closed section, but they exit at Beecroft Rd, riding up the on-ramp.

[queequeg]

Just a heads up for those illegally riding east of Pennant Hills Rd. I heard Ray Hadley having a spray at cyclists he's seen early in the morning riding the illegal section of the M2. He was going to pressure the police to do something about it.

That doesn't surprise me (the Ray bit particularly). From what I've read on BNA the police seem to be doing plenty and on sections I ride daily I see at least one police car on the side. The power of 2GB will no doubt have police brought in from interstate to halt the cycling scourge. (It should be noted that I don't ride on that section of the M2 but I personally don't think it's anywhere nearly as bad as I can only imagine Ray getting fired up about).

Maybe they could police the alarming number of motorists on their phones whilst in the traffic jam. You can see everything from the bicycle and if the police sent a few cycling patrols out, it would be like shooting fish in a barrel.