When will M2 reopen...

[warren.suen]

A little confused.. i'm a bit late usually so i haven't checked but can you get on eastbound from browns waterhole?

i've been just going down to the talevera road entrance and rolling down the M2 from there..

[Boognoss]

Not sure but the padlock and chain isn't there to secure the gate anymore that I can see from the main roadway. Still no official announcement from the M2 via their website etc.

[queequeg]

A little confused.. i'm a bit late usually so i haven't checked but can you get on eastbound from browns waterhole?

i've been just going down to the talevera road entrance and rolling down the M2 from there..

The barriers were still up this morning, and as I noted last week, the padlock and chain are gone, but the new gate has an integrated pool gate type lock, and when I tested it, the latch was locked shut (I was coming up from Browns Waterhole to head Westbound, so I passed the gate)

[Boognoss]

A little confused.. i'm a bit late usually so i haven't checked but can you get on eastbound from browns waterhole?

i've been just going down to the talevera road entrance and rolling down the M2 from there..

The barriers were still up this morning, and as I noted last week, the padlock and chain are gone, but the new gate has an integrated pool gate type lock, and when I tested it, the latch was locked shut (I was coming up from Browns Waterhole to head Westbound, so I passed the gate)

A ha, makes sense I suppose although the barriers at the path/roadway point are hardly barriers with huge gaps all round for anyone to pass by.

[warren.suen]

Cheers Boognoss!

i'll just get off one's proverbial and check it out and let everyone know.

Another quick q.. whats the ettique to get onto Delhi road? i've gotten near the top of the off ramp and merge across into the right hand turn lane and follow that straight down to the epping road intersection

[queequeg]

Cheers Boognoss!

i'll just get off one's proverbial and check it out and let everyone know.

Another quick q.. whats the ettique to get onto Delhi road? i've gotten near the top of the off ramp and merge across into the right hand turn lane and follow that straight down to the epping road intersection

I jump into the far right lane at the lights. As you turn onto Delhi Rd, position yourself into the right hand lane for turning left onto Epping Rd. You can then sneak up between the cars waiting at Epping Rd and straight up onto the pedestrian island.

[Xplora]

Let's dump the word Etiquette for the Delhi Road exit. I've been catching a commuter bus to work and the crap that people are doing on the exit ramp is INSANE.

In peak hour -

DO
ride up to the lights, ride to the intersection and take up a spot at the front of the queue.

DO NOT
enter the right hand lanes 100m from the lights
enter the right hand lanes 200m from the lights
enter the right hand lanes in between the cars 150m from the lights from a standing/10kmh start
scare the hell out of Xplora with your suicidal tendencies

I'm an absolute pain about take the lane, and riding Big etc etc but it's a freakin motorway exit lane, you can expect cars to be doing 80kmh in those right hand lanes. Self preservation must rule the roost - I don't think you could argue that you are merging safely or anything resembling it to a cop if you got cleaned up.

I've seen three riders do this kind of thing, it's just crazy. Please don't do it. Thanks.

[Boognoss]

Let's dump the word Etiquette for the Delhi Road exit. I've been catching a commuter bus to work and the crap that people are doing on the exit ramp is INSANE.

In peak hour -

DO
ride up to the lights, ride to the intersection and take up a spot at the front of the queue.

DO NOT
enter the right hand lanes 100m from the lights
enter the right hand lanes 200m from the lights
enter the right hand lanes in between the cars 150m from the lights from a standing/10kmh start
scare the hell out of Xplora with your suicidal tendencies

I'm an absolute pain about take the lane, and riding Big etc etc but it's a freakin motorway exit lane, you can expect cars to be doing 80kmh in those right hand lanes. Self preservation must rule the roost - I don't think you could argue that you are merging safely or anything resembling it to a cop if you got cleaned up.

I've seen three riders do this kind of thing, it's just crazy. Please don't do it. Thanks.

Lets agree to disagree. Here's why .

I always take the right hand lane at the intersection as I turn right on to Delhi and then cross over Epping Rd to join the cycleway (turn left citybound). I also will take the lane perhaps 200m back ONLY if the offramp is completely clear, and also usually the lights are red so there's stationary traffic to roll up to anyway. The reason for the right lane is because this becomes the right-hand (of two) left turning lane onto Epping Rd. The left lane is suicidal unless I were turning onto Epping Road itself.

I'm guessing (I hope) that I haven't been one of the riders you've spotted and that they are taking the traffic lanes when other vehicles are rolling to the intersection still at speed?

When are you going to commute with me on the M2?

[queequeg]

I have been riding early, and when I take the Delhi Rd exit at 6am, there is nobody there and I can coast up the bike lane u til about 20m before the lights and then move over I to the far right lane.
I agree with above, you do not want to be in the left lane as you'll end up in the Far left lane and will need to either bail to the footpath on the left at Epping Rd, or try and do a turn across another lane of traffic to reach the traffic island.

[Boognoss]

Even as late as approx 07:30 at the ramp I haven't had any dramas at all despite more traffic around. Not even hassles back before the M2 closure to bikes as I've been commuting since 2008 and did right up to the closure with this strategy. One memory that sticks to mind was when a Hillsbus driver in the left lane once slowed and waved me across to the right lane.

[Xplora]

I'm in favour of the breakdown lane all the way up to the lights, then of course move across, and take whatever lane you need once you're at the lights. I think I'd be inclined to be a bit of a sook and wouldn't claim the lane even at the lights unless there was a car to block the lane for me. I have different rules for the M2/M4/M7 than the rest of the road.

I have a feeling I'll probably start commuting soon, but with the freakin' training it's been out of the question - seems like commuting is 45 minutes at threshold pace for me and you just can't do that while lifting weights... might be easiest once I've eased off for the end of summer.

[jubaeg]

I guess I'm a bit soft and/or my self preservation overrides wanting to claim the lane, however I go breakdown to the top, then go to the lights at Delhi then when they change I cross pop over the curb and then coast at a walking pace (as there are normally 1-2 pedestrians) to the lights at Epping, and then cross Epping. I just don't like that intersection and play it safe - particularly as my heart is still hammering away from the ascent.

[skydance]

I'm with Xplora on this one. Ride up to the lights, then cross and take whatever lane you need. There's way too many drivers texting and driving... sorta...

[queequeg]

This is my preferred route, which I used to do back before the M2 was closed to cyclists.



How you get yourself into that lane is a matter of timing. In heavy traffic I would just go all the way to the front of the lights at Delhi Rd were Red. If the exit ramp has no cars at all, like it has for me every day this week, I follow the red lines in the image.

Before the M2 closed, I would join the left lane if the line was moving slowly, then filter up the middle at the lights if safe.

When the lights change, I am usually 20m ahead before any motorist has even moved, so it is a clear path ahead. You don't block anyone as the light sequence has the lights at Epping Rd on a red at the same time Delhi Rd gets a green.

[queequeg]

Well, barriers at Browns Waterhole are now gone!!!!!! Has anyone been able to check the gate today?

[rogan]

Just one thing to be aware of. Motorists heading north-east up Delhi Rd (away from Epping Rd, towards Chatswood) do not get a red light there. The only red light is to the south, adjacent to the westbound entrance to the M2. But the eastbound exit from the M2 is 30 metres further on up Delhi Rd and there are no lights at all! There are heaps of near misses every day when the right turners on the M2 off-ramp get the green light, but intersecting backed up traffic on Delhi has no reason to think it's not OK to go and roll across the intersection.

Although motorists risk a bingle, which presumably does happen, cyclists are much more vulnerable to that sort of traffic management stupidity, especially if we are anticipating the change of lights to get across Delhi and into the optimum position.

RMS not putting traffic lights there, ie. adjacent to the eastbound exit from the M2, defies all logic. But please be aware of the crossing traffic on Delhi Rd.

BTW - checked Browns yesterday - gates were locked, but no other sign of movement, work or change.

[Boognoss]

Well, barriers at Browns Waterhole are now gone!!!!!! Has anyone been able to check the gate today?

That's a change that has happened between my commute and yours today then. Good news by the sound of it.

Just one thing to be aware of. Motorists heading north-east up Delhi Rd (away from Epping Rd, towards Chatswood) do not get a red light there. The only red light is to the south, adjacent to the westbound entrance to the M2. But the eastbound exit from the M2 is 30 metres further on up Delhi Rd and there are no lights at all! There are heaps of near misses every day when the right turners on the M2 off-ramp get the green light, but intersecting backed up traffic on Delhi has no reason to think it's not OK to go and roll across the intersection.

Although motorists risk a bingle, which presumably does happen, cyclists are much more vulnerable to that sort of traffic management stupidity, especially if we are anticipating the change of lights to get across Delhi and into the optimum position.

RMS not putting traffic lights there, ie. adjacent to the eastbound exit from the M2, defies all logic. But please be aware of the crossing traffic on Delhi Rd.

BTW - checked Browns yesterday - gates were locked, but no other sign of movement, work or change.

I know, stupid design. In the mornings IME it seems to be OK lately (since we've been allowed back on in the past month) with either low traffic volume on Delhi and/or the light phasing has been adjusted to improve the situation.

[caneye]

just another afternoon on the M2 ..

(rubbernecker gets his comeuppance)

[Boognoss]

I shouldn't laugh too hard, bad karma and all that. I passed the Ferrari before the tow truck arrived.

[queequeg]

I shouldn't laugh too hard, bad karma and all that. I passed the Ferrari before the tow truck arrived.

Yep, I can't have been too far behind you. The tow truck hadn't arrived when I went past either.

[Boognoss]

Confirming that the Browns Waterhole eastbound entry gate is unlocked (but fiddley to open from "inside" the M2 since it's taller than your average pool fence. Have to reach around the post through the bars)!

I checked on my way past. No signs or barriers anywhere this morning.

[warren.suen]

WOOT WOOT! thanks for checking, much appreciated! Monday morning here i come!

[wellington_street]

Why is the gate even there? Surely a bollard treatment would suffice?

[Boognoss]

Why is the gate even there? Surely a bollard treatment would suffice?

To prevent pedestrians from stumbling onto a motorway since the path that goes through the valley to Kissing Point Rd is a shared path. My guess.

[wellington_street]

Why is the gate even there? Surely a bollard treatment would suffice?

To prevent pedestrians from stumbling onto a motorway since the path that goes through the valley to Kissing Point Rd is a shared path. My guess.

Yes I suppose you're right, a bollard treatment - no matter how well signed - may not discourage the "accidental" or "careless" entry to a motorway whereas a gate will only let the deliberates through.