Australian Cycling Forums - Bicycles Network Australia

Finally!!!

Since yesterday the barrier at the Pennant Hills Rd offramp to discourage riding through on the M2 has been opened. All "no bicycles" signage has gone and there are bike symbols the whole way and all crossing points except for the last one before Delhi Rd are painted. I think we can say it's open!

Tremendous news Boognoss. I'm attempting to ride to work each Friday (as we have casual clothes and also I haven't yet HTFU enough), so will give it a go then. Looking forward to that smooth tarmac.

Boognoss wrote:Finally!!!

Since yesterday the barrier at the Pennant Hills Rd offramp to discourage riding through on the M2 has been opened. All "no bicycles" signage has gone and there are bike symbols the whole way and all crossing points except for the last one before Delhi Rd are painted. I think we can say it's open!

I noticed the barrier was gone this morning.

Yep, all signage and stencilling up, except at the Lane Cove Rd eastbound on ramp.

The Browns Waterhole/Vimiera connection did not quite look finished to me, not sure you can exit/enter the eastbound motorway there.

rogan wrote:Yep, all signage and stencilling up, except at the Lane Cove Rd eastbound on ramp.

The Browns Waterhole/Vimiera connection did not quite look finished to me, not sure you can exit/enter the eastbound motorway there.

Still plastic barriers at the entrance to the shoulder there but at about 07:30 this morning (later than usual for me by about half an hour) there was no chain and lock on the entry gate, and no workers around to be seen. Make of that what you will. Doesn't affect my commute one iota anyway .

rogan wrote:Yep, all signage and stencilling up, except at the Lane Cove Rd eastbound on ramp.

The Browns Waterhole/Vimiera connection did not quite look finished to me, not sure you can exit/enter the eastbound motorway there.

I'll check in about an hour. Just on my way back from Akuna Bay

Good to hear! I will have to return to commuting soon. Being able to hold pace on the M2 makes the journey much simpler from 7 hills. Irony is the amount of time you lose just getting to the Abbott road entrance is incredible. 15 minutes of the 45 minute ride

Boognoss wrote:Finally!!!

Since yesterday the barrier at the Pennant Hills Rd offramp to discourage riding through on the M2 has been opened. All "no bicycles" signage has gone and there are bike symbols the whole way and all crossing points except for the last one before Delhi Rd are painted. I think we can say it's open!

I'm going to miss your regular MM updates from the detour route

wellington_street wrote:

Boognoss wrote:Finally!!!

Since yesterday the barrier at the Pennant Hills Rd offramp to discourage riding through on the M2 has been opened. All "no bicycles" signage has gone and there are bike symbols the whole way and all crossing points except for the last one before Delhi Rd are painted. I think we can say it's open!

I'm going to miss your regular MM updates from the detour route

Plenty of fodder with motorbikes in "our" lane and other stupid drivers anyway

I checked the gate at Browns Waterhole this afternoon.
The cyclist signs are up but covered, and the new gate was locked (via the new gate lock, not chained up as it was previously). The plastic barriers were still up, but it all looks ready to go otherwise!

Time to get puncture resistant tyres now

I'm also looking forward to riding the M2 again.

I checked over and readied my road bike on the weekend, having only ridden on it a few times a year since the M2 was closed to us, preferring to use some of the fire trail through the LCNP for my commute, over the official detour. Now I'll be more likely to spare my poor old MTB when it is really wet and muddy on the trail.

Mind you, there is something about arriving at work splatted in mud that just seems to be a good way to start the working day.

And have the shoulders been swept clean along the whole M2 (M2 management said they would look into more frequent sweeping)?

am50em wrote:And have the shoulders been swept clean along the whole M2 (M2 management said they would look into more frequent sweeping)?

Swept last week but only a small drop in debris. Still a minefield.

Boognoss wrote:

am50em wrote:And have the shoulders been swept clean along the whole M2 (M2 management said they would look into more frequent sweeping)?

Swept last week but only a small drop in debris. Still a minefield.

Last Monday morning was the 1st time i have ridden for a few months. I reckon the M2 was as clean as I've ever seen it. It was marginally worse this morning.

Sure Transuburban can always do better but we are always going to endure glass, wire for tyres, nuts & bolts. Monday afternoon I had to go around a large side panel off a truck or ute. I guess it is fair to say things like this will be picked up pronto. Broken tiles were on the on ramp from Delhi Road.

If you cant cope with the usual "flotsam jetsam" maybe you will need to stay off the M2.

If you cant handle any debris, then ride track.

PS: I'm not trying to be rude or controversial but I dont believe the M2 cleaniness will ever be better than this week.

Scott2468 wrote:

Boognoss wrote:

am50em wrote:And have the shoulders been swept clean along the whole M2 (M2 management said they would look into more frequent sweeping)?

Swept last week but only a small drop in debris. Still a minefield.

Last Monday morning was the 1st time i have ridden for a few months. I reckon the M2 was as clean as I've ever seen it. It was marginally worse this morning.

Sure Transuburban can always do better but we are always going to endure glass, wire for tyres, nuts & bolts. Monday afternoon I had to go around a large side panel off a truck or ute. I guess it is fair to say things like this will be picked up pronto. Broken tiles were on the on ramp from Delhi Road.

If you cant cope with the usual "flotsam jetsam" maybe you will need to stay off the M2.

If you cant handle any debris, then ride track.

PS: I'm not trying to be rude or controversial but I dont believe the M2 cleaniness will ever be better than this week.

Me neither but I wouldn't give up the M2 vs other alternatives to avoid the junk. Cars and trucks will always be shedding parts and idiots will always be throwing glass bottles out. There seems to be a big percentage of green V energy drink bottles at the moment.

Boognoss wrote:

am50em wrote:And have the shoulders been swept clean along the whole M2 (M2 management said they would look into more frequent sweeping)?

Swept last week but only a small drop in debris. Still a minefield.

Thanks for the update.

Scott2468 wrote:I guess it is fair to say things like this will be picked up pronto.

A kids' tricycle has been on the M7 bike lane for nearly 2 weeks now.

SheikYerbouti wrote:[quote="Scott2468"I guess it is fair to say things like this will be picked up pronto.

A kids' tricycle has been on the M7 bike lane for nearly 2 weeks now.[/quote]

Yeah. There has been a dumped car for about two years on a single track that I ride on.

Certainly is annoying but what have these issues got to do with Transuburban picking up large dangerous items from the M2 motorway?

Scott2468 wrote: what have these issues got to do with Transuburban picking up large dangerous items from the M2 motorway?

When large debris can sit untouched on the next motorway for weeks, the chances of regular removal of small debris is not likely.

SheikYerbouti wrote:

Scott2468 wrote: what have these issues got to do with Transuburban picking up large dangerous items from the M2 motorway?

When large debris can sit untouched on the next motorway for weeks, the chances of regular removal of small debris is not likely.

My apologies Sheik. I thought the trike was on the M7 bike path, not the motorway.

Rode it this morning. Apart from the inconvenience of slowing down and crossing the on/off ramps, I'd have to say that the road surface would have to be almost perfect to me in terms of a smooth ride (apart from the usual flotsam and jetsam). Was a particularly nice feeling from M7/Abbott and Windsor offramp being faster than the cars.

Boognoss wrote:

wellington_street wrote:

Boognoss wrote:Finally!!!

Since yesterday the barrier at the Pennant Hills Rd offramp to discourage riding through on the M2 has been opened. All "no bicycles" signage has gone and there are bike symbols the whole way and all crossing points except for the last one before Delhi Rd are painted. I think we can say it's open!

I'm going to miss your regular MM updates from the detour route

Plenty of fodder with motorbikes in "our" lane and other stupid drivers anyway

I rode it today for the first time since it re-opened and didn't have any problems with motorbikes or other drivers, but the police were a bit worrying. On the way home I heard a distant siren and looked round when it got louder, a few seconds later, to see a police car bearing down on me. The traffic was going pretty slow so it was using the breakdown lane. There wasn't anywhere to go so I slowed down and kept as far left as I could, on the gutter which was about as wide as my bike. Moved back to the tarmac after it went passed only to realise there were more sirens, so moved over again. I think six went past, the last five one after the other, each one giving a blast of the horn to let us know they were there. I kept left for a while after that before I had the courage to look behind again and check there were no more.

On the other hand, it was a great ride to work. It seemed so quick and easy compared with the detours.

I think there was a prang up near Windsor Rd, so that's where they were probably headed

First day back at work after a month off (leave), and riding (sadly).
I used the M2 eastbound for the first time today and I absolutely smashed my commute time, knocking a full 10min off my regular commute. I did the Pennant Hills Rd to Delhi Rd section in 14:12, which is half a minute quicker than my best ever effort going the other way with a massive tailwind! Given I have been off for a month, given the right conditions I think it is within the realms of possibility to get that close to 12min on my commuter bike.

Btw the plastic barriers at Vimiera Rd are still there.