My Commute from the SUBURBS to the CITY
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- Опубликовано: 19 сен 2024
- I live only a few kilometres from the city, so commuting to work has become a staple of my life. I put all my work clothes and laptop into a backpack, jump on my bike and take the most direct route to my office. This way usually takes me about 15minutes. In this video I wanted to try something different. I wanted to take every bike path to work to ensure I had the safest journey possible. The result was a bit disappointing.
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This was really cool Josh! Knowing how crazy the roads can be in Sydney (Melburnite here), riding must be keep you on your toes!
A couple of notes:
You can avoid that terror crossing which is only for those with a death wish. After crossing the bridge from the Naremburn shops, when riding beside the freeway take the fork up to the left. It goes up to Merrenburn Avenue where you turn left, then right into Brook Street and keep left as it bears around toward the freeway. You will end up in the wide bike lane you were trying to cross into. A bit more climbing involved but much safer.
Where you got lost in North Sydney - there is a slightly better route which is still not great but which avoids riding on the freeway. Where West St forks, there are two options:
* turn left rather than right towards the freeway. At the bottom of the hill, turn right into McLaren St then immediately left into Angelo St (a narrow lane).
* alternatively turn right as you did but then immediately left into Church Lane; at the bottom you can ride straight across McLaren St into Angelo St and there is a small gap in the median to accommodate cyclists.
At the bottom of Angelo, turn left into Berry St then right into Miller St which will then put you back onto the route you took. This is not a lot better as Berry and Miller Sts are also busy but it is a little more protected than taking the highway.
Thanks for the tips. With so many forks in the path and different options to go, it’s hard to tell which route is the most direct or safe.
Stay safe out there!
My favourite video of yours so far. It was nice to have the mix of audio, visuals and great music and to see a normal aspect of cycling rather than the more racey side of things. Keep up the good work.
This really highlights just how much of an afterthought bike infrastructure is, very frustrating!
8:54 if you go up the ramp, turn left and then right at the lights & veer left, you can avoid the dodgy crossing
Thanks for the tip! Some local knowledge 🤙🏻
The other option is to go thru flat rock gully and up west street at Naremburn. I sometimes take this on the way home to avoid crossing the freeway exit
Another way is via Chandos Lane, through the St Thomas Rest Park onto West St.
Thanks for the tip!
Only a few mins in but already loving this. I genuinely wouldn't mind seeing more vids like this
Thank you! Another one people have said they’d love to see is just some early morning riding around the city.
Loved this one. I also used to work at 101 Miller Street and miss North Sydney/Greenwood Plaza vibes. Beautiful part of Sydney, keen to cycle there one day 👌
Hey Josh,
Tom here from England. My wife and I are due to come back to Sydney any day now (when the visa drops) and I recently found your channel when looking for cycling clubs. I've fully binged on all of the content and have loved seeing some of the old routes I used to do. Keep up the good work and hopefully see you for a (pastry) ride soon. ✌
Awesome! All the best with your move back to Sydney!
Great video definitely enjoyed the cycle way expedition
Great video! Time to make this a mini series
Let’s get it 🤙🏻
Tern 🤝 google maps 🤝 insta360
Just stumbled upon your channel and really love it and the type of videos you’re creating. I’m just getting into cycling property and based in London. Keep it up!
I agree about drivers, I have had a few near misses. That noise wall at the biggest flaw area looks very familiar 😂
Will neither confirm nor deny having any involvement with any noise walls in the Cammeray area 👀
Also, you probably know this already...
I realise your purpose here was to try to travel in designated bike lanes as much as possible. However from your start point at St Leonards Stn there is a much shorter route to West St on quiet streets that is relatively safe even though not isolated bike lanes. Go up Christie St east of the station, then use either Aitchison St or quiet lanes like Henry Lane or Aitchison Lane to get up to Willoughby Rd. Cross at Aitchison or Chandos Sts then into Chandos Lane up to Matthew St, and out to West St via Devonshire.
Also - North Sydney Council concluded consultation earlier this year on extending the (ridiculously short) West St cycleway through to Amhurst St Cammeray (where the roundabout is). No commitment to building it yet. What is really needed is a safe cycling route from West St through North Sydney to the bridge.
Thanks for the extra tips. I am aware of these cycleways but wanted to use my ‘closest’ one and then go from there.
West st through to the bridge would be awesome.
Great video Josh. Shows the challenge of commuting in Sydney, from disappearing bike lanes to find your own adventure.
I love a good adventure as much as the next person, but I think I’ll stick to my more direct route! Lets me sleep in a bit more 😜
Agree. The direct route would have been easier, and sometimes safer!
This was great Josh, equal parts facinating, hilarious and disturbing.
Thanks mate!
Bike lanes that just disappear are ridiculous.
Great vid Josh!
Thanks!
I've come to expect the bike lane just stopping/disappearing and delivering me into traffic.
Great Vid Josh. I’m generally not a great fan of bike paths and mainly for the hazards of debris, walkers & dogs, blind spots, the unexplainable, etc. It’s often said that if you asked a group of public servants to come up with a horse, you’d end up with an elephant with a hump. Hence the explanation for the layout of bike paths and why cyclists opt not use them.
Hahaha that’s a funny saying, and sadly a little bit true.
Fingers crossed the situation improves
Nice video! I ride most of this route from Chatswood to the city. The freeway exit is the worst part for sure. Usually when I go the traffic is backed up though so you can get across pretty easily lol.
There is some good news along this route! North Sydney Council have approved a cycleway all the way along West St. There’s also a cycleway planned between Artarmon and St Leonards. The bike ramp has also begun construction (early days but it’s happening)! Still needs a lot of improvement but it’s slowly getting better.
Awesome stuff mate! See it’s okay to be optimistic about the future :)
Love the long video, feels like I was right there with you ❤
You don’t need to watch, you can come join me ;)
While south on West, go left on Ridge, then right on Miller or Walker southbound to the Bridge
Thank you for sharing, I only visit rarely but there were a couple spots I’ve been lost and swearing now I have an idea. Interested in the bag setup. I’ve used panniers but now a chrome metro bag
Stay safe bruv. And you're right about Sydney bike paths, they're terrible.
Thanks for sharing! Definitely a hodgepodge of cycling infrastructure; the powers that be could benefit from viewing, 'Not Just Bikes' and 'Bicycle Dutch', amongst others.
I reckon! But part of the problem is that we are trying to retrofit this into existing infrastructure. It’s a hard job, and even harder to do it well.
We can only cross our fingers and hope for the best.
There is a shared lane along Hazelbank Place that connects West St to Pac Hwy. From there you can cross Pac Hwy and head down Hazelbank Road. There are signs that you can follow to North Sydney, but its a very zig-zagging indirect route. Its quicker, easier, and probably safer to just zip down the Hwy between West Street and Miller.
Thanks!
Hoping the cycleways get cleaned up a bit
probably not a great commute but this looks like a nice recreational route for me to try! love all that shade since this recent weather probably an indication of the heat to come
The route I did not the best, but there is some alternate ways that some people have suggested. For a chill weekend ride it would be fun, but when I want to get to work and in a rush I would prefer something more direct.
Such a joy! The commute and the filming!
All your other videos make me a bit homesick, but this one is definitely the antidote, I do not miss Sydney's "cycling infrastructure"
Thanks for the comment. I know it’s easy to be cynical about this stuff but it is slowly improving. As I alluded to in the video the bike ramp at the harbour bridge is in the works and I cannot wait for it! No more carrying the bike up the stairs.
I guess what I really should've wrote is that I don't miss Sydney drivers, they're the bigger problem imo, but at least there's more and more cycle paths going in to separate us from those lunatics lol.
@@Dippns I don't live in Sydney or even Australia anymore but when I do return and ride I find the drivers have actually improved when it comes to their attitudes to cyclists. Damning with faint praise I know but they used to be woeful.
In that route down Middlemiss St, apart from the work shops for the cars, one of the last shops, used to be a café that catered for cyclists where you could take your bike inside and off the narrow street. It would be a shame if it is not there anymore.
Do you remember the name of the place? I need to check it out
@@joshkwan bay ten espresso
360 camera is really awesome ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Thanks! It’s cool hey
Such a cool video, Josh! Thank you for bringing us along with you for your commute! I always look forward to your videos. ❤
Thanks! I’m thinking of showing some more riding around the city too. That’ll be fun
@@joshkwan that would be amazing! It’s always cool to be able to see parts of the world I may never get to travel to. Especially from the POV of a cyclist! ❤️
after seeing some parts
with E'BIKES
these cycleways are vintage and need to be wider
KMON SYDNEY most expensive city and worst
THANKS for showing
CALGARY CANADA has a whole elevated indoor walkway system from building to building
all cities have there overheads
I’ve visited Sydney many times and always thought, “Bike here? Oh, hell, no,” but your vids have encouraged me to seek out bike paths and try cycling on my next visit. 😊
Best of luck! Probably do a bit more research than me and find some nice and safer bike roads 😬
Looked like a beautiful morning in Sydney! Always a joy commuting to work on a bike
I whole heartedly agree. Better than being in a car, and I get a workout in before work.
Great video. Some cycling infrastructure you guys have looks pretty good! Others confusing, wierd (the stairs up the bridge) and borderline dangerous. But that crossing at 10:30 is insane. That alone would have lead to sit-ins and accusations directed towards politicians that they are child killers here in The Netherlands.
The local politicians in my areas are sadly very anti cyclists.
Things are improving slowly, but we have a long way to go.
If you get bored of your job you could moonlight as a Sydney tour guide!
Hahaha hopefully I get some more fun facts then
First of all, having bike lanes for your whole commute sounds like a dream!! I used to have bike lanes for most of my commute when I lived in Penrith (cheers to Penrith City Council) but in my new area has very few if any, until I get to Penrith (about a 20km commute) and where there are “bike paths” they are shared paths that are more like footpaths that are not well marked.
Secondly, that crossing looks terrifying!! That’s a nope from me!!
Thirdly, that pink e-bike is awesome!! I have never seen a pink e-bike before!!
There is a chance that I might be changing jobs soon and one of the possibilities is that I may be working in the CBD. One of the positives of that is that I can use my bike to get around, despite the two-hour train commute to get there.
A few people have suggested alternate routes to avoid that crossing in my video.
All the best on your commute travels!
Interesting video showing some areas of Sydney I’m familiar with. Having lived out of Sydney for 20 years you really notice the changes every time you visit as you have a certain disconnect. Theres so many more cars on the road and cars parked in the streets I visit family. Sydney really is choking itself with overdevelopment and traffic, but is good to see people like you commuting on bicycles.
Always cool to see your city from someone else’s perspective hey!
Just a quick one. I used to ride that bike path to and from work and what you should have done is take the last left off the path before you hit that terminal point. It would have taken you up to a left turn onto Merrenburn Ave. Ride to the T intersection and turn right onto Brook St which you follow down the hill and sweep left entering the road you were trapped at that would take you up to the traffic island. Pick your route from there.
Great tip, thanks for your local knowledge!
So relaxing 😍😌
Yes to bag tour!!!
A good commuting bag can make a huge difference!
It’s 2 lanes but there’s an easy way to avoid it. Turn left before you head up to Naremburn shops and you get a nice ride on path and back streets onto West St. Then you head through Cammeray into the back of Neutral Bay. There’s a bit of bike lane and quiet streets up and across Neutral Bay and down into Kirrabilli and onto the bridge. It’s much safer and more pleasant.
Fantastic tip. Thanks for your local knowledge.
A very interesting video Josh and you can tell a great story, have you ever been to Melbourne and rode here?. Keep up the varied content it's an eye opener
I haven’t ridden in Melbourne but I need to go there! Got a few mates down in Melbourne and the riding looks fantastic.
@@joshkwan yes the infamous hell ride would interest you and there are plenty of safe cycling paths and other epic stuff to do
360 is juicy! Nice one Josh
Thank you brother!
The only reason I commute to work on a bike sometimes is because it's an 80% exclusive bike bath off the road. Every time i ride on a main or busy road i just feel like im gonna get hit by a bus at any moment. I'm all for keeping fit and cycling. I love it, but riding bikes on busy roads is just not worth it IMO, love your videos though.
Thanks for watching :) stay safe out there
There's an entry to the Gore Hill cycle way just off Herbert Street via Punch St, which is a little more direct. Or at least there was when I lived there 10yrs ago.
hey J great vid. thanks. how about a vid on the new bike pack. cheers
I’ll make one after I use it a bit longer :)
I actually work in St Leonard's and come from the North direction.
Its a pain that the bike path are just so disjointed and pacific hwy in peak hour moring and end of day is just a no go when cycling alone
It’s frustrating, but I think they’re working on some solutions. Especially around the north Sydney area.
That highway crossing is insane. How is there not a traffic crossing light there for cyclist safety.
Cool vid! Just realised we’re neighbours, I’ve been commuting to the city for years and tried probably every combination including a few you did here, my tip would be to use a mix of crows nest back streets, ignore all bike paths they all terrible and use pacific hwy on the north Sydney downhill to get some awesome speed
Hey neighbour! I think what you’ve said here is the most pragmatic solution. Back streets for the uphill sections and then downhill on pac highway where you can keep up with the cars.
Oh shoot you guys also drive on the left hand side! will be easy for me to cycle there then! haha I know where to look first when crossing haha
This is the way 🫡 🇦🇺🤝🇬🇧
Can’t wait to show you around Sydney!
@@joshkwan ❤️🙌❤️🙌
New office bro!! Nice!! Also if you freeze your cam at milsons pt station and aim toward the opening station - you’d see me!! I swear I saw you!!
I’ll have to look back through the footage :)
10:35 gosh that needs a traffic light!
Someone will be hurt bad otherwise there.
I feel like that spot there is a huge oversight. Like someone forgot to put a bridge or a traffic light there.
i guess the earth is round just look at his taco wheel lol
Technically you're not supposed to go the way you went just before you had to cross the freeway before Cammeray. It's one way for cyclists travelling north. You're supposed to turn left earlier, which then takes you a slight detour before you rejoin on the left side of the freeway on road
I’ll have to try out these other ways :)
The city is great, it has plenty of bike infrastructure. The country is great, there's no traffic and they're used to slow vehicles in the roads. But its getting TO either area thats thst trick. The suburbs (at least near me) are a hellscape of soccer moms on xanax in wank panzers and road raging gym bros in monster trucks on roads with no shoulders much less a bike lane.
Just want to get around safely. A lot of people are commuters as well, going to and from work.
Cool video mate
Thank you!
Ultimate Sydney NPC commute 🔥🔥
Sydney NPC office worker reporting for duty
This is a dream for Western Sydney cyclists.
We got some nice views and paths here. Lots of room for improvement, but it’s getting there :)
Didn't watch it all😂 29min not bad and free
I do a slight variation of this route where I turn left into Hallstrom Park instead of going to the overpass over Gore Hill freeway. Once I'm in the park there are some shared paths and quiet suburban streets that lead me onto West St. This will add a few more minutes to what was already a long trip though lol but it is a bit safer. My office is in North Sydney though so no advice on how to get to the CBD without hopping onto Pac Hwy, but maybe Miller St could work?
Anyway yeah looking forward to more of these 360 camera videos! And yes, defo keen on the bag review too
There’s a few different paths in the network, I can’t say they’re all well advertised, so thanks for the advice.
20:44 get a mtb and ride up the ramp, i use to do it every day in the late 90s when i worked in north sydney and commuted from the eastern burbs.
Hahaha mate you got bigger balls than me!
I switched on subtitles cause it's a bit hard for me to understand your accent. I found it funny when there was a word psychopath in the subtitles but you were talking about the cycling path, though detouring so much from your commute may count as psychopathic
Hahahahahahaha that’s hilarious. I was considering putting subtitles on the video, but the software was a bit expensive. I may consider it for next time though!
need a clip of you going up the bridge ramp on the bike (will tip extra if you film with the 360 in your mouth xd)
Prolific!
Thanks sir. See you soon 👀
The first path is a door zone of death
Touch wood. I’ve never had any incidents, but you can see how easily it can happen 💀
@@joshkwan To be honest, I ignore those lanes and ride further to the right. The bike lane is not fit for purpose.
Agreed, just take centre of the lane as it is 40km zone around hospital so you are not really slowing down the traffic.
The cycle lane ending in a three-lane road traffic cross is unbelievably dumb
Can you upload a 360° spherical video one day?
Asscam 360
Great vlog. Back in 2015 I did a similar ride, rode from Bondi north through the burbs, ended up in Darling harbour/ circular quay/ Rocks area. Over the bridge to Kiribilli and a little further North then returned. Was a lot of fun and very scenic.
How do you get on with those 800mm wide bars 😂
Sounds like a scenic ride through some of the nicest areas of Sydney :)
Hahaha just some camera tricks to make it look bigger 😜
no 8.55 time, you can go left, so don't need to cross the road
Thanks for the tip!
So much easier and faster - and often safer - riding on the road. If you're in the middle of the lane you're in view and cars are aware of you, compared to trying to pop out and avoid cars from some weird footpath
I agree with you completely. Especially on a road bike where you can keep up with the speed of the cars.
We need to remember the most vulnerable road users though, people like the lady on the pink ebike, and others who may ride with kids or a load on the back.
@@joshkwan I'd say most new cycle lanes in Sydney are 'good enough' for both the fast and the slow, and some are excellent for roadies like us. The old ones are generally shocking though!
How aero is the back pack?
Brb wind tunnel testing
Do you have the route for this ride? Would love to have it! 😅
I do! But I don’t know if it’s the best route.
Here is the route I did including my trip home.
strava.app.link/SoVOkW33uMb
TBH, that doesn't look like an enjoyable ride. If i ever commute to the Melb cbd, it's 25 mins and virtually all bike lane along the coast.
I 100% agree mate. This route sucks, there’s some room for refinement but by and large shows a big flaw in Sydney cycling infrastructure.
If riding on the road takes less than half the time then people will revert to that.