Cycling in Sydney: How the City Embraced Two Wheels and Where to Ride Safely

Once considered a cycling-unfriendly city, Sydney has transformed into a cyclist’s playground. With dedicated bike paths crisscrossing the metropolis and shared routes accommodating both pedestrians and cyclists, more people are choosing two wheels for their daily commute or leisurely rides. Whether you’re a seasoned rider or new to urban cycling, here’s what you need to know about biking in Sydney.

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There was a time when Sydney was a particularly hostile city when it came to cycling. Most people wouldn’t have ridden on streets around the suburbs, let alone even go anywhere near the CBD. 

Sydney’s Cycling Renaissance

Thankfully, those times have receded into distant memory, and Sydney is not only much more tolerant but has openly embraced the culture of cycling. Dedicated cycling paths are being built north, south, east and west, and shared paths are better accommodating cyclists and pedestrians. 

The improvement in infrastructure has meant more people are choosing to cycle to work, cycle to school and uni — in fact, cycle to pretty much anywhere. And all that means a healthier environment and a healthier population. 

While cycling around the city proper has definitely been improved by purpose-built green bike paths, it may still be the domain for the more experienced and hearty. The city is still the city and there are many more hazards than there are in the burbs. 

Urban Cycling: Tips for Navigating the City

If you decide to ride the gauntlet, there are a few things you can do to reduce risk to yourself and others and avoid raising the ire of the two-footed and four-wheeled people around you. 

Try to stick to the designated bike paths when possible. If you need to deviate from a bike path, ride on the road. It’s illegal to ride on the footpath. If you feel it’s too dangerous to ride on the road, your best option is to hop off and push your bike along the footpath until you find a safer, more suitable spot to hop back on again. 

Don’t wear headphones or buds; you need to be very vigilant in the city. There are buses, the light rail, lots of cars, lots of pedestrians, delivery riders, and most likely, a dozen or so construction sites, so you need to be on high alert at all times. 

Many of the designated cycle paths are for entry points into the city and routes straight through to a particular destination. 

Sydney’s Best Bike Routes

From the east, you can come down the path that starts on New South Head Rd, Edgecliff, goes along Bayswater Rd and then down William Street all the way down to Castlereagh St.

From the west, you can come along Miller St, Pyrmont, cross the Pyrmont Bridge footway and continue up King St. From King St you can turn left into Kent St and ride all the way to Observatory Park where you can take the ramp up to the Harbour Bridge and enjoy a spectacular view as you ride across the harbour to Milsons Point. You’d take this route in reverse if you were coming from the north into the city. 

If you go a little further along King St, you can turn left into Pitt St and ride straight down to Circular Quay. Circular Quay itself is usually very crowded and it’s not a good idea to ride around here, however, you are allowed to take bikes onto the ferries, and that leaves a whole world of possibilities open to you. 

There are shared pathways around Barangaroo Reserve and along the boardwalks around Darling Harbour and Walsh Bay. These, too, can be busy, so it’s best to ride early in the morning or on a weekday if possible. 

Please be aware that you can NOT ride a bike through the Botanical Gardens. You can, however, go through the Domain and along Art Gallery Drive for a tree-covered, picturesque pedal alongside Woolloomooloo Bay. 

Remember: 

• Wear a helmet

• Have and use a bike bell

• Bring plenty of water and maybe some energy snacks. Wear sunscreen if it’s hot

• A pump and puncture kit are always a good idea

• Have lights/reflectors on the front and back of your bike

• Wear bright-coloured or high-vis clothing

• Obey traffic signals and give way to pedestrians

• Have lots of fun!

Beyond the City

Sydney’s cycling network doesn’t end at its borders. Take your bike on a ferry from Circular Quay to explore cycling routes in other parts of the city and beyond.

Closing Tip: Cycling in Sydney is about more than getting from A to B—it’s an adventure, a lifestyle, and a way to see the city like never before. Happy pedalling!