M4 cycleway

{{Short description|Cycle path it Sydney, Australia}} {{Use Australian English|date=December 2016}} {{Use dmy dates|date=December 2016}} {{Infobox cycling path | name = | embed = | cellstyle = | photo = | photo_size = | photo_alt = | caption = | title = | established = | length = {{convert|15|km}} | location = [[Sydney]], [[New South Wales]], [[Australia]] | designation = | trailheads ={{unbulleted list| [[Sydney Olympic Park]] {{small|(east)}} to|[[South Wentworthville]] {{small|(west)}}}} | use = [[Cycling]]; [[pedestrian]]s<!-- May be mixed use, e.g. cycling, pedestrians, horse trail, etc. List all approved uses. --> | elev_gain_and_loss = | elev_change = <!-- Use elev_gain_and_loss if the gain and/or loss is known. Use this field when only the change is known. --> | highest = {{convert|49|m}} {{AHD}} | lowest = {{convert|3|m}} {{AHD}} | grade = | difficulty = Easy | season = All seasons | months = | waymark = | sights = | hazards = | surface = | ROW = | website = | map = | map_name = | map_caption = | map_size = | map_alt = | route = | route_state = }} The '''M4 cycleway''' is a {{convert|15|km|mi|adj=mid|-long}}<ref>{{cite map |url=https://www.google.com.au/maps/dir/Sydney+Olympic+Park+NSW+2127/South+Wentworthville,+New+South+Wales/@-33.8243694,150.9878627,18.12z/data=!4m44!4m43!1m35!1m1!1s0x6b12a4b8ce599c85:0x5017d681632bac0!2m2!1d151.06488!2d-33.84801!3m4!1m2!1d151.0486502!2d-33.8462529!3s0x6b12a4aa8d26b287:0x6da177c49116d2e0!3m4!1m2!1d151.0437024!2d-33.8434196!3s0x6b12a3544be2b629:0x76a16c12f8528e8e!3m4!1m2!1d151.0433498!2d-33.8434139!3s0x6b12a35445da1cdf:0x8469a05d390ce461!3m4!1m2!1d150.993132!2d-33.827044!3s0x6b12a2d13c8c01b7:0x13017d67e57e9361!3m4!1m2!1d150.9878813!2d-33.8247802!3s0x6b12a2cfd254168b:0xa64fcda7dae07bc6!3m4!1m2!1d150.9875419!2d-33.824312!3s0x6b12a2cfb90c82a3:0x8076ecbf00b55d6d!1m5!1m1!1s0x6b12a2b6e6e21149:0x5017d681632cb70!2m2!1d150.96541!2d-33.82344!3e1 |title=Australia Avenue, Sydney Olympic Park NSW 2127 to 108 Old Prospect Road, South Wentworthville NSW 2145 |publisher=[[Google Maps]] |date=2016 |access-date=5 December 2016}}</ref> [[shared use path]] for [[cycling|cyclists]] and [[pedestrian]]s that is generally aligned with the [[M4 Motorway (Sydney)|M4 Motorway]] in [[Sydney]], [[New South Wales]], [[Australia]]. The eastern terminus of the cycleway is in [[Sydney Olympic Park]], while the western terminus is in [[South Wentworthville]].<ref name=finder>{{cite web |url=http://www.rms.nsw.gov.au/roads/bicycles/cyclewayfinder/index.html |title=Cycleway Finder |edition=Version 3 |work=[[Roads & Maritime Services]] |publisher=Government of New South Wales |date=2016 |access-date=4 December 2016 |archive-date=29 December 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161229181959/http://www.rms.nsw.gov.au/roads/bicycles/cyclewayfinder/index.html |url-status=dead }}</ref>

==Route== ===Sydney Olympic Park to Auburn=== With an extensive network of on-road and shared paths located within [[Sydney Olympic Park]],<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.sydneyolympicpark.com.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0006/555531/Bike_Safari_Jul2013.pdf |title=Sydney Olympic Park paths map |publisher=Olympic Park Authority |date= |accessdate=2015-05-10 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150326231559/http://www.sydneyolympicpark.com.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0006/555531/Bike_Safari_Jul2013.pdf |archive-date=26 March 2015 |url-status=dead }}</ref> the cycleways eastern terminus is on Australia Avenue and continues west via the Holker Busway where the shared busway and on-road cycleway cross the [[Haslams Creek]] and meet with Hill Road. From this junction in {{NSWcity|Newington}}, several options are available to meet the north–south shared pedestrian and cycle path, the [[Louise Sauvage Pathway]],<ref>{{cite press release |url=http://www.sydneyolympicpark.com.au/corporate/media_room/media_release_archive/archive/2003/6_march_2003_-_river_walk__and__louise_sauvage_pathway |title=River Walk & Louise Sauvage Pathway |publisher=Olympic Park Authority |date=2003-03-06 |accessdate=2010-05-16}}</ref> shared with the cycleway, as it heads south and follows the western bank of Haslams Creek which can be hazardous at points of high tide. The path goes under the M4 and enters [[Lidcombe]], initially as a segregated path and then joins Adderley Street East before joining a major intersection with [[A6 (Sydney)|Silverwater Road]] (A6), with traffic exiting the M4 from the east and entering the [[M4 Motorway (Sydney)|M4]], heading west and limited cyclist and pedestrian protection on the traffic island.

The path continues along Adderley Street West, from [[Silverwater]] into {{NSWcity|Auburn}}, climbing to a [[roundabout]] at Stubbs Street, subject to heavy flows during peak traffic times. As the path continues further west it passes the former [[Transport for NSW]] toll plaza. The main path crosses the [[Duck River (New South Wales)|Duck River]] and continues further west. A spur path leads south, to the [[Great Western Highway]] (A44).

===Auburn to Parramatta=== The relatively scenic route on the northern shore of the Duck River carries the cycleway further west. Signs along the path explain the history of the industrial heartland of the area including a now-defunct Duck River ferry service that allowed passengers and freight to alight. In this ear, the path crosses former freight tracks. The end of this part of the pathway is the quiet, back streets of {{NSWcity|Rosehill}}, parallel to [[Parramatta Road]]. From Rosehill to [[Harris Park]] the path continues west towards [[Parramatta]]. The start of this path adjoins an L-plate motorcycle school and a small corkscrew climb to reach the bridge that runs overhead of [[James Ruse Drive]] and on the northern side of the M4. The bridge is a remarkable piece of industrial art and allows cyclists to be protected from the traffic. The path is secure at this stage and it winds down underneath the M4, above the [[Duck Creek (Clyde, New South Wales)|Duck Creek]] and the [[A'Becketts Creek]]. The path runs through the middle of the M4 cement columns which forms a scenic reminder, albeit suburban, of the functionality of the path.<ref name=finder/>

The path continues to follow the cement colonnade of the M4. On either side of the path are access points from Harris Park. Near the junction of Parramatta Road, [[Church Street, Parramatta|Church Street]], and [[Woodville Road]], where the M4 passes over the junction, the cycleway provides various spur options: the north to Parramatta central business district via High, Wigram, or Railway Streets; and to the south to [[Merrylands]] and {{NSWcity|Holroyd}} via Woodville Road and adjacent side-streets.<ref name=finder/> The A'Becketts Creek Community Street Library sits along the path at Junction Street. The guerilla street library was created by local residents in May 2021 and aims to foster a sense of community along the M4 corridor.<ref>{{cite web |title=A'Becketts Creek Community Street Library |url=https://facebook.com/motorwaystreetlibrary |website=A'Becketts Creek Community Street Library |publisher=[[Facebook]]|access-date=16 May 2021}}</ref>

===Parramatta to Wentworthville=== Between Fox Street, Holroyd and Ledger Road, Merrylands the cycleway becomes a {{convert|675|m|ft|adj=mid|-long}} off-road shared bicycle and pedestrian path. Constructed between 2010 and 2011, the {{convert|3|m|ft|adj=mid|-wide}} path was built along the southern embankment of the M4 motorway about {{convert|2|m}} above the road level and is completely fenced off and protected from motorway traffic.<ref name="AEOL">{{cite web |url=http://www.aeol.com.au/databases/news/work_starts_on_m4_cycleway.htm |title=Work starts on M4 cycleway |work=[[Roads & Traffic Authority]]|publisher=Australian Engineering OnLine |date=18 January 2011 |access-date=5 December 2016 }}</ref> Continuing west and after crossing Burnett Street, the cycleway joins Rita Street where it provides a spur option to the north via an underpass to access Rees and Peggy Streets and then north to [[Parramatta Park, New South Wales|Parramatta Park]]. The cycleway crosses Coleman Street, Merrylands and continues west before reaching a junction with Allen Street and the Finlayson Creek. Here, a spur line to the north passes under the M4 and provides access to a road crossing of the Great Western Highway and the [[Wentworthville]] shopping centre. Another spur line follows Finlayson Creek to the south, with local access to Merrylands.<ref name=finder/>

Continuing {{convert|100|-|150|m}} further west, the cycleway terminates at a junction near the [[Old Prospect Road]] on the boundary between Merrylands, [[South Wentworthville]], [[Greystanes]] and [[Pendle Hill, New South Wales|Pendle Hill]], where the cycleway seamlessly joins the [[Liverpool–Parramatta T-way]].<ref name=finder/>

==Cycleway use== In the twelve months to February 2014, between 30 and 40 cyclists used the M4 cyclepath at Holroyd West on an average weekday.<ref name="Sydney data">{{cite web |url=http://www.rms.nsw.gov.au/roads/bicycles/statistics/index.html |title=Cycling statistics |work=[[Roads & Maritime Services]] |publisher=Government of New South Wales |date=March 2016 |access-date= }}</ref>

==See also== *[[Bike paths in Sydney]] *[[Cycling in New South Wales]] *[[Cycling in Sydney]]

==References== {{Reflist}}

==External links== *[http://www.bicyclensw.org.au Bicycle NSW website] *[http://www.cityofsydney.nsw.gov.au/explore/getting-around/cycling City of Sydney - Cycling] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130908222446/http://www.cityofsydney.nsw.gov.au/explore/getting-around/cycling |date=8 September 2013 }} *{{cite web |url=http://www.bicycleinfo.nsw.gov.au/ |title=NSW Bike Plan |work=Bicycle Information for New South Wales |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20131121070458/http://www.bicycleinfo.nsw.gov.au/ |archivedate=21 November 2013 |df=dmy-all }}

{{Bicycle paths in Sydney |state=collapsed}}

[[Category:Bicycle paths in Sydney]] [[Category:Cycling in Sydney]] [[Category:Transport infrastructure in Parramatta]]