Cyclist on the F3

[wayne1966]

I drove to work in Sydney yesterday. Last night I was driving home when I passed a touring cyclist about 5kms South of Mt White. I pulled over at the next emergency stop and waited for him. It was obvious he wasn't a local. Anyway, I waved him down. He was a young Korean tourist headed for Gosford. His GPS on his smart phone was going to take him straight over the Mooney Mooney bridge - on a pushbike !

Wow - people tell me that it's dangerous where I ride but that would be suicidal.

Anyway, I explained that there was no shoulder over the bridge, so we packed his bike into the back of my car and I drove him to Gosford. He was very grateful when he saw the bridge. He was no speedster, either. He had been riding from Sydney since 10am.

[Murphs]

He wouldn't be the first to ride over moonee bridge, I have seen a former member of the club do it more than once

[Darryl]

Firstly, nice work Wayne. You may have saved a life, if not from keeping him off the bridge but by making him aware of what might lay ahead on his travels.

He wouldn't be the first to ride over moonee bridge, I have seen a former member of the club do it more than once

Hope they are a former member because they are with another cycling club and not because they rode over Mooney Bridge. And I think there were a few others that did it when the old Pacific Highway was closed at Somersby a few years back too.

We have 2 Memorial Races each year in honour of former members killed whilst riding on the F3 - we don't want any more. With respect to those killed (I knew Parko quite well when I was a "kid" (yes, the bicycle had been invented then) and he was a really top bloke) I really do not understand why anyone would want to mix it with 110 kmh traffic on Mooney Bridge or anywhere else.

[Vic75h]

Wow!!!! I wouldnt touch the F3 at the best of times on a pushy and I would never cross Mooney Mooney bridge and you have done a great service Wayne.

[Zanne]

Hey! I've started riding on he F3.  I ride from Umina to Berowra train station starting at around 4:30 am. I get on the F3 at Peats ridge, the Hawksbury Bridge is heart stopping. I'm thinking of getting back on the old Pacific Hwy at Hawksbury River.  I did try the Moony Moony but was scary!

[Ciaran]

Just making sure you know, the RTA has banned cyclists from using the shoulder ride anywhere between the Berowra and Kariong interchanges on the F3.  

So besides the safety concerns, it could also cost you some $$$ if a highway patrol cop is having a bad day and decides to enforce the ban.

Cheers, Ciaran

[Darryl]

Hey! I've started riding on he F3. 

DON'T

[Matt]

I've alerted the Minister for Roads' office to the GPS/lack of signage issue.

You're not only putting your own life at risk but, as a daily commuter on the F3, mine.

[wayne1966]

Hey! I've started riding on he F3.  I ride from Umina to Berowra train station starting at around 4:30 am. I get on the F3 at Peats ridge, the Hawksbury Bridge is heart stopping. I'm thinking of getting back on the old Pacific Hwy at Hawksbury River.  I did try the Moony Moony but was scary!

I saw you the other morning, Zanne. I think you're mad. You are not as visible as you might think, either.

[gtveloce]

Agreed, the few small signs that are there now have improved but are still next to useless, especially if you are a slow-moving Korean or Japanese cyclo-tourist with little English. And I've seen a few such tourists do exactly what we shouldn't do. I understand that the "approved" cycling routes will soon be available via the 131500.com's travel planner - which should help at least the techno-savvy traveller. I don't think the current online maps deal with either the Mooney or Hawkesbury crossing, apart from advising to hop on or off at Berowra. That needs to be fixed.

That aside, thinking of the commute-by-bike option, I have dodged around those bridges via the old road and got back on/off at Berowra. In many ways the wide freeway shoulder 'feels' safer than facing an on-the-limit motorcyclist or WRX driver on the old road. But if you have the time the old road is nicer and not that much slower. Crossing the freeway slip-roads is also a pain.

When the F3 was a bit newer I did use the bridges (there was even an open held on the F3 starting at the Hornsby end before the road was opened for cars) and frankly it was terrifying - especially Mooney where 80-90kmh was easily achieved - you could look right over the edge and down to the water - very distracting if you suffer from vertigo. Don't do it!

[Chelsea]

We are lucky as, as cyclist to have the old road no real traffic very quite and nice views can't think of a better road

[Stu Eddy]

We are lucky as, as cyclist to have the old road no real traffic very quite and nice views can't think of a better road

Wonder what Ponty's thoughts are on the old road?

[Graeme P]

F3 riding. Totally agree to give it a big miss.
 I did the commute thing to Hornsby Railway Station from Kariong for a while and never once thought of using the F3. Also hope you ride to West Gosford then up Kariong as Woy Woy Road north bound would be a concern also. Also you could leave the car at Kariong/Somersby if time is an issue?

As for the old road, it should be as safe as houses, but those same reasons to cycle there are the same for “Top Gear” drifting fans, and motorcycle racer wannabes.

[gtveloce]

This is bringing back some memories - I haven't ridden the F3 for a few years but I suspect the widened sections will now be more dangerous than before. If you do ride the F3 beware of truck tyre delaminations. Scary/dangerous when it happens right next to you (trust me on that) and the discarded, torn-up treads are a hazard all along the shoulder of the road, especially on the fast downhill bits. Also whilst there's not much glass you do get some other unusual objects like metal shims that can damage/puncture your tyres. Been there/done that as well. And at the Hornsby end heading north watch out for utes with unsecured loads. They get on there, speed up to 110 and whoosh, something like a corrugated iron sheet comes adrift. Luckily it went over my head. Shakes you up a bit, though!

I think I just talked myself out of riding the allowable bits of the F3 again. But it is quicker.   

[GrantF]

The bit from Berowra to End of Freeway (ie. cutting out Hornsby) sure does make for a quicker trip up the North Shore...