m7_issues

This is a list of minor and major 'issues' cyclists have identified with the M7 Shared Path. They range from safety concerns to comments. Some may be addressable, others not. Please note that I'm not trying to be too critical of the path. Overall, I think it's fantastic, and a great asset for those of us who want to make use of it. We just want to make sure that it's the best facility that it can be....

A number of the issues below are concerned with the access points to the path, which may fall under RTA or local council responsibility. Some local roads have excellent access points (Lamb St, Glendenning for instance), with signs and curb-ramps. Other access points are very average.

Feel free to email me with any additional issues or if you require clarification on an issue listed below.

Number	Issue	Comment
1	No signage to local water/toilet facilities, and none marked on the Shared Path map.	During one of the CLG meetings, we were told that 'Westlink are preparing a shared path brochure that will indicate where facilities are located...' (See http://www.westlinkm7.com.au/documents/minutes/CLG_6_-_Meeting_25_-_Minutes.pdf, last dot point under Section 5 - Community Relations Update. I'm not aware that any brochure containing this information has been released to date. I've started compiling my own list, which references Westlink's 'Cycleway & Walking Path' brochure. See links from the home page.
2	Poor signage on Shared Path. Hard to equate signs on Shared path with those on the Shared Path map.	The connections on the map are numbered and identified by the connecting road, while those on the shared path are only identified by the suburb they point towards. At intersections where the road crosses over the M7, it is possible to look at the road name sign located on the centre pillar of the road bridge over the M7. This is often after the shared path connection to this road.
3	Tight corners	Slow down !!
4	No formed curb-ramp at Access Point 25 [Chandos Rd].
5	Supports for bollards not very visable when bollards removed.	Would the supports be more visable if painted white? Ideally, the supports would be below the path surface. Update: I've noticed that at least one support has been painted yellow.
6	No easily-accessable curb-ramp for cyclists travelling West on the GWH and wanting to access the M7 shared path. (ie On the south side of the GWH). Also for those wanting to turn from the M7 shared path and head east on the GWH.	To access a curb-ramp at present, cyclists travelling west start turning into Wallgrove Rd, then do a 180 degree turn on to the shared path at the pedestrian crossing. Not very safe !
7	Access path to Rickard Rd, Quakers Hill, quite rough at present - Not fully formed	Blacktown Council responsibility?
8	Access path to North Pde, Rooty Hill unformed, and muddy after rain.	Blacktown Council responsibility?
9	On Access Point 30 [Eastbound on ramp to M4], cyclists have to pass through 2 gates to gain access to the M4.	Could be frustrating for some cyclists who do this regularly...Not sure of the purpose of the two gates. 26/01/06 Note: Someone has apparently got frustrated, and torn the gate nearest the M7 path from it's hinges....
10	Fencing issues: * Leans in, so restricts the effective width of the path in places. * Creates & adds to blind spots, particularly near some S bends. * Unable to get off path in places to have a break or repair flat tyres.	Slow down, ride in single file
11	Lack of rest areas/seating/picnic areas on the path	There are 'information bays' on the shared path, but no other rest areas. See spreadsheet for off-path facilities. Seating discussed at CLG meetings.
12	Unable to access M7 emergency phones in places because of sound barriers. Also questions about whether mobile phones will work over some stretches of the path.	Access to M7 emergency phones raised at CLG meetings. Basically, emergency phones are only intended for the M7 roadway.
13	No rubbish bins. Concerns that this will lead to rubbish/broken glass on path.	Probably none installed for security reasons.
14	No curb-ramp east bound on Richmond Rd to access the northern shared path access ramp.	There is a curb-ramp off Richmond Rd a short distance after the shared path access ramp, but this would require cyclists to make close to a 180 degree turn off Richmond Rd.
15	Access to Old Windsor Rd at Access Point 62 blocked at present.	No notices on path or on M7 website to this effect. A number of frustrated cyclists have been trying to work out how to get from here to the M2 shoulder. See the home page for some suggestions.

Number	Issue	Comment
1	Signs to Minchinbury & Prospect at the South side of the Great Western Hwy pointing the wrong way. Click for enlarged view of signs	Sign to Prospect should probably more correctly read 'Prospect via M4'. Reported to the 1800 Number at 1.30pm, Mon 16th Jan 2006. Rectified sometime between Jan 26th and Feb 5th.
2	Parramatta via M4 sign - Two signs (100m & 200m to exit), located near M7 Control Centre (South of M4) tell cyclists to use next exit for Parramatta via M4. The trouble is, the signs are located on the left hand side of the shared path, and appear to be meant for the cyclists using the M7 roadway shoulder, which is to the right, on the other side of the Jersey barrier. I wonder whether they could even see the sign? Click for enlarged view of sign	Signs moved to right hand side of path sometime between Jan 26th and Feb 5th.
3	More signs pointing the wrong way. This one was on an overpass, just south of the entrance road to the Waste Management Centre. It claims Mt Druitt is straight ahead (South). Sign on the other side is pointing (noth) to, I think, Cecil Park..... Click for enlarged view of sign	Reported to the 1800 Number at 1.30pm, Mon 16th Jan 2006. Rectified sometime between Jan 26th and Feb 5th.
4	Mud on U-turn at Access Point 34 [Mavis St].	Reported to the 1800 Number at 1.30pm, Mon 16th Jan 2006. As of Sun Feb 5th, dirt still present. It doesn't look quite as bad...Not sure whether an attempt has been made to clean some of it up. Dirt removed by Web 8th Feb.
5	Lights between just south of the Church St Access Point and just south of Eastern Rd (Rooty Hill) have been on during the day and off at night. Not sure if this is happening every day & night.
6	Blind intersections - eg Access Point 42 [Simms Rd & Ainsley Ave].	Bollards have been installed at the underpass from Simms Rd. This alleviates the problem to a large degree.
7	Construction material still on path in places.	Temporary fencing and pipes on Woodstock Ave & Richmond Rd overpasses, and pipes south of the Old Wallgrove Rd interchange have been removed..
8	No water/toilet facilities along shared path.	A water bubbler has been installed about halfway along the shared path, at Access point 29 (On the northern side of the M7 Control centre - About 900 metres south of the M4. Still no toilets.
9	Cyclists forced to form one lane on the south side of the Woostock Ave overpass. Cyclists can be travelling quite fast, as it's at the bottom of a slight hill from each direction. Sight lines are also obscured.	The shared path at this point is narrower than at some other points where bollards are located. However, I would have thought treatments used at some other locations, like that pictured below on the south side of the Great Western Hwy may have been more appropriate. Note that the location where the bollards are in the picture below is narrower than in the picture on the left.