Saturday Easy Cycle - Islington to Merewether Beach Cafe - Quiet Route

This is a free guided bike ride at a slow relaxed pace (15km/hr). Suitable for most skills and fitness levels. No main roads. Shared paths & quiet streets only. 17km return. New people very welcome!

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Starting at Islington Park, we will cycle to Merewether Beach cafe for morning tea, before cycling back.

Route:

• https://www.komoot.com/tour/2558154702?share_token=a0OSE6W3URo0mQ73v5z1nRuom6vCK8rNfv8bWhkQ71irMITBgG&ref=wtd
• Map in photos below
• Note: on our return, between Newcastle Interchange & Islington Park, we'll stay on the Throsby Creek path the whole way, instead of taking the Wickham streets

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This ride showcases quiet streets & shared paths that make it easy to cycle between Islington, Wickham, the CBD, Cooks Hill, The Junction & Merewether.

☕️ Whether you're after a scenic recreational ride, or you want to know how to use your bike for everyday transport, this ride does both.

😁 The main aim of this group is to showcase quiet routes & safe cycling principles so people become more comfortable cycling on streets, giving them the option to cycle around town for everyday short trips.

Max. 15 spots. Children are welcome but only if they are a passenger on your bike. Any questions, message me or comment below :)

😎 ✨

• Ocean views & quaint inner city streets
• Coffee & a chat by the beach
• Very low-traffic streets & shared paths only.
• No high-speed, high-pressure roads
• Great for most skill & fitness levels.
• Low-stress cycling routes linking multiple suburbs, schools, shops
• Observe & practice key city cycling skills, like claiming the lane, signaling & headchecks

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Start/finish point: Islington Park, next to the traffic lights at Maitland Rd & Hubbard St.

Start time: meet at 8:45am for a 9am departure
Finish time: approx 11:50am-12:30pm

Relative cycling fitness level: VERY EASY /easy/medium/hard/very hard

Distance: 17km return
Pace: slow, 15km/hr on the flat

Active pedaling time: approx 45 minutes there, & 45 minutes back
Topography: flat; occasional slight, brief undulation

Infrastructure: 11km of shared paths; 6km of low-pressure, low-speed, low-traffic streets; one low-pressure on-road roundabout; one set of on-road low-pressure traffic lights.
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You’ll need:

• helmet
• bike with good working brakes & tyres pumped to the recommended PSI
• bike lock
• water bottle
• phone & opal card are useful in case of puncture/mechanical issue
• a repair kit, if you have one (spare tube, tyre levers, patches, pump etc)

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How we ride:

• We are a group of people with varying experience, confidence levels & cycling styles. I hope to build people's confidence, showing safe assertive best-practice principles for urban cycling.
• I give a safety briefing at the start to explain the principles we follow. I lead the ride & provide instruction as needed. Someone volunteers as sweep.
• We stick together & ride in an alert, slow manner.
• We position ourselves within the field of vision of drivers, not hugging the left, keeping a predictable trajectory/speed.
• Given we are usually on quiet, low-speed, short streets, we mostly take primary position (in the middle of the lane) in order to: prevent close/fast passes, to arrive in a visible position at junctions, & to turn right.
• We ride in single file, clear of the doorzone & of the mouths of side-streets.
• On shared paths, slow to a safe speed to pass others, giving early warning as necessary. Give others a wide passing distance. If a safe passing distance is not possible, wait until it is safe to overtake.
• The How We Ride Policy & the RSVP Policy are located on the group's homepage.
• You are responsible for your own safety at all times.

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Suitable for those who have recently learnt to ride through to those who are experienced. No prior experience on roads necessary.

However, you must be able to effectively: stop and start, pedal, steer, signal left and right, look over your shoulder to check for what's behind you, be always alert to upcoming hazards, & anticipate the behaviour of pedestrians and vehicles.
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Getting there

• By Bike: https://www.newcastlecycleways.org.au/way-finding, Bike About Town's Komoot account: https://www.komoot.com/tour/1831416099?ref=itd , or comment below to ask for a low-traffic route :)
• Coming by train? Bikes travel free. Alight at Hamilton Station, then cycle 1km via Chinchen and Hubbard St.
• Parking: Linden St carpark is free & unlimited I believe. It's at the Hubbard St entrance to Tighes Hill TAFE. Then cycle 4 mins along Hubbard then Chinchen St protected cycleways. Map: https://maps.app.goo.gl/BsYBrkMn611kdbQy8

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If the weather is looking unfavourable, check the comments below for updates; heavy rain may result in cancellation.

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Indemnity and release of liability
By participating in this activity you unconditionally indemnify the organiser/host against any and all claims, demands, losses, injuries, damages, liabilities or other costs, whether present or future, relating to your participation and/or dealings with Bike About Town - Newcastle, including but not limited to, any accident, loss or damage to property or death or injury to any person.
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Add cycling to your transport repertoire. Cheap, quick, fun transport for everyday short trips to work, school, shops, beach 😁

Transform your journey, ride & drive more safely & change Newy's street culture. These videos explain international best practice cycling principles for everyday city trips:

• How to cycle safely at junctions: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-CG0VTwevoU
• How to negotiate simple junctions: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2YOrAiXKagc
• Road positioning for city cycling explained: https://www.cyclinguk.org/article/road-positioning-cycling-explained#:

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Komoot: https://www.komoot.com/tour/1831416099?ref=itd