Bike Commuting Sydney

World Bicycle Day and Balmain bike bus

Join us for UN world bicycle day. Join the Balmain Bike Bus and others for a special World Bicycle Day ride featuring a trip through the White Bay Power Station precinct — a route normally unavailable to the general public. Three joining points: Option 1 7.30 am – Depart Pioneers Memorial Park, Leichhardt, to ride to Loyalty Square, Balmain, to join the Balmain Bike Bus. Option 2 8.10 am – Depart Loyalty Square (outside Woolworths), Balmain with the Balmain Bike Bus and ride to White Bay Power Station. Option 3 8.20 am – Meet at the Robert Street gate, White Bay Power Station. The ride will continue via Rozelle Parklands, the Anzac Bridge, Pyrmont and Darling Harbour before finishing at Parliament House at approximately 9.00 am. We expect Peter McLean (Bicycle NSW) and Kobi Shetty MP, co-chair of the Parliamentary Friends of Active Transport), will join us for a short welcome and photographs - probably on the Hospital Road (Domain) side of Parliament House. Coffee nearby with anyone who can stay around 9.30-10-ish. About the Southern Link through the White Bay Power Station site. It was originally proposed by Bike Leichhardt members Bob Moore and Keith Stallard and subsequently developed with support from Placemaking NSW. The route was designed both to provide a shared path through the site and to serve as an emergency exit from the White Bay Power Station precinct. It is currently used by the Balmain Bike Bus when activities at the Power Station permit. There is a longer-term aspiration for the route to become part of a continuous off-road cycling connection between Balmain and the city, including a future cycle route along Robert Street. What is the Balmain Bike Bus? Meeting Wednesdays at Loyalty Square, at the bike racks outside Woollies Balmain at 8am. They leave at 8.10am, cycling single file down quiet back streets of Balmain, ending up along Robert St in Rozelle, then stop at the White Bay Power Station to pick up more participants. They leave White Bay power station at 8.20am, making their way across the Anzac Bridge to Pyrmont. After this they are flexible depending on the desires of participants that week - sometimes to help them get to their destination/s, or sometimes stop for a coffee before heading off to work or to make the return journey to Balmain. • For more information about the Balmain Bike Bus, contact Rebecca Fernandez, by email on rebeccafernandez@outlook.com

Fields, ferry and food

**Join us on a night ride to Harris Park to share a meal.** This ride is for financial members of Bike Leichhardt Inc. only and their guests. We may be joined by some members of ASHBUG too. ***MUST HAVE GOOD LIGHTS.*** (No lights = no ride) Alternatively catch the train to Harris Park and meet at the restaurant. **FOR RIDERS -** gather on the Queen St. forecourt of CONCORD WEST station (eastern side with the shops) at 4.15 pm for a 4.30 pm start. If its raining, just catch the train to Harris Park to meet at the restaurant. Riders will leave Concord West heading east along 'The Drive' and through the fields of the Dame Edith Walker Estate, south along the Concord Foreshore trail and through a few back streets to the Mortlake vehicle ferry. (The ferry is free. Sunset is about 5pm. Last ferry at 6.15pm). We'll go across the Parramatta river to Putney Point. Up the hill and along a few streets then onto shared paths. past Meadowbank towards Parramatta. We'll take the path next to the light rail through Rose Hill to Asees Indian restaurant on Wigram St Harris Park. Aiming to arrive approx. 5.45 pm, stow our bikes and be seated about 6pm. It's a 20klm riverside meander with the ferry and a few hills at Putney Point. AFTER the meal you can catch the train home from Harris Park OR RIDE BACK. We'll retrace our steps along the north shore of the Parramatta river. You can catch a ferry at any of the wharves along the way. Remaining riders will go to Meadowbank and over the river, pass Rhodes station to finish at Concord West station via Bicentennial park. A 15 klm return journey. You'll need working lights. Bright or reflective clothing. It will be cool, so wear layers and warm gloves. Bring a spare tube, tools and pump to repair a flat tyre. Bring a torch too. FYI we can stow our bikes behind the restaurant. Bring a bike lock. Pay for your own meal and drinks. https://aseesharrispark.com.au/ RSVPs close Monday prior so we can finalise numbers. Please do not come if you are feeling unwell.

Mogo

Continuation of Circle Sydney

Segment Four - 7 June : Meadowbank to Clyne Reserve (Barangaroo) Take the 8.37 ferry from Circular Quay to Meadowbank arriving at 9.30. Alternatively, train from Redfern platform 4 at 7.40 AM. If on the train take the Bay Drive from the station towards the harbour (down hill). Check transport schedules beforehand please. Meet at the Meadowbank Ferry Terminal for a 9.35 start. This segment is 35 kms and relatively hilly. There are lots of toilets, water refill stations and food options up until the Lane Cove cafe at the causeway at the bottom of the hill, then there is nothing on the route until you arrive in Wollstonecraft. There are a couple of steep climbs . One is on Anzac Avenue in West Ryde/Deniston is a 11% climb with a steeper 12% section. The second one is the very long 11% climb out of Lane Cove up Fullers Road. The first safety issue is at the intersection of Station Street and Victoria Road near West Ryde Station. It’s a right turn and a buses only R turn. The Brooke Street Motorway underpass is awkward and slow. My thanks to Fran and Peter for detailing this segment. Watch for updates closer to the departure date.

Secret 2nd "GreenWay" to Brighton-Le-Sands!

On Saturday 6 June we're heading south via a wonderful corridor quietly announced in the shadows of the GreenWay opening! The M6 Active Transport Corridor stretches 4 kilometres from Kyeemagh to Monterey, wide, separated, and genuinely lovely. It's the kind of infrastructure that makes you wonder why we don't build everything like this. We'll also be passing through some of the Inner West's cycling infrastructure along the way: the quick-build route on Meeks Road, the Carrington Road cycleway, and the Botany Bay foreshore path. **We're closing this meetup page soon, to hear about future rides, join our mailing list here:** https://bikemarrickville.short.gy/MailingList Check out the route: https://ridewithgps.com/routes/54645516 Be sure to bring a functioning bike and your water. Info on the corridor: https://transportnsw.info/document/8525/M6-PROJECT-CYCLEWAY-MAP.pdf

Tempe to Cronulla Sunday morning ride.

WE ARE NOT POWERLESS  

Last June some of our members accompanied Muzafar Ali out of Sydney on his epic 4,000km Ride for Education fundraising ride from Maleny, Qld to Adelaide. (Short video of the ride here: [https://vimeo.com/1192453516](https://vimeo.com/1192453516) ) Muzafar’s film *We Are Not Powerless* is now finished and will be screened at Randwick Ritz cinema, followed by a Q&A with directors Jolyon Hoff and Muzafar. Their film tells the story of what can happen when a community refuses to give in and work together for hope, love, and education. We will ride from Pioneers Park, Leichhardt to Randwick to arrive in time for the 1.00 pm screening (finishes at 3 pm) Buy your ticket in advance from the website [wearenotpowerless.com.au](https://w7r4.engage.squarespace-mail.com/r?m=6a0ba8a6e4e23a10cee91407&u=https%3A%2F%2Fwearenotpowerless.com.au&w=65fe21b643328317b4d5a6d5&c=b_6a0ba3ea8c459265c0db8eae&l=en-US&s=zkW_8OD_e7A6Br5lKzQ1AnHd_6o%3D) or online from www.ritzcinemas.com.au **WEATHER**: IF RAINING you have 2 options \# One \- ride anyway \(as Muzafar did\); Bring wet weather gear #Two make your own way to Randwick Ritz, 45 St Paul's Street, Randwick and meet in Foyer **DISTANCE** 15 km (one way) Make your own way home, OR 30 km return to start with ride leader. **WHAT TO BRING :** Bike in good mechanical order, helmet, water, spare inner tube(s) and pump in case of puncture. Riders must be financial for this year. First time riders may have a trial ride with us before joining ($10 a year) - please contact ride leader before attending. **RIDE LEADER** : Laura 0439 901 613

Birchgrove and Balmain meander

Meet at Pioneers Memorial Park, Norton St Leichhardt at 8.30am for an 8.45am start to finish no later than 11am. A ride designed to get back to Pioneers Memorial Park by 11am for the WE ARE NOT POWERLESS ride. Check Meet Up for updates re rain, etc. We'll pedal along at a relaxed pace along the waterfront to Iron Cove bridge and onto Birchgrove Oval, across Balmain to the cruise ship terminal, meander along James Craig road, past Pyrmont Bay, along Whites Creek and up Hill St to finish at Bar Italia. Those joining Laura for the movie 'WE ARE NOT POWERLESS' at Randwick can continue 200 metres down Norton street back to Pioneers Memorial Park to join that ride. There will be a few substantial hills, about half the ride will be on streets so you need to be comfortable riding on narrow streets with traffic. Bring a bike in good condition, spare tube, tools and pump in case of a flat tyre. If feeling unwell please do not ride. If you can't attend please change your RSVP status as soon as poss. The weather has been changeable and cooler so bring wet weather gear and wear layers. This will be a sedate ride but challenging at times because of a few hills.

Kurnell Whale Spotting & The New-ish M6 Cycleway

Start/Finish: Holbeach Ave Carpark, Tempe Distance: Approx. 55km Grade: Medium, 20-22kmph average speed ​Join us for a scenic loop out to Kurnell, taking in a mix of brand-new infrastructure and classic coastal paths. ​We’ll departfrom the Holbeach Ave carpark area and head straight onto the new M6 cycleway, making our way down to Ramsgate for a quick "cheeky" coffee stop to fuel up. From there, we’ll hug the coastline through Dolls Point, cross the Taren Point Bridge, and roll through Woolooware. ​The main stretch takes us along Captain Cook Drive all the way to Kurnell. Since it’s June, we’ll be keeping a keen eye on the horizon for some whale spotting before settling in for lunch at the café. ​Our return leg will be a steady spin back on the roads, finishing up at Holbeach Ave. ​Route highlights: - ​Enjoy the newish M6 cycleway - ​Coastal views through Dolls Point - ​Whale watching at Kurnell - ​Social lunch break ​Please ensure your bike is in good working order, and bring a spare tube, water, and money for coffee and lunch. All communications regarding this ride will be handled on this MeetUp site. Check the comments section for any updates closer to the ride. Fyi - All St George BUG Rides can be found on the St George BUG website: https://www.stgeorgebug.org.au/calendar

VIVID Sydney

An evening ride to enjoy the 7.30 pm Vivid Sydney Drone Show *Star-bound* followed by *Laser Lightfall*, the inaugural Vivid Sydney choreographed Laser Show and a free hourly nightly tour-de-force over Cockle Bay. Followed by a short ride around Barangaroo to Hickson Road to view the Sydney Opera House where the sails will be lit up with a major new work, *Opera Mundi* by renowned French multimedia artist Yann Nguema, known for his mesmerising projections onto significant buildings around the world. Distance : 21 km at a medium pace START AND FINISH Pioneers Memorial Park, Leichhardt **WHAT TO BRING :** Bike in good mechanical order, helmet, water, spare inner tube(s) and pump in case of puncture. Cyclists MUST have **good quality working front and rear lights**. Bring warm clothing. Riders must be financial for this year. First time riders may have a trial ride with us before joining ($10 a year) - please contact ride leaders before attending. **RIDE LEADER** : Laura 0439 901 613/Michael Gill 0418 498 797 **WEATHER**: Ride will be cancelled if there is significant rain. Call Ride Leaders if unsure.

Bardwell Park to Summer Hill via Cup & Saucer Creek 10km easy

The Trolley Problem: Would you kill the fat man?

Chances are you've heard some version of this before, but it's worth revisiting. A runaway trolley is hurtling down the tracks toward five unsuspecting workers. You're standing on a footbridge above, and beside you is a large man. If you push him onto the tracks, his body will stop the trolley. He will die—but the five will live. Would you do it? What if pushing him saved a hundred people? This is no idle riddle. Our responses to this famous thought experiment (and many variants of it) reveal how we weigh consequences, rights, and intentions, and how our moral intuitions can clash with our moral reasoning. Moreover, these choices matter in the real world. From foreseeable risks to civilian lives in military action, to public‑health decisions about allocating scarce vaccines, to autonomous vehicles deciding who to save in a crash, trolley problems offer an accessible way to confront the hard edges of moral decision‑making in the modern age. Let's dive in. ***Primary Reading: [An Introduction to the Trolley Problem](https://1drv.ms/b/c/adb4f7488b2eef0a/IQCJWblmfROdQ57-BP0B6yCtAarIwZk1SPyFG157nZiDWN0?e=hjP4jO)*** (document prepared for this discussion) ***(Optional) Book: Would You Kill the Fat Man? The Trolley Problem and What Your Answer Tells Us About Right and Wrong (2014) by David Edmonds*** For this meetup, we’ve prepared a 40-page guide that introduces the Trolley Problem, its philosophical significance, and what neuroscience has learned from using it to study moral decision-making. The guide includes sixteen scenarios, each probing different aspects of moral thinking: How do we weigh consequences against rights? Does intention matter more than outcomes? Do personal relationships override impartial calculation? When is it acceptable to use one person to save many? These scenarios reveal the complexity of our moral intuitions and will form the heart of our discussion. Hopefully the prepared guide will leave you wanting more. If so, David Edmonds' *Would You Kill the Fat Man?* is a wonderful next step. Edmonds traces the fascinating history of the Trolley Problem, examines philosophers who've wrestled with it, and explains the competing moral frameworks with clarity and wit. It's highly readable and brings real depth to these abstract dilemmas—but it's entirely optional. The guide has everything you need for our discussion. As always, we strongly encourage you to do the reading before attending. This will enrich both your experience and our collective discussion. We’ve also put links below on further resources on the topic. So join us for a drink (and optional meal) at 6:30pm on Monday, 1st June, on the 2nd floor of the Keg & Brew Hotel in Surrey Hills (i.e. up two flights of stairs). The venue is conveniently located near Central Station and the Light Rail. We look forward to seeing you there! P.S. Please adjust your RSVP if you have indicated that you will come but are no longer able to do so. This is courteous to other people if there is a waitlist. \-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\- These are just optional links to consider. Feel free to pass on other useful links in the discussion section. **Videos** * A TED-Ed explainer on basic trolley problems: [Would you sacrifice one person to save five? (5 mins)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yg16u_bzjPE&t=1s) * Michael Sandel starts his famous Harvard justice lecture course with some trolley problems: [ Justice: What's The Right Thing To Do?](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kBdfcR-8hEY) * Podcast with David Edmonds, author of our book, on trolley problems: [Philosophy Bytes - Trolley Problems](https://philosophybites.com/podcast/david-edmonds-on-trolley-problems/) * Podcast with Prof Joshua Greene, a pioneer on applying neuroscience to the trolley problem: [Trolleyology with Dr Joshua Greene (1.22 hr)](https://www.alieward.com/ologies/trolleyology) * TED-Ed on self-driving car scenarios [The ethical dilemma of self-driving cars (4 mins)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ixIoDYVfKA0) * A real-life version of the trolley problem staged with unsuspecting participants!: [The trolley problem in real life (35 mins)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1sl5KJ69qiA&t=158s) * For fans of *The Good Place*, you’ll remember the ever-indecisive philosophy professor Chidi facing a real life trolley problem: [The Good Place – The Trolley Problem (3 mins)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DtRhrfhP5b4) * If you want to brush up on your utilitarianism and Kant’s categorical imperative, see these two Crash Course Philosophy videos: [Utilitarianism: Crash Course Philosophy (10 mins)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-a739VjqdSI) [Kant & Categorical Imperatives: Crash Course Philosophy (10 mins)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8bIys6JoEDw) **Written** * A nice easter egg for anyone who has read down the page this far (from the Utilitarianism.com website): [Would You Kill the Fat Man?](https://www.utilitarianism.com/trolley-problem.pdf) * Encyclopedia Entries: [Philopedia - The Trolley Problem](https://philopedia.org/arguments/the-trolley-problem/) [Wikipedia - The Trolley Problem](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trolley_problem) [Wikipedia - Dual Process Theory](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dual_process_theory) [Britannica - The Trolley Problem](https://www.britannica.com/topic/trolley-problem) * A Conversation piece on AI systems and trolley problems [The self‑driving trolley problem](https://theconversation.com/the-self-driving-trolley-problem-how-will-future-ai-systems-make-the-most-ethical-choices-for-all-of-us-170961) * If you want to play with some moral dilemmas in autonomous vehicle crash scenarios and see how your choices compare globally: [Moral Machine - Moral Decisions and Machine Intelligence](https://www.moralmachine.net/)