Cycling in Melbourne
Encyclopedia
Cycling
in Melbourne
, Victoria
is common on the roads and paths for recreation
, commuting
and as a sport
. However it is not one of the popular modes of transportation despite an extensive network of bicycle paths and some designated bicycle lanes on roads. There is an active cycling culture enhanced by a relatively flat topography
, and a generally mild climate
.
Cycling in Melbourne was a very popular form of transport at the turn of the 19th Century, however overall bicycle use went into steady decline with introduction of helmet legislation in the 1990s having a significant negative effect on its popularity. In recent years, the popularity of cycling for health
, fitness
, and as a non-polluting alternative to the automobile is increasing in Melbourne. Use of bicycles for transport as cycling still accounts for around 2% of trips in Melbourne.
Cyclists are often maligned and seen as an annoyance by many people in Melbourne. Victorian government policy has begun to favour bicycle-friendly
projects, however a ban of bicycles on trains during peak travel periods in 2008 was introduced only to be rescinded a few months later after an outcry from bicycle users.
There has been some recovery in the Central Business District of the City of Melbourne
(population appx 70K) where figures put cycling at 8% of all peak-hour (7am-10am) commuter traffic. Planning for improvements to CBD bicycles routes and other major arterial routes is underway. The projects, including a bicycle hire system, similar to Vélib'
in Paris, commenced in June 2010.
During the 1890s cycle races like the Austral Wheel Race
, and later the Melbourne to Warrnambool Classic
, were very popular forms of entertainment drawing crowds of many thousands. Cycling was also an exciting new option for transport
taken up eagerly by many people. The craze for cycling in the 1890s is portrayed in the poem Mulga Bill's Bicycle
by Australian poet Banjo Patterson, and many other ballads from the time.
For women, cycling provided the opportunity of more freedom and being able to wear less restrictive clothing, or rational dress. The First Victorian Women’s Road Race occurred in Melbourne on Saturday 16 May 1896 on an 11-mile hilly course through the northern suburbs of Northcote, Heidelberg, Ivanhoe, Alphington and Clifton Hill.
Cycling provided an enduring activity for ordinary Melburnians until falling automobile
prices and growing consumer affluence saw increasing numbers switch over to the car in the 1940s and 1950s.
, is one of Australia's oldest cycling clubs. It was established as a social club in March 1896 by members of the St. Paul's church choir on Sydney Road
. Members quickly found themselves participating in all levels of cycle sport. Many cyclists from the Coburg club rose to prominence including Iddo 'Snowy' Munro, Ernie Bainbridge, Richard 'Fatty' Lamb, Richard 'Dick' Ploog (1956 Olympian
).
Victoria has produced many cycling athletes of world renown. Sir Hubert Opperman
, "Oppy" (1904–1996), is perhaps the most well known and internationally recognised Australian cyclist of the 1920s and 1930s. As an Australian sportsman, his feats in cycling
are compared with Sir Donald Bradman
in cricket
. He set the 24-hour road distance record of 505.75 miles (813.9 km) in 1939; the track record for 24 hours covering 489.3 miles (787.5 km) in 1940. He won the 1928 Bol D'or 24 hour race
and the Paris–Brest–Paris 1200 km marathon in 1931 in record time of 49 hours 23 minutes. Many of his long distance records stood for many years. In France
and Australia
he was feted as a sporting hero, with thousands attending a parade in his honour in Melbourne
1928.
Post World War II
, Geelong cyclist, Russell Mockridge
, was widely described as "Australia's greatest all-round cyclist for all time". Due to his upper class accent he was initially dubbed Little Lord Fauntleroy
, however his race wins soon earned him the nickname of The Geelong Flyer. Tragically, he was killed by a bus in 1958 participating in the 225 km Tour of Gippsland. He was just 2.1 miles (3.4 km) from the start of the race at the Dandenong Rd / Clayton Rd intersection in Melbourne
.
Cycle racing continues to be popular in Melbourne with the Herald Sun Tour
, since 1952, bringing professional cyclists from around the world for a multi-stage race around regional Victoria and Melbourne. More than 9,000 cyclists and triathletes, including many elite riders, use Beach Road and the Nepean Highway
from Black Rock
to Mount Eliza
on a typical weekend. Each Saturday morning the Hell Ride
, a large bunch ride leaves from Black Rock at 7am. It can contain up to 200 cyclists in summer months with speeds up to 60 km/h. The Hell Ride is a politically contentious topic both amongst Melbourne cyclists and the broader community; most formal cycling organizations discourage their riders from participating, including Cycle Sport Victoria.
A large number of local cycling clubs organize amateur-level racing, with criterium
s mostly held in the summer and the road racing season in the winter months.
Long distance cycle travelling was a fact of life in the 1890s for many sheep shearer
s and other agricultural labourers with migratory work. The bicycle and swag conquered much of Australia on dusty dirt tracks, long before the automobile made its appearance. In the main, however, long distance cycling was a sport of endurance or was done out of necessity.
Up until the 1940s the bicycle was an important commuter vehicle for many Melbourne people.
Post war affluence saw a decline in cycle commuting, and the bicycle was largely relegated to a children's activity or for sporting or recreational use.
It was not until the 1970s that cycle commuting and cycle touring started being widely promoted and used again. In Melbourne cycle commuting and touring was stimulated by a number of factors:
In 1993 Bicycle Victoria launched the 210 km Around the Bay in a Day
ride around Port Phillip
, held in October, which in 2006 attracted more than 14,000 participants.
In recent years Bicycle Victoria
has run regular Ride to Work
and Ride to School days to stimulate, with some success, cycle commuting. This is assisted by the formation of many workplace Bicycle User Groups (BUGS). The Royal Automobile Club of Victoria (RACV) in 2004 introduced a Bike Assist membership option, to assist cyclists with punctures or basic repairs. The success of Ride to Work Day has since seen it become a national event.
In November 1995 the first Melbourne Critical Mass
was held. This has become a popular regular event with cyclists meeting in front of the State Library of Victoria
at 5.30pm on the last Friday of every month to ride around the city in safety as one mass. They are accompanied on a regular basis by the Police Bicycle Squad. Generally the police do not interfere in the event but act to facilitate its smooth movement to reduce any obstruction and to calm the antagonism of some car drivers.
and the US firm Alta Bicycle Share, which runs bicycle share systems in four North American cities.
The 2010 Transport Integration Act
sets a policy framework for creating a more integrated and sustainable transport system for Victoria including Melbourne and contains features which support improved conditions for cyclists. For example, the Act charges the state road agency, VicRoads
, with managing the "...road system in a manner which supports a sustainable Victoria by seeking to increase the share of public transport, walking and cycling trips as a proportion of all transport trips in Victoria..."
Cycling
Cycling, also called bicycling or biking, is the use of bicycles for transport, recreation, or for sport. Persons engaged in cycling are cyclists or bicyclists...
in Melbourne
Melbourne
Melbourne is the capital and most populous city in the state of Victoria, and the second most populous city in Australia. The Melbourne City Centre is the hub of the greater metropolitan area and the Census statistical division—of which "Melbourne" is the common name. As of June 2009, the greater...
, Victoria
Victoria (Australia)
Victoria is the second most populous state in Australia. Geographically the smallest mainland state, Victoria is bordered by New South Wales, South Australia, and Tasmania on Boundary Islet to the north, west and south respectively....
is common on the roads and paths for recreation
Recreation
Recreation is an activity of leisure, leisure being discretionary time. The "need to do something for recreation" is an essential element of human biology and psychology. Recreational activities are often done for enjoyment, amusement, or pleasure and are considered to be "fun"...
, commuting
Commuting
Commuting is regular travel between one's place of residence and place of work or full time study. It sometimes refers to any regular or often repeated traveling between locations when not work related.- History :...
and as a sport
Sport
A Sport is all forms of physical activity which, through casual or organised participation, aim to use, maintain or improve physical fitness and provide entertainment to participants. Sport may be competitive, where a winner or winners can be identified by objective means, and may require a degree...
. However it is not one of the popular modes of transportation despite an extensive network of bicycle paths and some designated bicycle lanes on roads. There is an active cycling culture enhanced by a relatively flat topography
Topography
Topography is the study of Earth's surface shape and features or those ofplanets, moons, and asteroids...
, and a generally mild climate
Climate
Climate encompasses the statistics of temperature, humidity, atmospheric pressure, wind, rainfall, atmospheric particle count and other meteorological elemental measurements in a given region over long periods...
.
Cycling in Melbourne was a very popular form of transport at the turn of the 19th Century, however overall bicycle use went into steady decline with introduction of helmet legislation in the 1990s having a significant negative effect on its popularity. In recent years, the popularity of cycling for health
Health
Health is the level of functional or metabolic efficiency of a living being. In humans, it is the general condition of a person's mind, body and spirit, usually meaning to be free from illness, injury or pain...
, fitness
Physical fitness
Physical fitness comprises two related concepts: general fitness , and specific fitness...
, and as a non-polluting alternative to the automobile is increasing in Melbourne. Use of bicycles for transport as cycling still accounts for around 2% of trips in Melbourne.
Cyclists are often maligned and seen as an annoyance by many people in Melbourne. Victorian government policy has begun to favour bicycle-friendly
Bicycle-friendly
The term bicycle-friendly describes policies and practices which may help some people feel more comfortable about traveling by bicycle with other traffic...
projects, however a ban of bicycles on trains during peak travel periods in 2008 was introduced only to be rescinded a few months later after an outcry from bicycle users.
There has been some recovery in the Central Business District of the City of Melbourne
City of Melbourne
The City of Melbourne is a Local Government Area in Victoria, Australia, located in the central city area of Melbourne. The city has an area of 36 square kilometres and has an estimated population of 93,105 people. The city's motto is "Vires acquirit eundo" which means "She gathers strength as she...
(population appx 70K) where figures put cycling at 8% of all peak-hour (7am-10am) commuter traffic. Planning for improvements to CBD bicycles routes and other major arterial routes is underway. The projects, including a bicycle hire system, similar to Vélib'
Vélib'
' is a large-scale public bicycle sharing system in Paris, France. Launched on 15 July 2007, the system has expanded to encompass over 20,000 bicycles and 1,202 bicycle stations, located across Paris and in some surrounding municipalities...
in Paris, commenced in June 2010.
History
Austral Wheel Race
The Austral Wheel Race is the oldest track bicycle race in the world still existing, stretching back to 1887. The Austral race is Australia’s greatest track cycling event. It is held in Melbourne, riders assigned handicaps according to ability over a series of heats. The finals are run over...
, and later the Melbourne to Warrnambool Classic
Melbourne to Warrnambool Classic
The Melbourne to Warrnambool Classic cycling race is a one day road bicycle race . The race started in 1895 and is Australia's oldest one day race and the world's second oldest one day race, after the Liège–Bastogne–Liège Classic. Historically, the route started in central Melbourne and followed...
, were very popular forms of entertainment drawing crowds of many thousands. Cycling was also an exciting new option for transport
Transport
Transport or transportation is the movement of people, cattle, animals and goods from one location to another. Modes of transport include air, rail, road, water, cable, pipeline, and space. The field can be divided into infrastructure, vehicles, and operations...
taken up eagerly by many people. The craze for cycling in the 1890s is portrayed in the poem Mulga Bill's Bicycle
Mulga Bill's Bicycle
"Mulga Bill's Bicycle" is a poem written in 1896 by Banjo Paterson.The poem is a ballad. Each line is a fourteener, having fourteen syllables and seven iambic feet....
by Australian poet Banjo Patterson, and many other ballads from the time.
For women, cycling provided the opportunity of more freedom and being able to wear less restrictive clothing, or rational dress. The First Victorian Women’s Road Race occurred in Melbourne on Saturday 16 May 1896 on an 11-mile hilly course through the northern suburbs of Northcote, Heidelberg, Ivanhoe, Alphington and Clifton Hill.
Cycling provided an enduring activity for ordinary Melburnians until falling automobile
Automobile
An automobile, autocar, motor car or car is a wheeled motor vehicle used for transporting passengers, which also carries its own engine or motor...
prices and growing consumer affluence saw increasing numbers switch over to the car in the 1940s and 1950s.
Cycling as a sport
Coburg Cycling Club, based in the Melbourne northern suburb of CoburgCoburg, Victoria
Coburg is a suburb in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 8 km north from Melbourne's central business district. Its Local Government Area is the City of Moreland, although a handful of properties on Coburg's Eastern boundary are located in the City of Darebin...
, is one of Australia's oldest cycling clubs. It was established as a social club in March 1896 by members of the St. Paul's church choir on Sydney Road
Sydney Road, Melbourne
Sydney Road is a major urban arterial in the northern suburbs of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.-Geography:...
. Members quickly found themselves participating in all levels of cycle sport. Many cyclists from the Coburg club rose to prominence including Iddo 'Snowy' Munro, Ernie Bainbridge, Richard 'Fatty' Lamb, Richard 'Dick' Ploog (1956 Olympian
1956 Summer Olympics
The 1956 Melbourne Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XVI Olympiad, were an international multi-sport event which was held in Melbourne, Australia, in 1956, with the exception of the equestrian events, which could not be held in Australia due to quarantine regulations...
).
Victoria has produced many cycling athletes of world renown. Sir Hubert Opperman
Hubert Opperman
Sir Hubert Ferdinand Opperman, OBE , referred to as Oppy by Australian and French crowds, was an Australian cyclist and politician, whose endurance cycling feats in the 1920s and 1930s earned him international acclaim....
, "Oppy" (1904–1996), is perhaps the most well known and internationally recognised Australian cyclist of the 1920s and 1930s. As an Australian sportsman, his feats in cycling
Cycling
Cycling, also called bicycling or biking, is the use of bicycles for transport, recreation, or for sport. Persons engaged in cycling are cyclists or bicyclists...
are compared with Sir Donald Bradman
Donald Bradman
Sir Donald George Bradman, AC , often referred to as "The Don", was an Australian cricketer, widely acknowledged as the greatest batsman of all time...
in cricket
Cricket
Cricket is a bat-and-ball game played between two teams of 11 players on an oval-shaped field, at the centre of which is a rectangular 22-yard long pitch. One team bats, trying to score as many runs as possible while the other team bowls and fields, trying to dismiss the batsmen and thus limit the...
. He set the 24-hour road distance record of 505.75 miles (813.9 km) in 1939; the track record for 24 hours covering 489.3 miles (787.5 km) in 1940. He won the 1928 Bol D'or 24 hour race
Bol d'Or cycle race
The Bol d'Or was a bicycle track race that ran in France between 1894 and 1950. It was a paced, 24 hour endurance event. It has been won by several notable cyclists including Constant Huret , the Australian Hubert Opperman and three time hour record breaker Oscar Egg...
and the Paris–Brest–Paris 1200 km marathon in 1931 in record time of 49 hours 23 minutes. Many of his long distance records stood for many years. In France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
and Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
he was feted as a sporting hero, with thousands attending a parade in his honour in Melbourne
Melbourne
Melbourne is the capital and most populous city in the state of Victoria, and the second most populous city in Australia. The Melbourne City Centre is the hub of the greater metropolitan area and the Census statistical division—of which "Melbourne" is the common name. As of June 2009, the greater...
1928.
Post World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, Geelong cyclist, Russell Mockridge
Russell Mockridge
Russell Mockridge was a racing cyclist from Geelong, Victoria, Australia. He died during a race, in collision with a bus....
, was widely described as "Australia's greatest all-round cyclist for all time". Due to his upper class accent he was initially dubbed Little Lord Fauntleroy
Little Lord Fauntleroy
Little Lord Fauntleroy is the first children's novel written by English playwright and author Frances Hodgson Burnett. It was originally published as a serial in the St. Nicholas Magazine between November 1885 and October 1886, then as a book by Scribner's in 1886...
, however his race wins soon earned him the nickname of The Geelong Flyer. Tragically, he was killed by a bus in 1958 participating in the 225 km Tour of Gippsland. He was just 2.1 miles (3.4 km) from the start of the race at the Dandenong Rd / Clayton Rd intersection in Melbourne
Melbourne
Melbourne is the capital and most populous city in the state of Victoria, and the second most populous city in Australia. The Melbourne City Centre is the hub of the greater metropolitan area and the Census statistical division—of which "Melbourne" is the common name. As of June 2009, the greater...
.
Cycle racing continues to be popular in Melbourne with the Herald Sun Tour
Herald Sun Tour
The Herald Sun Tour is an Australian professional bicycle race held in Melbourne and provincial Victoria sanctioned by the Union Cycliste Internationale . The first tour was held in October 1952 as a six day event and it is held annually in October. It is named after the Herald Sun, Melbourne's...
, since 1952, bringing professional cyclists from around the world for a multi-stage race around regional Victoria and Melbourne. More than 9,000 cyclists and triathletes, including many elite riders, use Beach Road and the Nepean Highway
Nepean Highway
Nepean Highway runs south from the centre of Melbourne in Victoria, Australia to Portsea, along the eastern shore of Port Phillip. It is the primary road route to central Melbourne from Melbourne's southern suburbs.- History :...
from Black Rock
Black Rock, Victoria
Black Rock is a suburb in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 18 km south-east from Melbourne's central business district. Its Local Government Area is the City of Bayside. At the 2006 Census, Black Rock had a population of 5796.-History:...
to Mount Eliza
Mount Eliza, Victoria
Mount Eliza is an outer suburb south-east of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. It is in the Local Government Area of the Shire of Mornington Peninsula...
on a typical weekend. Each Saturday morning the Hell Ride
Hell Ride, Melbourne
The Hell Ride is an informal training ride that follows the coastline of Port Phillip Bay through the south–eastern suburbs of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia...
, a large bunch ride leaves from Black Rock at 7am. It can contain up to 200 cyclists in summer months with speeds up to 60 km/h. The Hell Ride is a politically contentious topic both amongst Melbourne cyclists and the broader community; most formal cycling organizations discourage their riders from participating, including Cycle Sport Victoria.
A large number of local cycling clubs organize amateur-level racing, with criterium
Criterium
A criterium, or crit, is a bike race held on a short course , often run on closed-off city center streets....
s mostly held in the summer and the road racing season in the winter months.
Cycle touring and commuting
Sheep shearer
A sheep shearer is a worker who uses -blade or machine shears to remove wool from domestic sheep during crutching or shearing.-History:...
s and other agricultural labourers with migratory work. The bicycle and swag conquered much of Australia on dusty dirt tracks, long before the automobile made its appearance. In the main, however, long distance cycling was a sport of endurance or was done out of necessity.
Up until the 1940s the bicycle was an important commuter vehicle for many Melbourne people.
Post war affluence saw a decline in cycle commuting, and the bicycle was largely relegated to a children's activity or for sporting or recreational use.
It was not until the 1970s that cycle commuting and cycle touring started being widely promoted and used again. In Melbourne cycle commuting and touring was stimulated by a number of factors:
- The establishment of the Melbourne Bicycle Touring Club (MBTC) in October 1973. The Club aimed to promote cycle touring and a healthy, active lifestyle. The club has a fundamental commitment to public transportPublic transportPublic transport is a shared passenger transportation service which is available for use by the general public, as distinct from modes such as taxicab, car pooling or hired buses which are not shared by strangers without private arrangement.Public transport modes include buses, trolleybuses, trams...
making extensive use of country and suburban trains to get to and from the rides it runs. - The Bicycle Institute of Victoria (now known as Bicycle VictoriaBicycle VictoriaBicycle Network Victoria is a community-based not-for-profit organisation, one of the largest cycling membership organisations in the world , whose mission is to get More People Cycling More Often. The name was changed from Bicycle Victoria to Bicycle Network Victoria in July 2011...
) started in 1975, as a broad appeal membership organisation to campaign for improved facilities and recognition of cyclists. By July 2004 it had grown to 40,000 members. Its first Great Victorian Bike Ride was organised in 1984 with 2,100 participants, commonly regarded as the largest single touring bike ride in the world at that time. - Innovative supported tours by Friends of the EarthFriends of the EarthFriends of the Earth International is an international network of environmental organizations in 76 countries.FOEI is assisted by a small secretariat which provides support for the network and its agreed major campaigns...
to CanberraCanberraCanberra is the capital city of Australia. With a population of over 345,000, it is Australia's largest inland city and the eighth-largest city overall. The city is located at the northern end of the Australian Capital Territory , south-west of Sydney, and north-east of Melbourne...
to protest uraniumUraniumUranium is a silvery-white metallic chemical element in the actinide series of the periodic table, with atomic number 92. It is assigned the chemical symbol U. A uranium atom has 92 protons and 92 electrons, of which 6 are valence electrons...
miningMiningMining is the extraction of valuable minerals or other geological materials from the earth, from an ore body, vein or seam. The term also includes the removal of soil. Materials recovered by mining include base metals, precious metals, iron, uranium, coal, diamonds, limestone, oil shale, rock...
- the FoE Rides Against Uranium - in 1975, 1976, and 1977. - Australia's first bicycle plan instituted in the late 1970s in Geelong.
- Growing general environmental awareness of pollutionPollutionPollution is the introduction of contaminants into a natural environment that causes instability, disorder, harm or discomfort to the ecosystem i.e. physical systems or living organisms. Pollution can take the form of chemical substances or energy, such as noise, heat or light...
, negative impact of automobiles, and protest at the construction of inner city freeways - The first triple crank, or granny gears, started being sold. Ron Shephard, an engineer and founding member of the MBTC and Bicycle Victoria relentlessly promoted use of triple cranks to promote cycle touring among a wider audience.
- The Westgate Punt service across the Yarra River for cyclists and pedestrians operates on Weekends, Public Holidays and special days. It operated on weekdays on a two-month trial in 2006 paid for by local councils and the Government, but the trial ended through lack of funding.
In 1993 Bicycle Victoria launched the 210 km Around the Bay in a Day
Around the Bay in a Day
Around the Bay in a Day is a recreational cycling event organised by Bicycle Victoria in Victoria, Australia. Cyclists register to ride a 210 km course starting and ending in Melbourne around Port Phillip, either clockwise or anti-clockwise, catching the ferry between Queenscliff and...
ride around Port Phillip
Port Phillip
Port Phillip Port Phillip Port Phillip (also commonly referred to as Port Phillip Bay or (locally) just The Bay, is a large bay in southern Victoria, Australia; it is the location of Melbourne. Geographically, the bay covers and the shore stretches roughly . Although it is extremely shallow for...
, held in October, which in 2006 attracted more than 14,000 participants.
In recent years Bicycle Victoria
Bicycle Victoria
Bicycle Network Victoria is a community-based not-for-profit organisation, one of the largest cycling membership organisations in the world , whose mission is to get More People Cycling More Often. The name was changed from Bicycle Victoria to Bicycle Network Victoria in July 2011...
has run regular Ride to Work
Ride to Work Day (Melbourne)
National Ride to Work Day is an annual event run in conjunction with Australian State and Territory Bicycle Organisations held during October.The event encourages commuters to bicycle to work which was first held in 1994 in Melbourne with 615 cyclists...
and Ride to School days to stimulate, with some success, cycle commuting. This is assisted by the formation of many workplace Bicycle User Groups (BUGS). The Royal Automobile Club of Victoria (RACV) in 2004 introduced a Bike Assist membership option, to assist cyclists with punctures or basic repairs. The success of Ride to Work Day has since seen it become a national event.
In November 1995 the first Melbourne Critical Mass
Melbourne Critical Mass
Critical Mass Melbourne is an informal grass roots random collection of people that gather to take part in the month's critical mass event. See Critical Mass world wide for the aims of the dis-organisation. The rides in Melbourne began in November 1995, and have occurred every month since, with...
was held. This has become a popular regular event with cyclists meeting in front of the State Library of Victoria
State Library of Victoria
The State Library of Victoria is the central library of the state of Victoria, Australia, located in Melbourne. It is on the block bounded by Swanston, La Trobe, Russell, and Little Lonsdale streets, in the northern centre of the central business district...
at 5.30pm on the last Friday of every month to ride around the city in safety as one mass. They are accompanied on a regular basis by the Police Bicycle Squad. Generally the police do not interfere in the event but act to facilitate its smooth movement to reduce any obstruction and to calm the antagonism of some car drivers.
Melbourne's cycling network
For the most part, bicycles ride on the road with cars; some have bike lanes, most don't. There are bike paths all over Melbourne, and often you can use them for part of your journey. Paths are often more scenic, but are frequently shared with pedestrians. Very occasionally pavements will be shared with pedestrians but check signage carefully.Public bicycle sharing system
On 31 May 2010 the first public bicycle sharing system in Australia was launched in Melbourne. It is also the world's first bicycle share scheme in a city with compulsory helmet laws. On completion the system will consist of 50 docking stations with 600 bikes, situated around the Melbourne CBD. The total cost is estimated at $5.5 million over four years. The system is operated by the Royal Automobile Club of VictoriaRoyal Automobile Club of Victoria
The Royal Automobile Club of Victoria is a motoring club and mutual organisation, providing services such as roadside assistance, vehicle, home and contents insurance, personal and car loans, driving instruction, tourism services and home security products.The RACV runs a lifestyle club known as...
and the US firm Alta Bicycle Share, which runs bicycle share systems in four North American cities.
Cycling rules and regulations
Cyclists have the same rights and responsibilities as other road users, but some specific rules also apply so it is best to review these before setting out.Public transport
It is free to carry bicycles on public transport in Melbourne but only folding bikes (folded and in a bag) are allowed on metropolitan trams and buses and country bus & V/Line coaches.Cycling equipment
Wearing of a helmet at all times, and suitable lighting at night are enforced by law. It's also best to take other precautionary methods such as wearing light coloured clothing or reflective panels to increase your visibility and safety.Effects of cycle helmet legislation
As with other Australian states, Victoria's 1990 compulsory cycle helmet legislation had a strong negative impact on cycling in Melbourne. Surveys carried out at the same 64 observation sites in May 1990 and May 1991 detected 29% fewer adults and 42% fewer child cyclists, with an overall reduction in cyclists of 36%. Further falls were recorded to May/June 1992, with teenage cycling reportedly showing a 46% decrease from pre-law levels. The limited injury reductions recorded among Melbourne cyclists did not match the actual decline in cycling. This has led some experts to the conclusion that the law has actually resulted in increased rates of injury among Melbourne's cyclists. The law has also reportedly resulted in significant police efforts against cyclists. As of 2003, Victoria Police were still issuing around 20,000 Bicycle Offence Penalty Notices a year. Since the law, cycling in Melbourne has never been able to recover its previous share of the transport split. In 1985-6, 3.4% of trips in Melbourne were by bicycle, recent 2004 data shows a decline to 2.0%. The experience of Melbourne's cyclists has given added impetus to the efforts of cyclists in Europe and elsewhere to resist, or repeal, such helmet laws.Bicycle parking and theft
Official rules regarding bicycle parking appear to state that bicycles should only be parked in supplied cages or parking rails. In practice these facilities are not always available and affixing the bike to street poles is common and does not seem to be penalised. Bicycle theft is a problem in Melbourne and it is best to invest in a strong D-lock or hefty chain lock to protect your vehicle. Always lock the bicycle whenever it is unattended, including at home if the bicycle is kept outside. Further tips on protecting bicycles from theft can be found on the Bicycle Victoria website.Transport Integration Act
Policy and legislation affecting cycling in Melbourne is increasingly directing state government agencies to recognise cycling as a mainstream transport mode which offers significant sustainability and health benefits.The 2010 Transport Integration Act
Transport Integration Act
The Transport Integration Act 2010 is a law enacted by the Parliament of the State of Victoria, Australia. The Act is the prime transport statute in Victoria, having replaced major parts of the former Transport Act 1983....
sets a policy framework for creating a more integrated and sustainable transport system for Victoria including Melbourne and contains features which support improved conditions for cyclists. For example, the Act charges the state road agency, VicRoads
VicRoads
VicRoads or the Roads Corporation of Victoria is a statutory corporation which is the state road and traffic authority in the state of Victoria, Australia. It is responsible for maintenance and construction of the state arterial road network, as well as driver licensing and vehicle registration. ...
, with managing the "...road system in a manner which supports a sustainable Victoria by seeking to increase the share of public transport, walking and cycling trips as a proportion of all transport trips in Victoria..."
Annual bicycle events
- Around the Bay in a DayAround the Bay in a DayAround the Bay in a Day is a recreational cycling event organised by Bicycle Victoria in Victoria, Australia. Cyclists register to ride a 210 km course starting and ending in Melbourne around Port Phillip, either clockwise or anti-clockwise, catching the ferry between Queenscliff and...
- Melbourne Cycling Festival
- Ride to Work DayRide to Work Day (Melbourne)National Ride to Work Day is an annual event run in conjunction with Australian State and Territory Bicycle Organisations held during October.The event encourages commuters to bicycle to work which was first held in 1994 in Melbourne with 615 cyclists...
- 14 October 2009
Bicycle organisations and groups
- Bicycle VictoriaBicycle VictoriaBicycle Network Victoria is a community-based not-for-profit organisation, one of the largest cycling membership organisations in the world , whose mission is to get More People Cycling More Often. The name was changed from Bicycle Victoria to Bicycle Network Victoria in July 2011...
(BV) is a self-funded community organisation, owned collectively by all of its members. BV works to build more cycling infrastructure, organises their popular "Great Rides", co-ordinates programs such as Ride to Work and Ride2School and provide practical and legal information to achieve their aim of "More People Cycling More Often". Members receive benefits, including bike crash insurance, Ride On a bi-monthly full-colour magazine, and specials deals with various businesses. - Melbourne Critical MassMelbourne Critical MassCritical Mass Melbourne is an informal grass roots random collection of people that gather to take part in the month's critical mass event. See Critical Mass world wide for the aims of the dis-organisation. The rides in Melbourne began in November 1995, and have occurred every month since, with...
- There are many Bicycle User GroupBicycle User GroupA Bicycle User Group is a group set up to promote cycling issues in, for example, a place of employment or a local government area...
s (BUGs) around the city usually associated with the local government area or other locality; check with a local council or on Bicycle Victoria's page for details. - CERESCERES Community Environment ParkThe CERES Community Environment Park, or Centre for Education and Research in Environmental Strategies, is an award-winning urban environmental centre located in urban Brunswick East, Victoria, Australia...
teach bike maintenance. - Bikefun is a ride listing and organising service characterised by social, fun rides at a moderate pace often involving food and drink, with most people wearing ordinary street clothes. Rides organised include Full Moon rides, pub crawls, dinner rides, beach rides (in summer) etc. bikefun calendar
- Melbourne City Cyclist is an advocacy website for cycling in the City of Melbourne
- Bonza Bike Tours provides guided bicycle tours, as well as bicycle hire and bike rentals
See also
- Cycling in VictoriaCycling in VictoriaCycling in the Australian state of Victoria is a popular pastime, sport and way of getting around since at least 1896, as indicated by a poem by Banjo Paterson: Mulga Bill's Bicycle....
- Bicycle VictoriaBicycle VictoriaBicycle Network Victoria is a community-based not-for-profit organisation, one of the largest cycling membership organisations in the world , whose mission is to get More People Cycling More Often. The name was changed from Bicycle Victoria to Bicycle Network Victoria in July 2011...
- Cycling in AustraliaCycling in AustraliaCycling in Australia is a common form of recreation. For the past 10 years, Australians have purchased more bicycles than cars -National Bodies:* Audax Australia, long distance road cycling...
- Bicycle sharing system#Australia
- Modal shareModal shareModal share, Mode split or Modal split, is a traffic / transport term that describes the number of trips or percentage of travelers using a particular type of transportation....
Government sites
- Bicycle and pedestrian information at VicRoadsVicRoadsVicRoads or the Roads Corporation of Victoria is a statutory corporation which is the state road and traffic authority in the state of Victoria, Australia. It is responsible for maintenance and construction of the state arterial road network, as well as driver licensing and vehicle registration. ...
- TravelSmart is a Victorian Government body which aims to reduce people's dependency on cars and encourages them to choose sustainable travel alternatives such as cycling, walking and public transport. They publish maps of the city detailing bike paths, bike lanes and suggested cycling routes.
- Victorian Cycling Strategy - Department of Transport overview
- NSW Bike Plan - Bicycle Information for New South Wales
Non-government sites
- Open Cycle Map and other maps combined
- Bike paths guide
- Melbourne Bicycle Touring Club
- Melbourne bike routes @ bikely.com
- Bicycles Network Australia - cycling discussion forums
- Westgate Punt at onlymelbourne.com.au
- The BikeShed at CERES - The BikeShed is a volunteer on-site group at CERESCERES Community Environment ParkThe CERES Community Environment Park, or Centre for Education and Research in Environmental Strategies, is an award-winning urban environmental centre located in urban Brunswick East, Victoria, Australia...
in the Melbourne suburb of Brunswick East. The BikeShed's aim is to promote cycling in the local community by teaching people how to fix their own bikes. They also sell 2nd-hand bikes which they have repaired. - The Urbanbicyclist project produces the City Rider Guide, t-shirts, stickers & buttons and a monthly email newsletter with tips and event information.
- Where to Ride Melbourne cycling guide books