Cycle

Cycling in Port Phillip will get you where you want to go, often faster than other modes of transport.

Port Phillip's geographic location combined with better-than-average bicycle facilities and typically low journey-to-work travel distances makes cycling an attractive, healthy and environmentally friendly form of transport. The city has an extensive on- and off-road bicycle network connecting the majority of areas within the municipality. There are approximately 49 kilometres of existing on-road routes and 14.5 kilometres of existing off-road routes, not including Albert Park.

 

Top cycling tips

 

Wear the right gear. Always wear a bike helmet and adequate shoes (and socks if necessary); coming off your bike can be nasty business for the head and skin. Always wear a fluorescent cycle jacket or cycle safety strips on busy routes so you are visible to other road users.

Check the bike before riding. Before setting off on any journey, however short, check that your brakes, safety lights and bell work and your tyres are adequately inflated.

Fit the bike right. The most essential and practical fittings for your bicycle include:

  • safety lights (front and back red flashing lights to make you visible to traffic),
  • a bicycle lock (u-locks are a great option),
  • a receptacle for your water bottle,
  • a pannier bag (bicycle saddle bag) or basket to carry items, and
  • a portable emergency bicycle repair kit.

Cycle safely. Stop and check traffic before riding into a street. Obey all road rules including traffic and tram signals; a bicycle is a road vehicle and treated as such. Ride on bicycle lanes where available. Be extra careful turning left and always indicate early, as motorists generally don't expect it. Give cars and pedestrians the right-of-way. Avoid broken pavement, loose gravel, wet leaves and dips which can cause you to lose control of your bike and skid off the road.

Night-cycle safely. In addition to using safety lights, wear a light-coloured jacket or top and fluorescent strips to ensure you are visible to motorists. Use an LED (light emitting diode) light to illuminate the path ahead of you. Also consider an LED helmet light to make you more visible and assist your night-riding needs.

Look for opening car doors and cars joining traffic.  Parked cars with drivers about to disembark or pull out on to the road should be a primary concern to look out for when cycling. Keep alert, slow down and use your bell to let parked cars with drivers know you are approaching.

Join a BUG.  The Port Phillip Bicycle User Group needs as many interested cyclists as possible to help create the ideal cycling environment. To find out more, contact Eytan Lenko at portphillipbug@gmail.com.

TravelSmart offers an excellent service for keeping track of how far you're cycling. CycleSmart is a website where you can log your kilometres, get information and advice about cycling and receive encouragement through their regular emails. Check out the CycleSmart website to register and start keeping a track on how many km's you've been clocking up!

RiderLog is a free iphone app made by Bicycle Network Victoria. The app allows you to track where, how far, and how fast you ride. The default setting is anonymous, although you can choose to share some information about yourself if you like- it will help us to plan the best possible bike networks.

Keep fresh. Cycling can be warm work. Carry some deodorant in your bag and freshen up once you are at your destination, whatever the season. Also consider using cycling gear, then showering and changing at work for a great workout to start the day.

Carry water and ‘slip, slop, slap' in summer.

For more information, including a cycle route map, visit Council's information pages on Cycling. 

For more information on other cycling tracks all over Melbourne, visit http://www.bv.com.au/bikes-and-riding/10027/