Category: Cycling
Something good is happening to Melbourne’s cycling levels
The Victorian Department of Transport & Planning maintain a very useful dashboard that compiles data from most of the permanent bicycle counters in Melbourne. If you haven’t seen it before it’s available on this page under ‘Bicycle Speeds and Volumes’. In the years since the end of the COVID-19 lockdowns there was a noticeable dip…
Why gunzels should want more rail trails
I have been a member of a few rail enthusiast groups on Facebook for several years. Something that happens in these groups almost every fortnight is that someone will post about a dismantled railway somewhere. This will inevitably trigger a wave of comments from many of the resident foamers about: Some try to have a…
My advice for people who are new to riding bikes during COVID-19
There has been a huge explosion in the number of people riding bikes during the COVID-19 pandemic – especially during lockdown. Some of the numbers that we’re seeing are pretty incredible. Update on Melbourne cycling counts (data up to Sunday 9 August). Weekend/recreational volumes mostly up on last year, weekday volumes hit new low for…
Impact of COVID-19 lockdown on cycling in Melbourne – a first glance
Anyone who has been out on Melbourne’s street network or shared paths will have witnessed the explosion in the number of people walking and cycling. Until now, this increase has been purely anecdotal. The other day I had a brief look at the bicycle volume and speed data from the Victorian Government data portal, just…
Offer of help: journey planning for your bicycle route
Since the COVID-19 situation has changed rapidly over the past 1-2 weeks and people are now seriously avoiding public transport, there seem to be many more people people riding bikes around Melbourne. Many of them seem to be people who have had bikes kicking around in their garage but have ridden very little in the…
Bicycle parking at Melbourne’s railway stations
I have previously done some work on car parking at railway stations in Melbourne, including this map. Others have also written extensively on this important topic. However, parking at stations covers more than just cars, as accessing public transport by bicycle becomes increasingly popular in parts of Melbourne. Bicycles are discouraged on trains during peak…
Cycling to Melbourne Airport
I had heard rumours of a way to get to Melbourne Airport by bike. Earlier this year, I decided to try it out. Turns out that this is possible – but only just. Route 1 – via Moonee Ponds Creek Trail If you are coming from the north or east of Melbourne, this route will…
Bicycle trip: O’Keefe Rail Trail
The O’Keefe Rail Trail follows part of the abandoned railway line from Bendigo to Heathcote Junction. Confusingly for its name, the Trail currently ends at the town of Heathcote, which is around 58 kilometres from Heathcote Junction. https://video.relive.cc/85237520001_relive-tracker_1543787754580.mp4 Bendigo to Axedale We caught the first train out of Melbourne and arrived in Bendigo just after…
Bicycle trip: Port Fairy to Warrnambool Rail Trail
The Port Fairy to Warrnambool Rail Trail follows an old passenger and freight railway that operated as a whole from 1890 to 1977. It closed in stages and eventually became truncated for passenger trains at Warrnambool, while some infrequent specialised freight services continued to operate along other sections of the track until 2002. The Rail…
Bicycle trip: Gippsland Plains Rail Trail
One of the more recent additions to the extensive off-road trail network in Victoria is the Gippsland Plains Rail Trail. It follows the old Gippsland Plains Railway Line from Stratford in central Gippsland through to the regional city of Traralgon. All up, a distance of about 70 kilometres along relatively flat countryside. This recorded length…
