Cycling in Melbourne Australia
Bike racks on Buses
I stumped them over there with this. Maybe some of you guys can answer this?
It just occured to me. Melbourne buses dont have bike racks. I noticed in most of the US cities I visited last year, that nearly all of the buses have bike racks fitted. In some cities, as a "bike 'n' ride" commuter, you get to travel for free.
Is there any sensible reason why Melbourne's buses dont have these facilities.
It just occured to me. Melbourne buses dont have bike racks. I noticed in most of the US cities I visited last year, that nearly all of the buses have bike racks fitted. In some cities, as a "bike 'n' ride" commuter, you get to travel for free.
Is there any sensible reason why Melbourne's buses dont have these facilities.
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Adrian Tritschler on -
No sensible reason, but since when has that stopped anyone? Would be especially helpful for those times when trains are replaced by buses and anyone on the train with a bike is simply told *NO*.
Victorian state law says it is illegal to have an empty bicycle rack on a vehicle being driven or (I believe) parked on a public street. Kind of defeats any attempt to put bike racks on buses.
Bit like that law requiring helmets and its potential effect on cheap hire bikes a la Paris' velobike program.
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Permalink Reply by GeeBee on -
Racks can be left on vehicles when they are empty, but if the vehicle is being driven the rack must not protrude rearwards, ie, turn it to face forwards or sideways. It's OK to leave an empty rack on a bike in a carpark while you are away on a ride.
It is an offence under the law to:
* to drive a vehicle with a bicycle rack without a bicycle in it.
Bit stupid really, isn't it. What is the first thing that comes to mind when thinking of an empty bike rack? It's at a running child's eye height!
GeeBee
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Permalink Reply by ChrisS on -
Acton Buses in Canberra are running a pilot program, as did the MTT in Hobart (need more details) and some bus routes in Brisbane. Think Vic. suffers from a arse, elbow, hole in the ground mentality
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Permalink Reply by Geoff on -
In Denver, the buses take bikes in the same way they do in Canberra. At the Amtrak train station there is even a "practice loading your bike" station. If even Canberrans and Americans can do it - why can't we?? See attached photo.
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Practice loading your bike.jpg, 392 KB
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Permalink Reply by GeeBee on
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The ACT is expanding it's bikes on buses programme, Brisbane has scrapped theirs totally.
It is probably seen as less necessary in Melbourne because of the good rail system (I think it's OK, anyway).
In a conversation several years ago a well known Melbourne advocacy person said that he didn't think bike racks on buses were necessary, but did concede that some services to the Doncaster /Templestowe region might benefit!
One area that does need some form of bike transport is the buses to the Ocean Road from Geelong. More obvious benefit and less contentious than racks on suburban buses.
Of course, restriction on carrying bikes on public transport across the world has led to the rise of good quality folding bikes.
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Permalink Reply by ChrisS on
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ADR's are bit of a obstacle here in Aus, ie: anything remotely seen to be a issue if it internally or external protrudes. Funny thing, that doesn't stop frigging bullbars being used in urban areas.
From Pedal Power ACT: ACTION bike racks update
In the early stages of the Bike'n'Ride trial, bike racks were only for use on the 300 series bus routes. ACTION has since tested the racks on other suburban routes and found them to be suitable. For approximately the last 12 months, drivers have been instructed to allow bikes on bike rack fitted suburban services.
Also note: free bus travel for cyclists using bike racks commenced this week! A fact sheet is available from interchanges and the ACTION website www.action.act.gov.au.
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Permalink Reply by Stavros on -
That's bloody great - for Canberra........ that link shows a pic of a similar system used overseas. When it's floded up, it looks just like a bullbar........ The ironic thing here is that Canberra has a poofteenth of the population and very little congestion, even in peak times, compared to Melbourne.
Go Canberra!
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Permalink Reply by Takver on -
I emailed my state MP regarding bikes on trains and he added this in regard to bike racks on buses:
"DOI and the Bus Association did consider bike rakes on the front of buses
as is found in some routes in Brisbane and Vancouver. Bicycle Victoria
amongst others were not very favourable and generally saw them as unsafe
and a waste of money.
It may be more appropriate in country services."
See the Bicycle Victoria attitude
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Permalink Reply by RobE on
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Yeah, have travelled in many cites across the world and the abundance of places that offer bike rack holders on buses is obvious compared to Melbourne. basically it involves the bus franchise co's here spending money fitting bike racks on the front of their buses... spend money??!!,,,bloody hell they wont spend a penny on educating their drivers to look out for and aim to show courtesy to vulnerable road users, so they wont be doing anything about bike racks unless forced by government...and the Vic Govt is too wussy to push the point... Even bike hating USA mainstream SUVurbia has bike racks on major city buses across the country...
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Permalink Reply by Alan Parker on -
The problem lies in the interpretation of the design rules by state and Commonwealth agencies who have scuppered "bike on bus" proposals for at least 15 years. The Commonwealth allowed "bull bars" to be put on all vehicles including that of car drivers with a history of traffic offences and caused a lot of injuries. They then prevented the the use of bike racks at either end of the bus because they said that it increased the length of the bus and according to the road rules that meant that some buses needed an extra couple of rear wheels to accommodate the extra length. Ha.Ha,Ha.
The Victorian state goverment went along with that for a few years and then like most other states went along with the notion that professional bus drivers would be endangering pedestrians despite excellent accident record of professional bus drivers per million km driven.
Underlying all of this from the 1970s when the issue of sustainable transport was first raised as a major issue the entrenched petrol heads in the bureaucracy who thought climate change and peak where a load of bull went on their merry way covering australia with tarmac.
Now reality is going to catch up with them and the bicycle movement needs to go on the attack.
The Action bus company in the ACT is setting a good example and doing a great Job.
We need to ensure the neanderthals running most of the other bus companies are told by the minister of transport to go to Canberra and get "hands on" experience of what is happening.
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