Commuting and road riding in Melbourne

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Permalink Reply by Cory on November 7, 2009 at 9:01am

If you read the press, (esp. Herald Sun, but occasionally The Age), you'd believe it's open warfare - drivers v cyclists.

However, the reality is it's all pretty good. There's always the moron element (whether in four wheels, or on two) but you get that.

Melbourne has an increasing number of bike paths, and on-road lanes. However, drivers are becoming more aware of bikes on many roads. It's worth stating, however, that the further out you get from Melbourne, the less aware the average driver is (actually, more probably the more angry they are they've been in their car for over an hour and have lost any fraction of patience they once had, and just want to be home).

Do some googling. Plenty of stuff online to tell you what's what. If you can't find stuff, let us know and we'll post some things up here.

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Permalink Reply by Matthew Signorini on November 15, 2009 at 2:27pm

I live in Vermont, and commute regularly by bicycle, and have not experienced many problems. On multi lane roads, I normally ride in the left hand wheel track in the left lane, and drivers will simply change lanes to get past, usually without making a big deal of it.
I tried this in Victoria street, near Elizabeth, the other day, though, and had the most beligerent jerk come up behind me, honking his horn, as he could not get past (presumably shaving my right leg with his bumper bar while doing so, had he been able to).
I have never experienced this kind of intollerant attitude in my day to day riding around where I live.

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Permalink Reply by Chris Harris on November 7, 2009 at 9:13am

Hey Sam, it really depends on where you are and where you want to go. Also if you're will to go out of your way to avoid the more dangerous roads. I go about 13km out of my way to ride to work along a bike path making the trip 43km instead of 30km. A lot of roads are very good, but some are shockers too. 99% of drivers are very good and give plenty of room and are quite patient. I'm concerned with the 1% though. Plus I don't like the exhaust fumes - especially when riding up hills while I'm breathing heavy, and the cars are spewing more crap out...
Hope you have a safe trip and enjoy yourself when you're here.
Cheers, Chris

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Permalink Reply by Steve Jay on November 7, 2009 at 9:34am

This might seem strange to natural born Melbournites, but compared to Hobart (and Launceston before), where I come from, Melbourne is cycling heaven. Even on Nepean and Princes Hwys the traffic, at 80km/h, is less full on than Main Rd in Hobart's northern suburbs at 60. In fact, in Tassy, there's a tendency to put 110km/h speed limits on narrower roads than the Nepean! Add to that the lack of inner city welfare housing (average 20km out in brick veneer ghettos), and Hobart has a higher bogan rate on the roads.

In short, the only bad experience I've had in Melbourne was a white van opening a door in front of me (missed me! Hah! ;-) but white vans and taxis are psychopathic the world over. Melbourne is cycling heaven, seriously, at least in the south-east, where I am.

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Permalink Reply by Chris Harris on November 7, 2009 at 9:59am

Bogan rate.. love it.
That's silimar to my shopping trolley index.. My theory is that the more shopping trolleys left around the streets is an accurate measure of the bogan rate.

Oh, and I should say that in my experience is that busses are the worst things on the road for cyclists here.

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Permalink Reply by Steve Jay on November 7, 2009 at 11:48am

I've wondered about that, but I'm lucky enough to not have to cycle on the narrower bus routes. They're still not as fast as Sydney buses or on roads as narrow as Hobart's, though. ;-)

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Permalink Reply by Bridgette on November 9, 2009 at 12:44pm

Recently asked a full time bus driver of a zillion years experience in Sydney & here why it is that buses are more regularly the vehicles that cause grief to cyclists. He immeadiately replied, which made me think that he had previously been asked or considered the fact himself. His response was that in his opinion, often the drivers (of the bus) do not appreciate the speed of cyclists and cut back into the lane too early, I thought that enlightening and apply that thinking to the few negative interactions I have with buses. This makes my journeys that much more enjoyable in the knowledge that the drivers aren't necesarrily trying to kill me while doing a very important job, but moreso are just piss-poor drivers.

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Permalink Reply by Steve Jay on November 9, 2009 at 1:52pm

I reckon psychopathy gives them an excuse, incompetence in a professional isn't as easily forgiven ;-)

Seriously though, it makes sense. As a one-time owner of a long wheelbase van many years ago it was hard to judge using the mirror alone just what distance the rear corner was past an obstacle. I learned to allow more, but bus drivers don't always have the luxury.

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Permalink Reply by Adrian Tritschler on November 7, 2009 at 2:17pm

From riding in both, albeit only touring in the UK not commuting, I'd say they are both very similar. Bike routes, on and off road are similar to the ones in the UK, they range from the stupidly appallingly useless to the sometimes useful to the very good. Motorist attitudes seem similar to those in the UK, for better or worse, as do the attitude of cyclists and pedestrians.

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Permalink Reply by Samuel Smith on November 7, 2009 at 7:47pm

Hi All, Thanks very much for your replies. Certainly a lot of what you all say reflects the UK experience, which also varies according to area and awareness. I have found that bus driver behaviour seems to have improved (in my experience) in recent years here. Have found a good bike route of Melbourne and Victoria at http://www.bigyak.net.au/gmaps/vicbiketrailsgmap.html
But the riding looks good further out in the Dandenongs for day rides, do folk get the train out there and back for training at weekends?
Thanks!
Sam

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Permalink Reply by Steve Jay on November 9, 2009 at 9:03am

You can get the train out there, yes. They like people to take their bikes on at the back of the train. The facilities to rack your bike up on the train are non-existent, so I tend to stand with my bike so that I can move it out of people's way and prevent it falling over.

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Permalink Reply by WalkingMelways on November 12, 2009 at 7:48pm

You might also like to have a look at www.bikely.com - it has lots of rider's own route map suggestions on a Google Maps platform, with en route details and remarks. I'm pretty sure Bikely started in Australia (although I think a UK site has taken it over) so there should be plenty there.

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