Cycling in Melbourne Australia
riding on a freeway
Hi all,
I have never done this but, want to!
What do people think?
some say it is dangerous, other say it is o.k.
what do people think?
Ian
Ride To Live. Live To Ride!
I have never done this but, want to!
What do people think?
some say it is dangerous, other say it is o.k.
what do people think?
Ian
Ride To Live. Live To Ride!
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Wayne Lancaster on -
I dunno Ian...... You'd pretty well have to stick to the emergency lane and although I've never tried a freeway, the bike lane on Stud road is full of fragments of glass which get thrown from the road by traffic. My friend and I suffered 3 flats between us in about 10 km until we decided to ride in the tyre line. Take plenty of spare tubes and a good excuse for the police.
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Permalink Reply by matthew on -
On some freeways its legal to ride on others its not. I believe that on all the freeways in the city bicycles are banned. I have seen bikes several times on the road down to Geelong so I suspect that's okay to ride on. As a general rule I would guess that if the speed limit is raised to 110, bikes are allowed to ride on the hard shoulder. If I remember correctly bike use (or not) is posted at the entrance slip roads.
I couldn't find any more information on Vic Roads website, or road rules document, but I reckon if you give them a call they will enlighten you where you can do this. I don't see the attraction myself, but it probably sounds more dangerous than it really is. And of course, you are very unlikely to be slightly injured- you will either be absolutely fine, or dead!
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Permalink Reply by weg on -
The rules are still on the Vicroads site, under bicycles: http://www.vicroads.vic.gov.au/Home/BicyclesPedestrians/RoadRulesFo...
Generally, bikes are not allowed on city freeways; they are allowed on country freeways.
You ride on the shoulder and take care crossing the off-ramps.
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Permalink Reply by Neil on -
Yeah, maybe if you are riding a kid's tricycle, Ritsy.
How is it more dangerous riding on a wide, hard shoulder out of the way of traffic on a road with a 110km/h speed limit than riding in the car wheel tracks on some narrow, winding goat track with a 100km/h speed limit?
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Permalink Reply by Ritsardo on -
Be nice Neil. As you seem to ride a tandem (me too) and are a member of the Tandem Group, that I started, I'll be nice too.
I answered the question about freeways. Just my opinion, that's all. If someone proposed including cycle paths along all freeway reservations, I'd support that. Rail lines too for that mayyer.
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Permalink Reply by WalkingMelways on -
Perhaps if you are driving that day, Ritsardo. You should strive to have a nice day. Anyway Ian, a problem cyclists have in Aust is that many major highways get taken over fragmentally by freeway conversions. E.g. the Western Hwy to Ballarat in the '70s was gradually converted to freeway, and only sections of old highway remain. Melb-Ballarat by freeway is about 110 km. To ride while avoiding freeway totally, you are up for about 140. Not sure why you want to ride a freeway; in any case as others have said stay off urban ones.
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Permalink Reply by Ritsardo on
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You can "be nice" too. Then you wrote "Not sure why you want to ride a freeway; in any case as others have said stay off urban ones".
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Permalink Reply by Anthony on
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I plan on riding from Williamstown to the coast, from what I saw there were bike lanes the entire way. This is common in the US as well, the ability to ride on the interstates in non-urban areas. The difference is, you lot actually have some "watch for cyclists" signs.
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Permalink Reply by Rick Harker on -
Ian,
I have ridden many times to Geelong from Melbourne travelling along the freeway and the back roads near the You Yangs.
The back roads are very much quieter, a little rougher with surface finish and narrower meaning if cars or trucks are using the same road beware to move off if necessary and make sure you are highly visible from afar. The Audax riders use this route but also use more cushier tyres.
The freeway/highway routes generally have a healthy shoulder to ride on but be aware that vehicles are travelling up to and over 110 kph. True also is the amount of debris in places and spares are necessary.
I have found either way ok but both have drawbacks. Prepare your ride first and know where you can enter/exit before you ride. You may surprise yourself how far you can ride in a day.
You can also find Bikely maps to the locations you wish to ride with proven safe riding routes for cyclists.
Have fun,
Rick Harker.
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Permalink Reply by Ian Fraser on -
Thank You Everyone For your help on this matter.
I have ridden many times from Geelong to Melbourne traveling the back roads near the You Yangs.
The back roads are very much quieter, and more scenic.
I just wanted to try the freeway some time!
Ian
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