Cycling in Melbourne Australia

So, what do you think of MC's new header banner?

Rather cool isn't it?

There is a story behind it, (Ritsardo can provide the background if required)

The photo is Elizabeth Street, complete with w-Class trams, horses, plenty of flipped drop bar action and no skidlids in sight. Does anyone know when helmets became available in Australia?

With petrol prices forecast to reach $1.70 per litre this week, maybe sights like this will become the norm and not just during the two morning/afternoon peaks?

Tags: melbourne, trams, utility-cycling

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Permalink Reply by rougedragon on June 9, 2008 at 4:20pm: Was that for a special event? Because there appears to still be car parks outlined with parking meters.

I'd like to think it will become the norm. But then again I like to dream too.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by GeeBee on June 9, 2008 at 4:34pm: Nice shot, pity it's a bit stretched to fit the frame.

Post war, early to mid fifties?

The tram is possibly a W5 type as it does not appear to have sliding doors. They were brought into service between 1935 and 1939. The route number starts with a 5, so, if in Elizabeth Street, would be a 59 to Essendon Airport or 57 to West Maribyrnong, or on a Sunday, a 55 to West Coburg. I'll take a guess and say that the tram is crossing Bourke Street, with London Stores in the background, left of centre shot.

We knew those handlebars as cowhorn type, rather then 'flipped drop bars'; Victoria Police bikes were usually equipped with them, there is an example in the Museum at Canberra.

I'm unsure as to when helmets actually became available, but they became compulsory in 1991/2
More details as to the why are here

I do recall an article in National Geographic a couple of years ago that suggested that without oil we can't make bicycle helmets, will they become more expensive too?; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Oz on June 9, 2008 at 10:40pm: Tram spotter neeerrrd !!!

;); ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by ChrisS on June 9, 2008 at 10:42pm: Gunzel!; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Rob on June 10, 2008 at 5:29pm: yay, bike spotters unite...oh hang on we have!!... oh well, always room for more ... especially over at Style over Speed :); ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Ritsardo on June 9, 2008 at 5:18pm: Sure can!

It's a scene from the movie "On the Beach". It was based on Nevil Schutes novel of the same name.

It was shot in and around Melbourne in 1959.

The scenario was impending nuclear destruction of the world. Melbourne was the last major city affected. Petroleum products were virtually unavailable and rationed, hence the use of sustainable transport by the masses.

The movie is a not bad watch, even now almost 50 years (!) later and particularly if you are a Melburnian.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by GeeBee on June 9, 2008 at 9:22pm: Now I'll have to dig it out and watch it again, I have a copy somewhere, in one of the boxes!; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Treadly and Me on June 9, 2008 at 11:50pm: "'On the Beach' is a story about the end of the world, and Melbourne sure is the right place to film it." Probably true, even if Ava Gardner didn't actually say it.

Thumbs up on the image, although it's a bit of a gyp that it's a movie still. But it may yet turn out to be prescient! Actually, it looks a lot like Swanston St at about 5.15 on any weekday evening--horses included.

Oh yeah, and anyone in the Bike Nerds group who is making fun of the gunzel should have good, hard look at themselves: same affliction, different object of affection. :-); ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by GeeBee on June 10, 2008 at 12:27am: Dating pictures like this by trams is usually easier than dating them by bicycles. Cars are easiest because of number plates, the yearly model cycle of Holdens of the era, etc.

Thanks for your comment Treadly.; ▶ Reply to This