Riding a bike is a fun, healthy and economical way to travel. Cycling is also an environmentally friendly transport option, easing congestion and pollution.
Victoria’s population is rapidly expanding, and adequate cycling facilities are an important part of a sustainable and integrated transport system.
The Victorian Cycling Strategy (2009) is a key part of the Victorian Transport Plan (VTP). The strategy aims to increase the number of people walking and cycling in Melbourne by 15,000, and significantly grow cycling in the rest of Victoria by 2020.
The VTP has committed $115 million towards the strategy to help guide and improve policies, safety programs and cycling infrastructure in metropolitan areas and regional centres. This includes:
- new bike lanes
- shared walking and cycling paths on priority bicycle routes
- a public bike hire program in Melbourne’s CBD
- the Provincial Pathways Program, with regional rail trails and walking paths
- an additional 33 secure and weather-protected bike cages at train stations across metropolitan Melbourne and key regional centres by end of 2009
- reviewing cycling crash patterns so we can develop counter-measures
- creating a cycling toolkit for local government to help them plan and develop new facilities
- bike safety programs in schools and bike safety campaigns
- creating connected cycling networks along continuous routes
- providing bike facilities as part of major road projects
- significantly improving the cycling network within 10km of the CBD
As part of the cycling strategy, we have been granted an extra $4 million per year to further develop cycling and walking programs and infrastructure.
The Victorian Cycling Strategy is based on five strategic directions:
- build networks to connect communities
- promote and encourage a cycling culture
- reduce risks for cyclists
- better integrate cycling with public transport
- integrate cycling into land use planning
For more information, see the Victorian Cycling Strategy (2009) [2259KB, PDF, 44pp]
Melbourne 2030 aims to give cycling and walking facilities priority in urban development, the road system and neighbourhoods.
To help promote cycling as a great alternative to driving, VicRoads sponsors prominent cycling events.
The Great Victorian Bike Ride is a 550km, 9-day cycling challenge. VicRoads sponsors the event and every year enters a corporate team of up to 15 staff. The team reinforces road safety messages to other riders along the route and spends time each day at local schools educating children on how to ride safely.
This event is a call to action for people to ride to work. Many people who are first time riders on National Ride to Work Day are still riding to work 12 months later. We sponsor this event to encourage more people to ride to work using bike paths and road infrastructure that VicRoads has helped to roll out. Our CEO, Gary Liddle, is an ambassador for this event.
Around 100 VicRoads staff, based in offices across Victoria, ride their bikes to work each day.
More information about the Great Victorian Bike Ride and National Ride to work day is available on the Bicycle Victoria website.
We aim to improve safety for cyclists by promoting bicycle education in schools.
Bike Ed is delivered in schools and community settings and is designed to help children aged 9–13 years develop the skills they need to ride safely and independently on roads and paths. It consists of a mix of practical activities conducted off-road (in the school grounds) and on-road (on local roads) together with classroom activities. A Family Guide to Bike Ed is also included in the program and can be purchased from the VicRoads bookshop.
For more information go to Primary School Road Safety Education.
This on line resource contains classroom activities, suggestions for school wide activities and parent information sheets.
For more information go to Secondary School Road Safety Education.