Transport

Darebin Creek Trail Shared Path Bridge Replacement

Darebin and Banyule City Councils own an existing shared-path timber bridge crossing the Darebin Creek between Dundas Street in Thornbury and Banksia Street in Ivanhoe. The existing bridge is part of the Darebin Creek Trail which is an important transport route for both casual and commuter cyclists and also a popular path for walkers and joggers.

The existing bridge is approximately 30 years old and in poor condition. A structural audit on the bridge indicates that the existing bridge must be replaced. Both Councils have allocated funding to replace the bridge as part of their Capital Works Programs for 2017/18.

The new bridge will have a wider deck of 4m, more durable materials, and barriers and handrails complying with current standards. It will also be safer and more user-friendly than the existing bridge.

The project involves the construction of new foundations, demolition of the existing bridge, construction of new approaches, and installation of the new steel structure, handrails and mini mesh decking.

The alignment of the new bridge will match that of the existing bridge to avoid a Melbourne Water Sewer and minimise the impact on native vegetation. The old structure will be demolished and as a result pedestrian and bicycle access across the Darebin Creek will not be available during construction.

Please see the attached map for alternative routes. Available crossing points are Bell Street, Darebin Road (Livingstone Street), Murray Road and Wood Street.

Construction works to replace the existing bridge are planned to commence in April 2018 and are expected to be completed in August. We apologise for any inconvenience caused during the works.

Please follow Darebin’s Twitter and Facebook accounts for more information about closure and reopening dates.

One-on-One Bike Skills Training 
> Do you know someone who wants to learn how to ride?
> Would they prefer a personalised approach?
> Do they want to learn at a day, time and location that suits them best?

Our experienced, patient and friendly instructors begin with the absolute basics like how to walk along with a bike, get on and off gracefully, start off, pedal and stop safely.

Our instructors give hands-on support until the new rider finds their balance, and then cheers them on as they gracefully ride off into the sunset. This training is suitable for anyone aged from 7 to 77. 

> 3-hour courses for absolute beginners: $100 
This training usually costs $195. However, Darebin residents are eligible to participate in this training program for the discounted price of $100.

> 2-hour courses for those with some riding experience:  $70 
This training usually costs $140. However, Darebin residents are eligible to participate in this training program for the discounted price of $100

Members of the community who are recipients of Centrelink payments or in social housing may be eligible to participate in this training program at no cost. Please contact georgie@bikesatwork.com.au for more information.

The exact date, time and location of One-on-One Bike Skills Training is negotiated between you and your instructor.  For more details and to register for One-on-One Bike Skills Training, please click through to our Eventbrite registration page. 

Bike Skills Workshops
Do you already know how to ride a bike, but need a skills or confidence boost? Our series of bike skills workshops will help you learn more about your bike and how to ride safely on our local streets, bike paths and trails. 

Our current range of workshops include:

• Women on Wheels (run by a female instructor for women wanting to build their confidence)
• Basic Bike Maintenance (for those wanting to learn how to look after their bike)
• Back on the Bike (for new riders wanting to develop their bike handling skills)
• Urban Cycling Confidence (for those wanting to develop their on-road riding skills)

These workshops are held in Autumn (February, March & April) and in Spring (September, October & November) every year.

For more information, dates, times and to register, please click through to our Eventbrite registration page. 

TravelSmart Maps
Our TravelSmart Map shows on and off-road cycling routes, on-road bike lanes and informal cycling routes, as well as walking routes, public toilets, water fountains and public transport routes.  You can collect a printed copy from one of our Customer Service Centres.

If you're after a TravelSmart Map for other parts of Melbourne and Victoria, please check out the VicRoads website.

Shimmy Bike Routes
A shimmy is a bike route that wiggles its way through quiet back streets avoiding busy main roads. With directional signage, road markings and maps, it's easy to shimmy your way across Darebin by bike.  We have a map of the new Great Western Shimmy route, as well as a map of our Other Shimmy routes.

You can view all of Darebin’s shimmy routes together in this google map.

Ride2Work Day
Ride2Work Day is Australia's biggest celebration of bike riding and the perfect opportunity to try riding to work. In October every year, you can join the thousands of riders across Darebin already on their bikes and experience the difference riding can make to your daily commute. For a wrap-up of Ride2Work Day 2017, click here.

We also encourage individual workplaces to host a Ride2Work Day breakfast at their premises. If you’re a business owner, take the lead and encourage your staff to ride. If you’re an employee, ask your boss to support the day. All businesses that register for Ride2Work Day with Darebin Council receive a FREE fresh fruit box for everyone to enjoy, as well as promotional posters, bike information and cycling-related give-aways.

It’s free and easy to register and all businesses that get involved are in the running to win some great prizes. Get in early and register your workplace for 2018 via our Eventbrite registration page.

Benefits of Riding a Bike to Work
Riding a bike is fast, convenient and fun. There are many other benefits of riding to work, such as:

• Improving personal health and wellbeing
• Attracting and retaining staff 
• Reducing absenteeism and increasing productivity
• Saving money on petrol and public transport fares 
• Reducing congestion on our roads
• Alleviating parking pressures at work
• Minimising our greenhouse gas emissions

For more information about how to make your workplace more bike-friendly, visit Bicycle Network.

You can also check out the "Four secrets of happiness that only bike riders know" from our friends at the Bicycle Network. 

Be Bright at Night 
Bike riders are some of our most vulnerable road users and we want them to do everything possible to improve their visibility and safety, especially during the winter months and when riding at night.

A white front light, a red rear light and a rear red reflector are essential to help drivers and pedestrians see approaching bike riders.

This video from our friends at VicRoads shows just how difficult it can be to see a cyclist who is not using lights.  
VIDEO: Be seen at night - look bright, use your lights!

A range of bike lights and reflective accessories can be purchased from retailers.  Bike riders can also check out the Bicycle Network's review of the Best bike lights 2017 for advice. 

Please urge your family and friends to wear highly reflective gear and to ride with lights to boost their visibility when riding at night.  

St Georges Road Bike Counter
In partnership with the Darebin Bicycle User Group, we have installed a solar powered bike counter on the St Georges Rd shared path. Sensors in the path detect when a bike passes and the counter shows how many people have ridden past that day, and for the year to date. Over 500,000 bikes are counted on the path every year, and this number is growing! The latest data is also available online.

Public Bike Repair Stations
Our public Bike Repair Stations allow you to easily complete on-the-go repairs on your bike on any day and at any time. The repair stations include a pump and basic tools to help you complete minor maintenance on your bike.

Not sure how to use a bike repair station? Find help online at www.bikefixation.com/help.

• Merri Creek - near St George’s Road intersection, Westgarth 
• All Nations Park, Skate Park - Dennis Street, Northcote
• Opposite Northcote Town Hall - High Street, Northcote
• Cnr Miller Street and the Northern Pipe Trail (St Georges Rd shared path), Thornbury
• Reservoir Community and Learning Centre, 23 Edwardes Street, Reservoir

Bike Parking Hoops
Do your ride to your favourite shop or cafe and find it hard to park your bike? Do you wish there was more bike parking near your local school or community centre?  If so, please email us at: green.travel@darebin.vic.gov.au.

If you own or manage a local business or organisation and would like more bike parking for your customers and clients, please complete our Bicycle Hoops Request online form.

Bike Parking at Train Stations
There are Parkiteer bike cages at Preston and Reservoir train stations. Parkiteers offer free, secure, undercover bike parking right near the station entrance. Access is available 24 hours by security pass which requires a $50 refundable deposit. Sign up at Parkiteer or call 1300 546 526. 

Free Portable Bike Parking Hire
Local schools and community organisations can hire our ace portable bike rack at no cost. It can accommodate up to 10 bikes, fits in the back of a car and is easy to set up. It's a top way to encourage visitors to ride to your event. Email us at green.travel@darebin.vic.gov.au for more information.

Local Bike Shops and Mechanics

• Bikes de Ver 364 Heidelberg Rd, Fairfield
• Culture of Cycling 326 Darebin Road, Fairfield 
• Curve Cycling 18 Eastment Street, Northcote
• Finnigan's 507 High Street, Northcote
• North City Cycles 679 High Street, Thornbury
• North Fitzroy Cycles 256 St Georges Rd, Fitzroy North 
• Pedal Cyclery 410 Gilbert Rd, Preston
• Plenty Cycles 50 Plenty Rd, Preston 
• Rays Bikes 545 High St, Preston
• RichieBikeLane  442b Plenty Rd, Preston 
• White's Bikes 309 St Georges Rd, Fitzroy North
• Wocle Mobile mechanic service

Community Bike Groups

• Darebin Bicycle User Group - a local group that campaigns for better cycling conditions and organises rides to suit cyclists of all abilities.
• Wecycle - a volunteer group that recycles and re-conditions unwanted bikes and re-homes them with people who need them.
• Wrenchworthy - an autonomous space for women, non-binary and gender diverse people interested in bike maintenance and learning how to fix bikes.

Other Useful Apps and Websites

• Map your route - Strava, Map my Ride, Endomondo
• Be Smart in the Sun - SunSmart app
• Check the weather - Bureau of Meteorology
• Find your way - Google Maps app
• Find a place to play - Playground finder
• Stop for lunch - Zomato app
• When nature calls - Public toilet finder
• City riding - Melbourne bike share
• Stay hydrated - Find a water tap
• Repair your bike - Easy bike repair app

Related Links

• Darebin Bicycle Advisory Committee  
• Darebin Cycling Strategy 2013-18
• How we support active travel to school
• St Georges Road Shared Path Safety Audit - 2013
• Victorian Bike Laws

Walking maps
The Merri Creek Trail map provides information about the local walking and cycling routes, leisure facilities, public transport and parklands along the Merri Creek shared path.

Our Darebin TravelSmart map provides sustainable transport information including walking and cycling routes on a handy pocket-sized street map.  It also has bike shops, car share pod locations and shopping areas.  You can download all our maps and guides or visit one of Darebin's Customer Service Centers for a hard copy.

Walking Groups
We support many Walking Groups across the municipality. These groups are run by volunteers and aim to get more people out and about walking in a friendly environment.

A Walking Action Group may also interest you - these groups help improve the local environment for walking. Visit Victoria Walks for more information.

Visit our Community Directory for a listing of Walking Groups. To create your own group, contact us for more details.

Improving Our Paths
We are currently developing a Principal Pedestrian Network which will prioritise and guide the way the we upgrade our walking infrastructure. We also commissioned the St Georges Road Share Path Safety Audit in 2013 which has highlighted areas for us to improve, and also supports us when advocating to other stakeholders that are responsible for the path and its surrounds. 

In Darebin we have the South Morang and Hurstbridge train lines, the 11 and 86 tram lines, and many bus routes.

To obtain information about a particular service use the Public Transport Victoria website – it is excellent for planning trips and obtaining route and timetable information.

A detailed map of all the public transport options can be viewed here.

Alternatively you can call PTV on 1800 800 007 for timetables and route planning advice. For TTY, call (03) 9619 2727.

Information in other languages
To receive public transport information in other languages, you can call the translated phone numbers listed on the Public Transport Victoria website.

Tips for using Myki
Myki is Melbourne's public transport ticketing system. Myki passes are used to travel on all trains, trams and buses in Zones 1 and 2.

For information about using Myki including where to buy one, which type to choose, topping up, touching on and off or registering your Myki visit: Public Transport Victoria or call 1800 800 007.

Kick start healthy, active travel for students at your school with these initiatives and resources. 

Walk to School Month

VicHealth’s Walk to School program is over for 2017.

Thank you to all our wonderful Darebin school communities who participated.

Twenty Darebin schools registered, and together our students walked, cycled and scooted well over 40,200 kms – all the way around the world and then some!

Congratulations to Westgarth Primary School who topped the list with the best participation rate of all our Darebin schools. The children travelled over 8900 kms in more than 12,400 foot-powered trips – amazing!  Thanks to Bundoora Park Farm for sponsoring the participation prize with passes to visit the farm.

Holy Name Primary School won the Darebin Walk to School registration prize: a special performance by the very talented Frank Woodley – comedian, storyteller, artist and writer. Many thanks to Frank for a very funny, and active, show!

Thanks to everyone who walked, rode or scooted, rain, hail, or shine, children, parents, grandparents, carers, teachers and support crew.

 Join us next year for another VicHealth Walk to School in term four 2018. In the meantime, KEEP WALKING!

 For information about all safe, sustainable and active travel programs at Darebin please contact us by email: safetravel@darebin.vic.gov.au

Delivering Bike Ed in your school
Bike Ed is designed to help children in grades 3-6 develop skills to ride safely and independently on roads and paths. It involves a mix of practical and classroom activities. We fund teachers to undertake accredited Bike Ed instructor training, as well as the provision of casual relief teachers. We can also source volunteers to assist teachers with Bike Ed delivery. 

Take a look at the reading below, and find out all the ways Bike Ed can benefit your students:

• Bike Ed for Darebin Students - How and why Bike Ed can be taught at your school 
• How Bike Ed can support the delivery of your school curriculum
• If At First You Don't Succeed - A Bike Ed Success Story 

We can also provide small amounts of cycle parking, advice and grant possibilities for larger bike parking requirements in and around the school as well as prizes if you are running active travel promotions and events. 

Bike ED Evaluation  
As Council supports local schools to run Bike Ed, we wanted to assess the outcomes for students that participate in this program. We asked students, parents and teachers to complete surveys before, immediately after, and three months after students completed Bike Ed. We found the following:

• The majority of students greatly increased their confidence levels. This was also observed by their parents
• The abilities needed to ride a bike were all found to improve, including riding in a straight line and using brakes
• The number of parents confident in their children’s road rules knowledge increased by 150%
• More than two thirds of students said they were riding more and 43% of parents observed their child riding more
• 71% of parents are confident that their child can ride a bike safely - an increase from 63% in the before survey
• 93% of parents felt the course had met their expectations

See the full evaluation report

For more information and to run Bike Ed in your school contact us.. 

Metro Trains Community Education Unit
Metro Community Education Unit will come out to your school to talk about safe travel on public transport and teach students about journey planning, ticketing and behaviour. Presentations can be tailored to areas of interest including assisting Grade 6 students with the transition to high school.

Walking School Bus - How to get started
A Walking School Bus is a group who walk to and from school along a set route picking up ‘passengers’ along the way. The bus is accompanied by at least two parents with one at the front, and another supervising at the back. It is a fun, energetic way to travel to school while also learning about street safety.

To find out how to run one, visit the VicHealth website. A Walking School Bus can run everyday or as little as one morning or afternoon a week. Consider dedicating one day to Walk Once a Week or Walk on Wednesday.  Victoria Walks Smart Steps initiative features great ways to engage your family and school community in walking more. 

School Travel Plans
School Travel Plans support an increase in students’ active travel to school whilst reducing the pick-up and drop-off traffic problems schools face. 

The Darebin Council Plan 2017-2021 commits that we will reduce the speed limit to 40 km/hr across 30% of the municipality. We are now implementing these speed limit reductions in local residential areas with existing vehicle speeds, road layout, presence of traffic management devices and VicRoads criteria for speed limit reductions guiding the project.

We are currently lowering the speed limit to 40 km/hr on local residential streets in Fairfield/Alphington within the boundary defined by the Hurstbridge Train Line, Darebin Creek, Heidelberg Road and Victoria Road. The following roads are not affected by this change: Victoria Road, Westgarth Street, Heidelberg Road, Grange Road and Station Street. Further information on the next stages of the project will be distributed as we work through the statutory processes with VicRoads.

What is car sharing?
Car sharing is a service that allows people to hire vehicles on demand for short periods of time. Vehicles are parked in dedicated bays and are available to members 24 hours a day. Members benefit from the flexibility of having access to a private vehicle but do not have to pay the costs associated with owning a car. 

Benefits of car sharing
Research has found that each car share vehicle replaces up to 10 privately owned cars. Members of car share schemes also reduce car use by around 50%. Car sharing therefore helps to reduce traffic congestion, parking demand, and greenhouse gas emissions. 

Car Sharing in Darebin
There are over 20 car share bays in Darebin provided by FlexiCar and GoGet. These bays are mostly in Northcote and Westgarth but there are also bays in Thornbury and Preston. We are working with car share companies to expand our car share network.

How does car sharing work?
You register with a car share company, pay a fee and book a car online or by phone. Once you have registered you have access to a network of vehicles in your area which can be booked on an hourly or daily basis. When you hire a vehicle it must be picked up and dropped back to the same spot. The fees cover all expenses, including petrol, insurance, registration and maintenance.

People who drive less that 5,000 km per year usually find car sharing saves them money. Car sharing is perfect for anyone that doesn't need a car every day, or only needs a second car occasionally. It is also a great option for businesses.

Compare the prices, locations and service provision to work out which car share company suits you best.

Some Darebin residents make their own vehicles available for sharing through neighbour-to-neighbour car sharing platform Car Next Door

More Information
Ph: 8470 8683
Email: carshare@darebin.vic.gov.au

St Georges Road Shared Path Works
Safety works have recently been completed on the St Georges Road shared path between Arthurton Road and McCracken Avenue to reduce the grade of the path as it crosses the tram tracks and separate cyclists from pedestrians. This project was identified as a high priority in the St Georges Road Shared Path Safety Audit.

Feedback
We are seeking your feedback on how we can better communicate to shared path users about works and closures in the future. Please take a couple of minutes to fill in this short survey. 

Darebin Shared Path Etiquette
Darebin has more than 80km of shared paths that are used by thousands of people walking and riding each day. We asked for your help to develop an etiquette that encourages safe, respectful and considerate riding and walking on our shared paths, so everyone can enjoy using them. Four community workshops were held on the St Georges Road shared path during November 2015. Path users were invited to have a conversation and share their ideas for a shared path etiquette. The top 5 have become our new shared path etiquette:

1. Politely let others know you are overtaking.
2. Keep left and give space when overtaking.
3. Ride at a relaxed speed.
4. Obey traffic signals.
5. Keep dogs on a leash.

If you are considering alternative forms of transport, they can include public transport, walking, cycling, car-pooling or car share. You may want to check out our TravelSmart Map to help with your planning.

 Benefits of a Travel Plan

•     Increases the accessibility and marketability of your work site
•     Reduces the space required for car parking
•     Staff recruitment and retention improved if there is a range of travel options available
•     Encourages sustainable travel
•     Increases personal health and well being

Large developments may be required to submit a Travel Plan as part of the Planning Permit Application process if your development comprises:

• 20 or more residential units
• An office component of 500 square metres or more
• An industrial component of 1,000 square metres or more
• Retail premises of 1,000 square metres or more

Contact our Transport Team for information and advice on developing a Travel Plan for your business or development.  

Further Information
Sustainable Transport Officer
Ph: 8470 8683
Email: mailbox@darebin.vic.gov.au