How Bicycle Friendly Is Melbourne?

Things To Do In Melbourne By Bike

With more bike lanes opening up in the north and south of the city, cyclists now have easier access than ever to Melbourne's Central Business District (CBD). This means that bicycling is completely legal and not restricted in any way. When you couple Melbourne's famed coffee culture with these scenic byways, you get an amazing array of world-class cafes that practically beg you to stop in and recharge while you take in the city's breathtaking scenery.

Lekker Bikes is here to help whether you're looking for a cruiser, vintage, electric, or fixed-gear bike. In addition to providing you with a top-notch Dutch-style bicycle, we'll also keep the air in your tyres topped off, the gear hub turning, and the wind at your back. Stop by the North Melbourne location of Lekker Bikes, browse the online catalogue of bicycles and accessories we offer, or check out some of the recommended coffee shops on our site to enjoy a break from your ride. In addition to these, there is a network of cycling routes below that will take you past a wide range of inspiring and photogenic landscapes. There are rides that will take you all over the city, out to the suburbs, along the coast, and back again.

Bike-Friendly Cafes 

• Soul Racer Café – 15 Marine Parade St Kilda
  • A long-running café was providing coffee and hearty breakfast or lunch. For those who find themselves cruising down Beach Road! 
• The Great Provider – 42A Marine Parade St Kilda
  • A smart café, combining an enclosed deck with a marina view. Serving up diverse breakfast and lunch options.
• Rush Café – 3 Stewart Place Richmond (Total Rush Cycling)
  • Feel like giving your Vintage Cruiser a Coffee Rush? An idyllic café set in a bike shop in the heart of Richmond!

The North

• South of Johnston – 46 Oxford St Collingwood
  • A design-savvy Warehouse Café was serving up contemporary Breakfast and Lunch.
• De Clieu – 187 Gertrude St Fitzroy
  • Brunch, Cake and Specialty Coffee options, all in a hip venue combining deep window seats with minimalist wood décor.
• Seven Seeds – 106-114 Berkeley St Carlton
  • 114 Berkeley Street, Carlton, and, aside from the great Coffee and delicious Pastries, you'll find indoor Bicycle Racks awaiting you and your ride.
• The Convent Bakery – 1 St Heliers Street Abbotsford
  • Breads, Cakes and Café Food! Within a converted convent with wood-fired ovens and leafy outdoor seating, you cannot go wrong. Bike racks on the left as you enter.
• Fifteen Pounds – 21-23 Railway Place Fairfield (opposite Fairfield Station)
  • Providing secure Bike Racks at the back of the Café! Riders, treat yourself to a variety of very tasty selections offered by yours truly Fifteen Pounds.

Scenic Bike Routes

• Melbourne – The Capital City Trail
  • A 30km loop taking you from the CBD to Docklands, Melbourne Zoo, the Royal Botanical Gardens and many more iconic Melbourne Landmarks. Of course, it is possible to hop on the trail at whichever point you like, meaning by no means do you have to ride the full 30kms!
• By the Riverside – Main Yarra Trail
  • A scenic Riverside Path, from Melbourne's Eastern Suburbs right through to Southbank.
• By the Sea – The Bay Trail
  • A leisurely 6km ride along the coastline of Port Phillip Bay! Begin at St Kilda Pier or wherever you choose to start cycling, enjoying the colourful St Kilda Marina as well as the many Parks, Gardens, Cafes, Sailing Yachts, Restaurants and Sports Grounds along the way.
• Picnics – Merri Creek Trail
  • Starting at Dights Falls, following the creek as it passes through the Coburg Lake Reserve, Brunswick Velodrome, and CERES Environmental Park.
• Regional Coast Cruising – Bass Coast Rail Trail
  • One of Victoria's favourite coastal Rail Trails! Meandering through Farmland, Coastal Bushland, Historical Coal Mining reserves and of course, all by the coast. The trail starts at the old Wonthaggi Railway Station in Murray Street or the old Anderson Railway Station.
• Art Tours – Banksia Park to Heide
  • A short 5km track beginning from Banksia Park, traversing along the scenic Yarra River into Heide Sculpture Park. An ideal way to combine fitness and leisure!
• Mountain Bike Riding – Lysterfield Park Trails
  • A great place for Mountain Biking! The Lysterfield Park and the State Mountain Bike course offers over 20 kilometres of trails suited to all ages and abilities.
• Stunning Views – Lilydale to Warburton Rail Trail
  • A recreational trail for all! Be it from Walking to Cycling to Horse Riding. Following the historic Railway Line through the stunning Yarra Valley, beginning, just behind Lilydale Railway Station, traversing to the Township of Warburton!
• For Fitness – 1 in 20 Climb
  • A very popular climb! Take you from the foothills township of The Basin to the hilltop village of Sassafras.
• Something Slightly Different – Broadmeadows Valley Trail
  • Easily accessed by the Craigieburn Railway Station, this 15km trail takes you through open park areas, a small wetland, and past many contemporary terrace houses, all before a bridge, where you arrive at the Moonee Ponds Creek Trail.

Explore The Yarra River

From Southbank, cyclists can embark on any one of a number of well-known routes throughout Melbourne, providing a welcome respite from the city's hustle and bustle. The Capital City Trail follows the Yarra River and provides access to Yarra Bend Park. The flat and smooth path before Yarra Bend Park is a great place to take in Melbourne's urban landscape. You can easily make your way back to Southbank once you've finished exploring the park, as the entire circuit is less than 30 kilometres in length.

The Maribyrnong River Trail will take you through the Maribyrnong Valley Parklands. The trail's one-way length is 28 kilometres, but it can be initiated at any point. Regardless of your point of departure, you should allow yourself plenty of time to enjoy the peaceful surroundings of Brimbank Park while engaging in pursuits such as picnicking, fishing, canoeing, and birdwatching. The next step is to hop on your bike and ride along the Main Yarra Trail, which passes through the Yarra Valley Parklands and the verdant suburbs of Melbourne. After traversing Yarra Bend Park and a wildlife corridor rich with native flora and fauna, the 33-kilometer long network of shared paths will lead you to Westerfolds Park.

Take A Tour Along Hobsons Bay Coastal Trail.

Enjoy a leisurely ride along the Hobsons Bay Coastal Trail, passing through Stony Creek Backwash and Cheetham Wetlands. Along the way, don't forget to stop off at Jawbone Flora and Fauna Reserve and Point Gellibrand Heritage Park for unique coastal habitats, wildlife and historical sites of northern Port Phillip Bay.

Discover History Along The Goldfields Track

Experience an unforgettable journey through several parks and historic towns along the 210-kilometer Goldfields Track. Mount Alexander Regional Park and Bendigo Regional Park offer more flat terrain, but Creswick Regional Park, Hepburn Regional Park, and Castlemaine Diggings National Heritage all offer steep inclines and winding trails through eucalypt forests, Gold Rush history, rolling hills, and native bushland. Bendigo Regional Park and Mount Alexander Regional Park are two additional parks worth checking out in the area. The full route can be tackled as a multi-day adventure, or you can opt for one of the shorter rides that can be completed in a single day.

Tackle The Dandenong Creek Trail

A total of 49 kilometres of tree-lined trail can be found along Dandenong Creek in the Dandenong Valley Parklands, where various natural conservation areas can be found. In Jells Park, you can relax in the open space, stop at Madeline's cafe for refreshments, and go birdwatching in one of the wetland bird hides.

Benefits Of Riding

As an added bonus, bicycling has been shown to improve both physical and mental health, cut down on time spent commuting, and lessen the load on the planet. Many people in Queensland and the state as a whole benefit from ridership for a variety of reasons.

Immediate Personal Benefits

Bicycling is a great way to get around town, and it's also a lot of fun. Do you recall the first time you rode a bike as a child and the sense of independence you felt? To recapture that sensation, plan a thrilling outing in familiar territory.

Physical Activity

Health professionals recommend at least 30 minutes of moderate-intensity physical activity each day. Bike riding is a great way to exercise while having fun, and there are so many benefits of being active. Riding a bike to work, school, university, or college is a convenient and practical way to incorporate regular exercise into your busy day.

Economic Benefits

The cost of buying and maintaining a bike is around 1% of buying and maintaining a car.

Riding a bicycle 10km each way to work each day will save about $1,700 per year in transport costs (including all running costs and depreciation). Also, bicycle parking is usually free, easily accessible and more convenient than car parking.

Conclusion

The mayor of Melbourne has mandated the immediate construction of 40 kilometres of bike lanes within the next two years. The Royal Automobile Club of Victoria (RACV) and the Melbourne Bicycle Network (Start) have proposed building a network of "cycling superhighways" in the city. Certain lanes are restricted to bikes only, while others allow cars and trucks. Melbourne has no prohibitions or laws against bicycling. Schools across the country offer cycling clubs where students can ride bikes together and even compete.

The beautiful countryside of Victoria can be viewed from any number of bike trails that radiate out from Melbourne. In case you're in the market for a bike or some parts, check out the extensive selection at Lekkerbikes.com. Approximately 30 kilometres in length, the Capital City Trail links the Central Business District to Docklands, the Royal Botanic Gardens, and many more of the city's top attractions. Built into a converted convent, the Convent Bakery features wood-burning ovens and seating areas surrounded by verdant foliage. The creek can be followed from Dights Falls all the way through the Coburg Lake Reserve, the Brunswick Velodrome, and the CERES Environmental Park.

The Southbank district is a popular starting point for cyclists who wish to explore Melbourne's more well-known routes. The Goldfields Track, the Yarra Valley Trail, and the Hobsons Bay Coastal Trail are all excellent choices. The starting point of the 28-kilometer-long Maribyrnong River Trail is Brimbank Park. Traveling by bicycle is a healthy and enjoyable alternative to driving or taking public transportation. Numerous mental health advantages have been linked to cycling.

If you ride your bike to work every day, you can save about $1,700 per year on gas and transportation. It is estimated that congestion costs the Queensland economy $5 billion annually. If more people rode bicycles instead of driving cars, traffic and its costs would go down. Building shared bicycle riding and pedestrian facilities is good for all users, not just cyclists. To make the roads safer for cyclists and pedestrians, more people should start taking to bicycle transportation.

Bicycling, as opposed to driving, encourages people to meet their neighbours and feel more connected to their neighbourhoods. The use of fossil fuels is reduced or eliminated entirely by cycling.

Content Summary

• More and more people are choosing to use bicycles for both recreation and transportation now that COVID-19 has established a "new normal" for nearly every aspect of our lives.
• The mayor of Melbourne has mandated the rapid construction of 40 kilometres of bike lanes over the next two years to accommodate the city's growing cycling population.
• That's why Start and RACV have proposed installing a network of "cycling superhighways" all over the city.
• Schools across the country offer cycling clubs where students can ride bikes together and even compete.
• Interested students should visit the office of the student government to learn more about cycling groups that exist on campus.
• No matter what kind of bike you're after—a cruiser, vintage, electric, or fixed-gear—Lekker Bikes can help.
• If you're in North Melbourne, Australia, stop by Lekker Bikes, peruse our online catalogue of bicycles and accessories, or visit one of the recommended coffee shops on our site.
• A portion of the Capital City Trail begins in Melbourne.
• Bass Coast Rail Trail Vacations: The Best in Regional Coast Cruising
• One of the most well-known Rail Trails along Victoria's coast.
• Find out more about the area around the Yarra River.
• The Maribyrnong Valley Parklands are accessible via the Maribyrnong River Trail.
• While bicycling along the Hobsons Bay Coastal Trail, be sure to stop by the Stony Creek Backwash and the Cheetham Wetlands.
• Discover Australia's past as you hike the Goldfields Track.
• The 210 kilometres of the Goldfields Track will take you through a number of parks and historic towns, making for a truly unforgettable experience.
• Take a hike along the Dandenong Creek Trail.
• Also, bicycling has been shown to boost health on all fronts, reduce stress, shorten commute times, and reduce environmental impact.
• Time spent bicycling can be more accurately estimated than time spent behind the wheel of a car.
• Annually, traffic congestion is estimated to cost the economy around $5 billion.
• If more people rode bicycles instead of driving cars, traffic and its costs would go down.
• Building bike infrastructure could extend the reach of existing public transportation options.
• Closer to ten times as many people live within biking distance of public transportation as live within walking distance.
• In South East Queensland, 79% of all trips are made in private vehicles (Department of Transport and Main Roads), despite the fact that the ideal distance for cycling is up to 5 kilometres.
• Those with lower incomes, those without jobs, those over the age of 65, and those under the age of 18 all have lower rates of car ownership, but can all benefit from greater mobility by riding bicycles.
• These services are shared between bicyclists and pedestrians.
• People have more opportunities to socialise when there are more people out and about on foot and bicycles.
• Pedestrian and bicycle safety would improve if there were fewer cars on the road, which would happen if more people in a community rode bicycles.
• Bicycling on the street is a safe option for children because traffic moves more slowly and poses less of a threat.
• Customers are more likely to support neighbourhood establishments when they see people walking or riding bikes instead of driving.
• Eco-Friendly Benefits Compared to driving or taking public transportation, cycling has a negligible effect on the use of fossil fuels and no negative effects on the environment.
• Fewer cars on the road will allow cities to replace asphalt with greenery and encourage more people to take bicycles to work.