Several bus routes operating in the Yarra Ranges are being upgraded with buses being equipped with bicycle racks.
Commuters using a bus with a bike rack can now ride their bike and load it on the bus to bring on their journey.
The racks will be fitted on Martyr’s and McKenzie buses, with both companies running Volgren vehicles.
The bike racks will be available on the following routes:
- Route 683 running between Chirnside Park and Warburton via Lilydale Station, Seville and Yarra Junction
- Route 685 running between Lilydale and Healesville via Lilydale Station, Coldstream and Yarra Glen
- Route 686 running between Healesville and Badger Creek
- Route 687 running between Chum Creek and Healesville
Bike racks can fit two bikes at a time and are available on a first-come, first-served-basis.
Children under 13 must be assistant by an adult when loading a bike onto a rack.
The McKenzie buses have been fitted ith the bike racks for its routes
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This initiative originated from a project led by the Bus Association Victoria.
Bike racks on buses have been in operation in Canberra since 2005, with over 95 per cent of the fleet to be fitted with racks by the end of 2016.
During a trial of bike racks in Victoria back in 2016, the trial report said that one issue found was that first-time users caused delays while loading their bikes onto the racks.
Therefore, to help passengers using the bike racks, the government has provided step by step instruction on its Transport for Victoria website to combat delays.
Whilst the initial trial had some challenges, Victoria has continued to roll out the bike racks, with an emphasis on routes in fringe communities.
Bike use across the state is continuing to grow with many groups calling for greater infrastructure for bicycles.
A survey on the number of bike riders in Victoria showed that, across the state, 40.4 per cent people had ridden a bike over the previous year.
A 2018 Victorian bike strategy encouraged cycling routes to better match with public transport to encourage more people to cycle as a part of their journeys.
TransportNSW have been trialing the bike racks in regional centres in recent months
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Bike racks were trialled in Queanbeyan and Yass from December last year until the end of March.
TransportNSW are considering all feedback received and usage numbers to determine the next steps.
The trial saw bike racks, designed to take two bikes, fitted to buses on QCity route 830, travelling between Queanbeyan and Canberra, and Transborder Express routes 842 and 843, between Yass and Canberra.
The whole community was invited to participate in the trial share feedback through a survey and registered trial participants were asked to log their experiences through an e-journal.