Walking & cycling
Look bright – use your lights
Mornings and evenings will become progressively darker now daylight saving has finished and the need for riders to use bicycle lights and optional highly reflective accessories is increasingly critical.
In addition to being a legal obligation under the road rules, using a white front light, red rear light and rear red reflector at night or in low light helps ensure drivers or pedestrians see cyclists in time to avoid a crash. The current fine for not using bicycle lights at night is $194.
For more information see the video on the VicRoads website which highlights just how difficult it can be to see a cyclist who is not using lights at night.
WalkSpot Survey
We’re working with the #WalkSpot project to better understand how safe you feel walking in Moonee Valley.
Leave a spot on the interactive WalkSpot map and help Government prioritise improvements for walking.
To take part visit the WalkSpot website.
Moonee Ponds Creek Detour/CityLink Tulla Widening Project
The CityLink Tulla Widening project will increase capacity, reduce travel times and improve safety on CityLink and the Tullamarine Freeway. Sections of the Moonee Ponds Creek Trail will be closed from January 2016 to mid 2017 while works on this project are completed.
We have been working with TransUrban to develop a safe and reliable detour for pedestrians and cyclists. As the CityLink Tulla Widening project progresses, different sections of the Moonee Ponds Creek Trail will be closed and the detour will be updated accordingly.
Visit the CityLink Tulla Widening Project website to stay updated on the detour.
Montague Street boardwalk works
The Montague Street boardwalk, part of the Moonee Ponds Creek Trail walking and cycling path, will be closed from Friday, 7 April 2017 for approximately four weeks for refurbishment. Funded by the CityLink Tulla Widening Project, the boardwalk will receive new joists, a new deck top with non-slip surface and a new handrail with safety mesh.
Walkers and cyclists will be diverted at Kendall Street to meet up with the existing diversion in place at Fanny Street as part of the CityLink Tulla Widening works.
Bikes on buses
External bike racks are now available on two bus routes in Moonee Valley as part of a 12-month trial, making public transport more accessible for bike riders and bike riding more accessible for public transport users.
External bike racks have been fitted to buses on Route 510 (Essendon to Ivanhoe) and Route 512 (Strathmore to East Coburg). More information can be found on the PTV website.
Cycling sharrows
Cycling is important to the Moonee Valley community. We want to make exploring and commuting by bike as easy, safe, healthy and enjoyable as possible.
Sharrows have recently been installed to encourage more residents and students to commute by bicycle and to promote safer cyclist behaviour.
What is a sharrow?
Sharrows are bicycle symbols painted in the middle of the road to encourage cyclists to avoid the car door zone and ride through the sharrow. The symbols do not alter the road space in anyway.
For cyclists - They guide cyclists along a safe route in the middle of the bike lane, away from parked cars.
For drivers - They remind motorists of the potential presence of cyclists.
Why are they there?
Sharrows have been painted on the road to reduce the number of cyclists being ‘car-doored’. Across Melbourne, there have been incidents of people in parked cars opening their doors without looking, hitting cyclists and causing serious injury. Cyclists often position themselves to the left of their lane to allow cars to overtake them. By moving cyclists away from parked cars to align with the sharrows, less cyclists will be injured.
Types of sharrows
Different types of sharrows identify how cyclists and motorists will share the road.
Bicycle symbol only identifies the position for cyclists to safely pass parked vehicles while avoiding the ‘door zone’.
Bicycle symbol with ‘hats’ identifies a position where it is safer for cyclists to use the traffic lane or where passing vehicles is not possible.
Bicycle symbol with directional arrow identifies a change in direction in the local bicycle routes.
Where have they been installed?
Sharrows have recently been installed on a number streets identified as informal bicycle routes in Keilor East. These include: Rachelle Road, Noga Avenue, Nyah Street and Shelley Street (from Dinah Parade to Woorite Place).
Sharrows were installed on Vida Street, Triba Street, Beaver Street, Park Crescent, Park Street and Buckley Street from Pascoe Vale Road to Tennyson Street.
Shared paths
It's important that cyclists and pedestrians respect each other while using one of the many shared paths in Moonee Valley.
Who has right of way on shared paths and footpaths?
If you are riding a bike on a shared path or footpath you are required to give way to all pedestrians.
Do I need to keep to the left when riding on a shared path or footpath?
Yes, it is a legal requirement that you ride on the left unless it is impractical to do so.
Cyclists:
- Pass other riders and walkers on the right and provide plenty of warning. It’s a good idea to ring your bell about 30 metres before passing. You can also use your voice to provide a friendly warning – for example, “passing on your right".
- Travel at a safe speed so that you can stop quickly if necessary. Take particular care when passing in case your warning bell or call was not heard.
- Keep an eye out for all pedestrians, especially children and dogs as their movements can be unpredictable. Encourage children to keep to the left and join you in warning other path-users of your approach.
Pedestrians:
- Keep to the left of the path and walk in a predictable manner.
- Keep your dog on a lead when walking along shared trails.
- Help children to keep to the left, explaining that bike riders can come from both directions.
For more information, please contact our Sustainable Transport Officer on 9243 1193 or cmorris@mvcc.vic.gov.au.
Walking maps
Explore the natural beauty and history of Moonee Valley with these guides.
They provide a suggested route and points of interest as well as public transport access and a description of the path surfaces.
Moonee Valley Bicycle User Group (Moonee BUG)
MooneeBUG is committed to improving cycling opportunities everyone. The BUG committee that meets occasionally but mainly communicates by email.
The MooneeBUG website is a central point for events and contacts. Post or contribute to the discussion forum.