6 Transport systems and your bike

Some general tips

• Always check ahead to confirm arrangements - there's nothing worse than being turned away at the station.
• Arrive early to check in your luggage and be helpful and non-demanding. The difference between being able to load your bike straight on and having to completely disassemble it usually lies in the hands of the luggage handler, not the regulation book. A good rapport with the baggage staff helps; a bad one does not.
• Carry an elastic luggage strap or two to secure your bike in train luggage cars if it isn't boxed.
• Always carry an adjustable spanner (or preferably two different spanners) to remove your pedals and loosen your headset nut to rotate your handlebars. A rag to wipe your hands and a plastic bag to keep the pedals in will make the task cleaner too.

Buses: metropolitan Melbourne

Taking your bike on metro buses in Melbourne.

Cars - carrying your bike

The best way to carry your bike will depend on what sort of car you have, how many bikes you want to carry and how often.

Coaches - regional services in Victoria

Currently, passengers are not permitted to board a V/Line coach with their bikes. These rules have no justification. In the meantime an alternative is being trialled. See information on bookings for the Melbourne–Leongatha/Meeniyan Trail Transporter trial (Friday 19 March until Monday 26 April 2010).

Planes

Information being collected

Public bike schemes

Public bike schemes are catching on around the world, with schemes announced for Brisbane and Melbourne.

Public transport and bikes

Improved connections between the bike-riding network and the public transport system will add tremendous value to both modes.

Taxis

2008 information being prepared.

Trains – regional services in Victoria

Taking your bike on V/Line trains. And information and bookings for the Melbourne–Ballarat Trail Transporter trial (Friday 19 March until Monday 26 April 2010).

Trains: metropolitan Melbourne

Taking your bike on trains in metropolitan Melbourne. Bicycles can be carried for free on all metropolitan trains at all times.

Trams

Carrying bikes on trams.