Melbourne en Vélo

With The Bicycle Adagio, Etienne de Briquenell, I travel from the Bicycle unfriendly Darebin Council though the very bicycle friendly area of St Kilda (Yarra City Council) and onwards to meet Nik Dow (The CityCyclist) & Marc van Woudenberg from Amsterdamize.

We cool off at the beach before heading to the pub for some food, beers and great conversation; conversation which continued into the wee hours of the night.

Category:

Travel & Events

Tags:

• melbourne
• bicycle
• cycling
• citycyclist
• amsterdamized
• yarra city
• fitzroy
• darebin
• cycle paths
• helmetfreedom
• infrastructure
• traffic calming
• port melbourne
• st kilda
• night
• day
• beach
• victoria
• australia

[bigbadbecks73]

This was a real eye opener Paul from several aspects. I have only ever visited Melbourne by car, bus or tram so it was great to see it by bike and the infrastructure they are putting in place there is incredible. We can only hope for similar here in Perth. Thakns for sharing

[nitramluap]

@bigbadbecks73 Thanks for the comments. I really did show some of the best areas. The reality is that much of Melbourne is lacking decent provisions for bicycles (and pedestrians) but some councils really are making a difference. I wanted to show that.

We need to make our neighbourhoods and shopping areas people friendly (pedestrians, bicycles) and not primarily motor vehicle friendly...

[jaydenakasha]

loved it, great video as always

[nitramluap]

@jaydenakasha Thanks! :)

[alex4point0]

Can you comment on your decision to not wear a helmet?

[nitramluap]

@alex4point0 When I compete in races/triathlons or am training on my road bike I most certainly wear a bicycle helmet!

[nitramluap]

@alex4point0 As the law is written you cannot use any helmet which doesn't comply with the 'Australian Standard' AS/NZS2063:2008 (so even the European & US standards are banned!) which means you cannot legally wear a hat over or under a helmet - that's just as illegal (and much more uncomfortable). See helmetfreedom (dot) org for more info.

[nitramluap]

@alex4point0 Not all bicycle riding should *require by law* the use of a bicycle helmet. Australia is a rare anomaly in the world in that we enforce all adults to wear bicycle helmets no matter where they ride (the only exception is on private property).

The choice (although it is an illegal 'choice') to ride without a helmet is as much a conscientious objection to the law as it is a desire to wear a hat to protect us from the searing sun. The risk of skin cancer is much, much higher! :)

[nitramluap]

@mhwyap Yes, there are some key things which make conditions much nicer for pedestrians & cyclists without making it too inconvenient for motorists - everyone wins in the end.

[mhwyap]

Excellent film! Makes me want to move to Melbourne. BCC needs to watch this film and do something about our cycling infrastructure.