Bicycle Network: Metro Routes

From the north it can be approached on the Scotchman's Creek path and then via bike lanes on Forster Road to the local streets around the Uni. (Mel 70 E6)

Monash swamped with bike demand

12 October 2010. Monash University's new bike arrival station at the Clayton campus— combining bike parking with showers, lockers and workshop—has been overwhelmed with demand within days of opening.

The facility was designed to cater for 100 riders but more than 500 riders registered to use it in the first two days.

The university is now considering building several more arrival stations.

Monash has historically been a car based university, its 6000 staff and 20,000 students requiring hectares of car parking space.

But the mood has changed, and the University's administration is desperately adapting to the switch to bikes and public transport.

The weather protected station, which has ten showers, swipe card and and CCTV security, and a 100 of Bicycle Network Victoria's acclaimed "Ned Kelly" vertical bike racks, occupies an area which once housed 50 car spaces.

It has been named the James Gormley Building, after the University's sustainable tranport officer who died in the 2009 Black Saturday bushfires.

It was opened by the Minister for Roads and Ports, Tim Pallas. The State Government contributed $430,000 towards the project.

Bikes are rolling at Monash

14 April 2010. One of Australia's most car dependent universities, the Clayton campus of Monash University, is on a mission to become more bike friendly.

Developed in the 1960s when cars were king and public transport was in reverse gear, the campus now faces severe sustainability challenges.

Although distant from the heart of Melbourne's bike network, wide road reservations and various creeks and reserves provide ample scope for high quality bike route connections to the university.

On the campus itself a number of new initiatives are being coordinated the institution's Office of Environmental Sustainability, including:

Dedicated on-road bicycle lane
On Ring Road East one car lane has been changed to operate as a dedicated on-road bicycle lane, with bicycle symbols and green paint along sections. The lane will link with one that exists on the north section of the Ring Road.

Bike Arrival Station
The station will provide all facilities bike riders need in the one place, from secure bike parking for 100 bikes, lockers, showers and change-rooms. The project is currently partly funded by the State Government.

Bike share
A Uni-cycle program with 76 bikes has been piloted by the Halls of Residence has been a hit with the registered participants. It provides a bike to use around campus and nearby, a helmet and lights. Two students, both bike mechanics in their spare time, maintain the fleet.

Bike path to Halls
To support the bike share and to promote the use of bicycles, a shared off-road path is being built from Halls of Residence to the gravel car park near the campus centre.
 
Other projects
A number of other projects are underway, all with the aim of making cycling to Clayton as easy as driving. They include:

•     Development of a ‘Bicycle Strategy’
•     Annual Student and Staff Transport Survey
•     Bicycle parking monitoring
•     Installation of new bike racks
•     Support of the student run Bikery on campus
   

North Road Announcement

October 06 - There is some good news now for riders approaching from the CBD, Oakleigh and surrounds.

Peter Bachelor has just announced that VicRoads will fund an off road link from Huntingdale Train Station to Monash University along the median of North Road. The route will give students and staff a direct route from Oakleigh in the west. Riders will be able to reach the end of the path by train or from Oakleigh South using the path alongside the Huntingdale Golf Club.

The picture above shows part of the draft concept for North Road. Monash University Bicycle User Group have been instrumental in developing the concept and campaing with Bicycle Network Victoria for the link.

If you have ridden on St George's Road in Northcote you will have experienced a bike route running down the median. For those who haven't, this is what it looks like.

You can download a draft concept plan which shows the route starting at Huntingdale Road overpass and running along the North Road median to Clayton Road. The route then leaves the median and runs through to the entrance to the Uni.

Train and bike commuters to the Uni will be able to leave the train at the Zone One station of Huntingdale and get themselves easily to the front gate of the Uni.