Melissa, Project Manager

Spotted : Ascot Vale

Age : 39

How often : Every day

Distance : A relaxing 9km ride each way using bike paths and bike lanes wherever possible.

Loves : Avoiding public transport woes: being crushed, paying money for inconsistent service. Getting my exercise in during the time when I need to travel anyway, and it takes 10 minutes less.

Her workplace is very bike friendly, with indoor bike rakcs and showers.  And it shows, as over 50% of employees there regularly ride to work.

Phil, Technical Officer

Spotted : Cheltenham

Age : 53

Commuting for : 20 years

How often : Every Day

Distance : At first it was a 5km commute and so was easy.  Now I live 22kms from work - I started riding just one way each day (train the other half) but it wasn't long before I could do the whole distance.

Loves : Riding different routes to keep things interesting - via the beach, the river or back street routes.

Change : (A positive change) When I started riding, there were only about 5 or so riders, but now there are sometimes 40 bikes crammed in!  I believe I may have inspired some of those.

 Joyce, Lawyer

Spotted : William Street, Collingwood

Age : 31 (and 5 months pregnant)

Commuting for : 6 years

How often : Every day I go into the office

Distance : 6km return

Loves : Feeling refreshed and energised when I arrive, getting where I need to go quickly and door-to-door, getting in some exercise without even having to think about it, not being beholden to public transport timetables and not being squashed into a carriage with other, often grumpy, commuters.

Change : Wide, separated bike lanes the whole route. Cycling down Collins Street during peak hour can be quite hairy - bike lanes don't exist, disappear suddenly, are very narrow plus cars and delivery vans love parking in the way.

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Verita

Commuting for : 2 months and 15 days - just moved to the City from Eldorado in North East Victoria

How often : Every Day

Distance : 8 km each way

Loves : Being amongst other cyclists and people watching, sometimes the bike paths are like a reality TV show, with some facinating characters and heaps of action!
Oh, and not having to drive to work. (I used to drive 65kms each way to work)

Change : The fact that cyclists need to defend our right to be on the road.  And riders need to use cycling etiquette - we seem to have forgotten that it exists!

Naomi, HR Manager

Spotted : Capital City Trail

Age : 40

Commuting for : 7 years

How often : Every day I work

Distance : 7.5km

Loves : Doing exercise while getting to work. Avoiding public transport.

Change : The fact that Royal Park has its own curious weather patterns that ensure if it's going to rain anywhere, it's going to rain there.

Adam

Spotted : Docklands Highway, Melbourne

Commuting for : 10 years

How often : 5 days per week

Distance : 10 km

Loves : The exercise, and the feeling of achievement it gives me.

Change : Make things safer.  Footscray Road has some hairy bits.

Jarrod

Spotted: Moonee Ponds Creek Trail : Melbourne

Commuting for : 10 years.

How often : Every day, unless there's a massive downpour

Distance : 11km

Loves : "I love being on the bike path.  It's a healthy start and finish to the day, and it's some 'me' time."

Change: "Drivers to be better educated on road rules."