Getting around

Explore Port Phillip by electric-bike (e-bike) with Lime.

This innovative e-bike share scheme is back with a new owner after being temporarily suspended in March 2020 to help slow the spread of COVID-19.

Trial period

The City of Port Phillip, the City of Melbourne and City of Yarra have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Lime to run the e-bike scheme on a one-year trial from December 2020.

The MOU establishes a framework for Lime to operate in Melbourne, supporting the safe use of e-bikes and protecting the amenity of our streets.

Bike numbers

In line with Council's Move, Connect, Live Strategy, the e-bikes offer an alternative, sustainable and affordable transport option for our community.

Lime will start with an initial rollout of about 300 e-bikes across the CBD, Port Phillip and parts of Yarra. Over time, the fleet size will be increased to 800.

Helmets and locks

Helmets and cable-locks are provided to users, and the scheme is supported by the Lime app, which includes e-bike locations, bookings and in-app instruction videos.

Parking

These e-bikes utilise geofencing and monitoring technologies and Lime can restrict where bikes are parked and users risk a fine if they park the bikes in restricted areas.

Hire

The e-bikes are available for hire via both the Lime and Uber apps.

Contact Lime

Lime is responsible for all aspects of the service and can be contacted at:

Email: support-au@li.me
Phone: 1800 861 305

The City of Port Phillip is now home to over 180 car share vehicles provided by:

• Flexicar
• GoGet
• Popcar.

Some local residents make their own vehicles available for sharing through the neighbour-to-neighbour car sharing platform Car Next Door.

To find car share locations:

1. Go to the Services Near Me page
2. Enter your address.
3. Select Transport and Parking from the drop-down menu.
4. Select CarShare.
5. Select individual location pins for information on the car share provider.

Why do we support this?

Our vision is for a connected and liveable City with a range of travel choices that are convenient, safe and accessible.

Research has shown that every car share vehicle takes around 10 cars off the road. Members of car share schemes reduce their car use by 50 per cent by walking, riding a bike and using public transport.

The City of Port Phillip's location combined with better than average bicycle facilities provides a unique opportunity to promote bike riding as a healthy and environmentally friendly form of transport.

The City contains an extensive on and off-road bicycle network connecting the majority of areas within the municipality. There are 38 km of on-road routes and 21 km of off-road routes. Perfect for you to get on your bike and start discovering the many local bike riding groups, find riding resources including maps and request a new spot to park your bike.

Port Phillip also has in excess of 900 bicycle racks located in all shopping centres, foreshore areas and railway stations.

Boosting bike riding is a key focus of the Move, Connect, Live - Integrated Transport Strategy 2018-28. Ten actions will guide Council over the next ten years to improve bike riding infrastructure and networks across Port Phillip and motivate more people to ride more often and to more places.

Bike riding is a healthy, sustainable and enjoyable way to get around our City.

As restrictions ease and our City opens up, it is anticipated that more people will choose to ride bikes as an alternative to driving or taking public transport.

Our City is growing too, and as more people move within our City, demand will increase on our existing roads and bike corridors.

In 2019, the Council Plan survey found that our community wants a City that makes it easier and more enjoyable to walk, ride a bike or use public transport. This is reflected in our Move, Connect, Live strategy, which outlines the need to ‘deliver a network of dedicated and continuous protected bike corridors to create safer routes for all ages and abilities’.

The Inkerman Safe Travel Corridor is a priority as it has the greatest potential to reduce crashes and attract new bike riders by creating a continuous protected corridor to the CBD. The corridor will include protected bike lanes that run on Inkerman Street between St Kilda Road and Orrong Road.

We are working with Glen Eira City Council on the shared section of Inkerman Road between Hotham Street and Orrong Road to connect with their proposed Safe Cycling Corridor pilot for Inkerman Road.

Protected bike lanes protect bike riders from both moving traffic and people exiting parked cars. They also shorten crossing distances for pedestrians and slow traffic making the street safer for all road users.

Draft concept designs are being investigated and will consider bike rider and broader community safety, as well as impact to the neighbourhoods.

Consultation is planned in 2021 on the draft concept design.

Have your say

Community engagement is central to this project’s development. We want to hear from residents, businesses, bike riders, pedestrians and drivers, anyone who moves around our City. As this project progresses, more information will be shared with the community.

Sign up to stay up to date with this project.

Back2Bikes

Local social enterprise Back2Bikes recycle, sell and service bikes at low cost, train volunteers and run bike maintenance classes in Port Melbourne. They need donations of usable bikes and parts as well as volunteers to help fix bikes.

Port Phillip Bicycle User Group (BUG) Incorporated

Port Phillip has a Bicycle User Group (BUG) that represents the views and needs of local bike riders. Port Phillip BUG offers inclusive and fun social rides and also advocates for better cycling conditions. They have a committee and hold monthly meetings at the Port Phillip EcoCentre.

Bicycle Network

This peak body focuses on increasing bicycle awareness and use, bicycle safety, bicycle insurance, better bike facilities and more bike paths/lanes. Bicycle Network coordinates major bike riding events including Ride2School Day, National Ride2Work Day, the Great Victorian Bike Ride and Around the Bay in a Day.

BikeNOW

BikeNOW is a South Melbourne bike shop that runs rides and events including COGS Girls women's road bike cycling skills sessions. The rides are a welcoming and safe way to help gain confidence on a road bike, even if you are feeling a bit wobbly.

Cycling Victoria

Cycling Victoria is the peak body for the sport of racing cycling, including the disciplines of road, track and mountain biking within Victoria. She Rides is a program coordinated by Cycling Victoria that provides participation and leadership opportunities for female cyclists through group rides for women, led by women.

Ladies Back on Your Bikes

Ladies Back on Your Bikes provides a chance to refresh your skills or learn to cycle the basics in a fun and safe environment, whilst meeting other women to enjoy a coffee along the way.

St Kilda Cycling Club (SKCC)

The SKCC is a high profile and professional association, with organised racing, regular information nights and organised rides. The club caters for a broad range of bike riders, from novices to A graders. SKCC especially welcomes female members.

To receive updates about bike related events, infrastructure and consultations please sign up to our mailing list.

Pop up bike repairs

Pop up bike repairs have been postponed until further notice. Please check in on this page for future updates.

Bike maps

The Port Phillip Travel Smart map was developed by Council to provide information about bike lanes, shared paths and public transport:

• Travel Smart Map of Port Phillip 2018 page 1 (PDF 2.4 MB)
• Travel Smart Map of Port Phillip 2018 Page 2 (PDF 4.5 MB).

You can also pick up a hardcopy from St Kilda Town Hall or Port Melbourne Town Hall, or order one by contacting ASSIST on 03 92 096 777.

Visit the Public Transport Victoria website for more details about public transport, including how to take your bike on trains.

Bike law handbook

This publication by the Victorian Law Foundation aims to take the heat and confusion out of sharing the road. Download the PDF or order a free copy from the Victoria Legal Aid site.

Sharing the Road and Path tip cards

Download the tip cards for Sharing the Road or Sharing the Path (PDF 450 KB) whether you walk, ride, scoot or drive.

Bike pumps

There are eight public bike pumps in Port Phillip, at the:

• St Kilda Library (150 Carlisle Street)
• South Melbourne Market (opposite 131 Cecil Street)
• Emerald Hill Library and Heritage Centre (195 Bank St, South Melbourne)
• St Kilda foreshore (opposite 340 Beaconsfield Parade)
• Port Melbourne foreshore (adjacent to Station Pier)
• MUARC forecourt (Albert Park Lake)
• Fitzroy Street, St Kilda (near St Kilda Light Rail Station)
• Lemnos Square (corner of Graham and Foote streets, Albert Park).

Westgate Punt service

The Westgate Punt is a ferry service that crosses the Yarra near Westgate Bridge. It shuttles back and forth from Westgate Landing in Port Melbourne to Spotswood Jetty near Williamstown and is used by bike riders and walkers.

Bicycle Network resources

For a wide range of bike riding tips and resources, visit Bicycle Network.

Public bike parking

Bike parking is installed as required or requested throughout Port Phillip to support the community to ride bikes.

Please complete the Bike Parking - New Location Request Form to request bike parking at a new location. We will assess your request according to the criteria outlined on the form and contact you with the outcome.

For more information please email transport@portphillip.vic.gov.au or contact ASSIST on 03 9209 6777.

Hire a bike rack

To encourage bike riding to your next school fete, market or event, we have two fold-up bike racks for hire. Each rack holds 10 bikes and folds easily for transporting.

Simply book your rack and then pick it up from St Kilda Town Hall.

To book a rack, please email bikeriding@portphillip.vic.gov.au or contact ASSIST on 03 9209 6777.

A key focus of Council's Move, Connect, Live - Integrated Transport Strategy 2018-28 is boosting bike riding in the City of Port Phillip. One major action is the roll out of a network of dedicated and continuous protected bike corridors to create safer routes for all ages and abilities.

A Festival of Everyday Riding will be held annually to encourage everyone to come and ride along the City's exciting new bike corridors!

School Holiday Bike Confidence Program

Postponed - please check back for updates.

Tour de... October to November 2020

Where will the Festival of Everyday Riding take us in 2020?

Bicycle Network's National Ride2Work Day is Australia’s largest celebration of commuter riding. Held annually in October, the day highlights the benefits of riding to work and brings together the communities that support it. The event encourages people who have never ridden to work before to give it a go, and it allows regular riders to stay motivated and encourage their work mates to get involved.

Benefits of riding to work

Personal benefits of riding to work include improved health and a sense of wellbeing, saving money and saving time. Workplaces benefit from increased productivity as a result of improved fitness and mental health. The community benefits from reduced traffic congestion and reduced greenhouse gas emissions.

Workplace support

We support local workplaces to host their own events on Ride2Work Day each year and provide everything needed to promote the day to their staff.

Ride2Work Day 2020

This year's event is scheduled for October 21 2020. Sign up as a workplace to run your own event, or attend our community breakfast at South Melbourne Market.

Stay tuned for more information about Ride2Work Day and other bike events by emailing bikeriding@portphillip.vic.gov.au

Council has a vision for Port Phillip to be a connected and liveable city where residents, visitors and workers can live and travel car free by improving the convenience, safety, accessibility and range of sustainable travel choices across our City.

Download the tip cards for sharing the road or path (PDF 450 KB) for safety tips and advice when walking.

More information on our vision can be found in the transport policies and strategies.

The City of Port Phillip runs a free program of walks that explores the heritage treasures of the seven neighbourhood precincts of Port Phillip.

You can book a walk online or visit our heritage pages for more history and heritage programs.

Walking is great for learning about our heritage. It is also great for our environment, our health and for connecting to our neighbours.

You can also email or leave a message with your name and address on the Walks line to have a brochure posted to you:

Email: walking@portphillip.vic.gov.au

Phone: 03 9209 6522

A self-guided walk will take you on a journey into the cultural heritage, past and present of the Port Phillip area.

To try a walk that has been created by a Port Phillip local, search by suburb or postcode on Victoria Walks' interactive Walking Maps website.

Want to set up your own walking group?

Port Phillip's Sustainable Transport Unit can help you and support your group with promotions and ideas.

Here are a few tips:

• choose an area
• choose a time and how often you want to walk with a small group
• set a focus, such as physical activity or exercise, companionable chat, walk the dog, end up at a pub or coffee shop
• decide on a contact system, such as email or mobile phone or SMS
• make a simple flyer or notice.

Victoria's roads and public transport network is undergoing big changes with regular construction blitzes.

For transport projects, travel disruptions, and the latest updates and news, visit Public Transport Victoria or Victoria's Big Build.

For tram replacement services, visit Yarra Trams service changes.

For timetables, maps and fares, to public transport disruptions, planning your journey and grabbing or topping-up a myki card, visit Public Transport Victoria.

Public transport Victoria offer accessible public transport options.

A half price concession taxi program and an increasing fleet of purpose designed wheelchair accessible taxis is also available.

You can also find accessible parking information, or visit Services Near Me for your nearest parking options.

The St Kilda Express airport transfer gets you to and from Melbourne’s beach side playground seven days a week.

Visit the SkyBus website for more details.

For free independent complaints advice and handling around public transport in Victoria, visit the Public Transport Ombudsman.

We are passionate about encouraging local primary and secondary school children to get physically active – it's even included in our Council Plan.

Walking, riding or scooting to and from school helps students build healthy habits for life. Active travel is also great for our community and environment, as well as enabling students to connect with family and friends.

The Port Phillip Walk to School Month video, featuring local schools, shows how active travel is fun, easy and social.

We offer a range of support to help teachers, parents and students to get involved with active travel, through annual events, funding opportunities and the Healthy Tracks to School program.

Ride2School Day is a national celebration of active travel held in March each year.

The Bicycle Network initiative is a fun and easy way for primary and secondary students to get physically active on their journey to school and from school. Students are encouraged to ride, walk or scoot to and from school.

Council is also offering a $200 Active Travel Rebate to all participating schools, and the chance to win some great prizes. For more information, contact us on schooltravel@portphillip.vic.gov.au

The Bicycle Network advised that the City of Port Phillip achieved the highest percentage of participating schools in Victoria for this year’s event. A great result for our local community and Council. View the full article to find out more.

Walk to School Month is a VicHealth initiative that encourages primary school students (and their parents) to get active by walking, riding or scooting to and from school this October.

Council offers all participating schools:

• a $200 Active Travel rebate to put towards a Walk to School event or activity such as a healthy breakfasts
• amazing prizes
• practical advice and assistance.

Visit the official Walk to School website to access further information and free resources for your school.

For more information about getting your school involved in Walk to School Month, contact our Travel Choices Officer on schooltravel@portphillip.vic.gov.au

For more information about any of the following opportunities, including full eligibility criteria and a copy of the application form, contact us on schooltravel@portphillip.vic.gov.au

Active Travel Rebate

All primary and secondary schools in our City are eligible to apply for a $200 Active Travel Rebate per school term from Council. If you have an idea for an activity or initiative which encourages active travel to or from school, we encourage you to apply.

Examples of how some schools use their active travel rebate include:

• Walk to School Month events
• Healthy breakfasts as part of an active travel event or initiative
• Active travel prizes, such as 'lucky ticket' prizes by school crossing supervisors.

Active Travel Matched Grant

Local primary and secondary schools can also apply for an Active Travel Matched Grant, valued at up to $2000 each. Funds received through this grant must be matched by the school.

The grant can be used for any approved purpose which supports more students to actively travel to school.

Common projects include:

• Active paths - wayfinding footpath graphics along designated routes to school
• Bike and scooter parking facilities
• Bike education

Up to four Active Travel Matched Grants are available per year, with a maximum of one grant per school per year.

Bike education – instructor training

Bicycle Education ('Bike Ed') Instructor Training enables school staff and parents to develop the capabilities to teach school children the skills they need to ride safely and independently on roads and paths.

We can cover the course fees for your school's representatives to undertake this instructor training through Cycling Safe. Up to six Council-funded places are available per year, with a maximum of two per school.

More information about this training, including course dates and locations, can be found on Cycling Safe.

For a copy of the application form for Council-funded enrolments for Bike Ed instructor training, email schooltravel@portphillip.vic.gov.au

To find out how we can support your school to participate in active travel, contact our Travel Choices Officer (Schools):

Email: schooltravel@portphillip.vic.gov.au
Phone: 03 9209 6274