Maps and Routes
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Maps and Routes
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Maps and Routes Campaigns
City of Stonnington |
Around Melbourne
Google Maps
- Melbourne and Geelong's shared paths in Google Maps
- Melbourne and Geelong's shared paths in Google Earth
OpenCycleMap
Wikipedia
Council TravelSmart Maps and others
TravelSmart Maps are large paper maps (although most are available in PDF format) that show the council area with emphasis on bicycle friendly paths. More information can be found on the TravelSmart website. If the links below are broken then email the Council(s) directly - see Transport for Victoria (TfV)
- Banyule TravelSmart
- Boroondara TravelSmart
- Brimbank TravelSmart
- Casey TravelSmart
- Darebin TravelSmart
- Frankston TravelSmart
- Glen Eira TravelSmart
- Greater Dandenong TravelSmart
- Hobsons Bay TravelSmart
- Hume
- Knox
- Maribyrnong TravelSmart
- Melbourne TravelSmart
- Moonee Valley TravelSmart
- Moreland TravelSmart
- Port Phillip TravelSmart
- Stonnington TravelSmart
- Whitehorse TravelSmart
- Yarra TravelSmart
Publications
For hard copy while out riding we highly recommend:
Bike rides around Melbourne 3rd edition, 2009, Julia Blunden, Open Spaces Publishing, ISBN 978-0-9752333-4-4
Route Profiles
Looking for a steep testing climb, no? Something flatter perhaps, then look no further than here for route profiles
Route Planning
When cycling from "A" to "B" there are several aspects of the ride to be considered and prioritised. They are: Interaction with traffic eg. crossing and use of busy roads
- Condition of road/path surfaces Wheel-friendliness i.e. smoothness of transitions in levels
- Gradients
- Directness of route
- Time factor
Generally, the less interaction with traffic, the better. Apart from the safety factor, more traffic means more exhaust fumes and more noise. Also, while there is plenty of room for bikes on some busy roads, especially if they have designated bicycle lanes, others simply feel unsafe and intimidating.
Observation and gut feeling should influence final choice of roads. Road surfaces can vary. This is where the choice of bike may determine where you can go. Roads are generally maintained with cars in mind; road edges and cycling paths are often neglected.
Being close to trees, paths suffer from tree-root damage, so this is where suspension is useful. Most bike paths in Boroondara are of a high quality and underpass major roads, but they can meander a bit. It would often be quicker to take a more direct arterial road. When making a trip regularly, it can take months to refine. This can be very satisfying. It's worth exploring apparently dead-end streets as there is often a way through for bikes, sometimes with a connection through a park and beyond. It's sometimes better to take a different way home with less climbing, or a safer approach to an intersection. For the same reason, it may be more efficient, safe or pleasant to take a slightly longer route. Always be open to doing something different but do make self-preservation your number one priority.
