Get around: updates
← Older revision
Revision as of 10:28, 18 August 2015
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Although the frequency of trams is high, they can be very slow for even a short distance. In busy periods, you may see pedestrians moving faster! Experiencing congestion inside a tram is more than likely; just make sure you ''hold on'' to the rails, as the trams often accelerate and brake suddenly.
Although the frequency of trams is high, they can be very slow for even a short distance. In busy periods, you may see pedestrians moving faster! Experiencing congestion inside a tram is more than likely; just make sure you ''hold on'' to the rails, as the trams often accelerate and brake suddenly.
−
You
need
a
myki to
travel
on
trams
,
apart
from
the
free
City
Circle
service
+
Most of the City Centre sits within the ''Free Tram Zone'', where you can catch trams for free and do not
need
to touch on your
myki
. The zone stretches
to
Docklands in the west, Spring St in the east, up to Queen Victoria Market in the north and only as far south as the Yarra River. Be cautious, as you must touch
on
your myki if you leave the zone
,
and
many attractions such as Crown Casino,
the
Arts
Centre
and Cooks Cottage lie just outside the
boundary.
=== By foot ===
=== By foot ===
+
Melbourne has an excellent network of footpaths and crossings, making it safe, simple and easy for people of all ages and abilities to walk around the city centre. Jaywalking is a major issue in the city, and you should only cross at marked crossings or risk an incident with a car or tram. The Melbourne Visitor Centre has seven self-guided walking tours which are useful to discover the city and its history.
=== By bicycle ===
=== By bicycle ===
Over the past five years, Melbourne has had a major shift towards becoming a bicycle friendly city. New bike lanes and infrastructure are constantly under construction in the inner city. The main bike routes in the CBD are:
Over the past five years, Melbourne has had a major shift towards becoming a bicycle friendly city. New bike lanes and infrastructure are constantly under construction in the inner city. The main bike routes in the CBD are:
* '''Swanston Street''', north-south, lanes all the way down past [[Melbourne/St Kilda|St Kilda]] and up to Melbourne University in the [[Melbourne/Inner north|inner north]]. Parts are segregated by concrete with right of way, others are on-road lanes right next to traffic and parked cars. In the centre of the city, remember to stop behind boarding trams at the new shared superstops.
* '''Swanston Street''', north-south, lanes all the way down past [[Melbourne/St Kilda|St Kilda]] and up to Melbourne University in the [[Melbourne/Inner north|inner north]]. Parts are segregated by concrete with right of way, others are on-road lanes right next to traffic and parked cars. In the centre of the city, remember to stop behind boarding trams at the new shared superstops.
−
* '''William Street''', north-south,
segregated
from traffic
+
* '''William Street''', north-south,
marked
lanes
* '''La Trobe Street''', east-west, segregated from parking and traffic
* '''La Trobe Street''', east-west, segregated from parking and traffic
* Various bike lanes and routes in the Docklands precinct
* Various bike lanes and routes in the Docklands precinct
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The '''[http://www.melbournebikeshare.com.au/ Melbourne Bike Share]''' scheme makes it fairly straight forward for visitors to borrow a bike to travel around the city with. There are just over 50 bike stations and 600 bicycles around the city centre, recognisable by their distinct blue branding.
The '''[http://www.melbournebikeshare.com.au/ Melbourne Bike Share]''' scheme makes it fairly straight forward for visitors to borrow a bike to travel around the city with. There are just over 50 bike stations and 600 bicycles around the city centre, recognisable by their distinct blue branding.
−
To borrow a bike, you will need a valid credit/debit card; cash is not accepted. Simply follow the instructions at a station. You are also legally required to wear a helmet, available to share for free on the bikes
. When returning a bike
,
it
requires
a
strong
push
into
the
dock
and
you
will
need
to
make
sure
it
beeps
and
flashes
a
green
light
. Apps such as ''[http://www.spotcycle.net/ Spotcycle]'' (iOS/Android/BlackBerry) and ''[http://www.bcycl.mobi/ bcycl]'' (Windows Phone) assist in finding the nearest bike stations.
+
To borrow a bike, you will need a valid credit/debit card; cash is not accepted. Simply follow the instructions at a station. You are also legally required to wear a helmet,
sometimes
available to share for free on the bikes,
or
else
can
be
purchased
for
$5
from
vending
machines
at
Southern
Cross
Station
or
Melbourne
University
(can
be
returned
for
$3)
. Apps such as ''[http://www.spotcycle.net/ Spotcycle]'' (iOS/Android/BlackBerry) and ''[http://www.bcycl.mobi/ bcycl]'' (Windows Phone) assist in finding the nearest bike stations.
−
There is an inescapable, base cost of $2.
70
to subscribe for a day, or $8 for a week, along with a $50 deposit
which is returned
. Then, there may be an '''additional''' cost depending on the time you use a bike between stations. If you hire and return a bike within 30 minutes, there is no additional fee. If you spend up to an hour, it is an extra $2; up to 90 minutes, $7, before it starts becoming fairly expensive. The cheapest option is to simply return the bike every 30 minutes, meaning you will only pay $2.
70
for the day. After docking a bike, you are free to rehire a bike after waiting 2 minutes by reinserting your credit card at no extra base cost.
+
There is an inescapable, base cost of $2.
90
to subscribe for a day, or $8 for a week, along with a
refundable
$50 deposit. Then, there may be an '''additional''' cost depending on the time you use a bike between stations. If you hire and return a bike within 30 minutes, there is no additional fee. If you spend up to an hour, it is an extra $2; up to 90 minutes, $7, before it starts becoming fairly expensive. The cheapest option is to simply return the bike every 30 minutes, meaning you will only pay $2.
90
for the day. After docking a bike, you are free to rehire a bike after waiting 2 minutes by reinserting your credit card at no extra base cost.
=== By train ===
=== By train ===
The '''City Loop''' forms the backbone of the entire Melbourne train network and serves the city centre. It runs around the edges of the grid layout, with a mix of sunken, elevated and underground sections. The iconic '''Flinders Street Station''' in the south serves as the hub of all suburban rail travel throughout Melbourne, while the also iconic '''Southern Cross Station''' in the west is the hub of rural rail and bus travel. '''Parliament''', '''Melbourne Central''' and '''Flagstaff''' stations are all underground, located in the east, north-east and north-west respectively. Melbourne Central is built into a major shopping centre, while Flagstaff is closed on weekends and public holidays.
The '''City Loop''' forms the backbone of the entire Melbourne train network and serves the city centre. It runs around the edges of the grid layout, with a mix of sunken, elevated and underground sections. The iconic '''Flinders Street Station''' in the south serves as the hub of all suburban rail travel throughout Melbourne, while the also iconic '''Southern Cross Station''' in the west is the hub of rural rail and bus travel. '''Parliament''', '''Melbourne Central''' and '''Flagstaff''' stations are all underground, located in the east, north-east and north-west respectively. Melbourne Central is built into a major shopping centre, while Flagstaff is closed on weekends and public holidays.
−
There is no single service that continually runs around the Loop, but rather a selection of suburban services which pass through. Each station in the CBD has a TV display of popular stations, including the next two train services and the platform they depart from. Trains are frequent enough that there isn't a need to plan inter-CBD travel and you won't have to wait more than
10
minutes.
+
There is no single service that continually runs around the Loop, but rather a selection of suburban services which pass through. Each station in the CBD has a TV display of popular stations, including the next two train services and the platform they depart from. Trains are frequent enough that there isn't a need to plan inter-CBD travel and you won't have to wait more than
5
minutes.
=== By car ===
=== By car ===
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The design of the city centre's roads may look straightforward on a map, but it is a fairly different situation on the ground.
The abundance of trams means that at many intersections, vehicles have to make right-hand turns from the far left lane. Cars in the turning lane must wait until the traffic light
perpendicular
to
them
changes to green before they can finish their turn. This infamous manoeuvre has come to be known as the ''hook turn'', and is sometimes touted as a unique Melbourne experience.
+
The design of the city centre's roads may look straightforward on a map, but it is a fairly different situation on the ground. The abundance of trams means that at many intersections, vehicles have to make right-hand turns from the far left lane. Cars in the turning lane must wait until the traffic light
of
the street they are turning
into
changes to green before they can finish their turn. This infamous manoeuvre has come to be known as the ''hook turn'', and is sometimes touted as a unique Melbourne experience.
−
Other important things to note are to stay clear of the centre tram lane, watch for wayward pedestrians and bikes, and that most of Swanston and Bourke Streets are permanently closed to car traffic in favour of trams, bikes and pedestrians. Parking is mostly provided through multi-storey or underground garages, but can be ''very'' expensive on weekdays.
+
Other important things to note are to stay clear of the centre tram lane, watch for wayward pedestrians and bikes, and that most of Swanston and Bourke Streets are permanently closed to car traffic in favour of trams, bikes and pedestrians. Parking is mostly provided through multi-storey or underground garages
, with some on-street parking
, but can be ''very'' expensive on weekdays
. Parking in Docklands is more reasonable, with $10 parking all day at Harbour Town and the option to catch a free tram into the city from there
.
== See ==
== See ==