Commuting: Ringwood to Melbourne

You can jump onto the track at Park Road.

I thought you would just keep on the bike track up to the falls in Collingwood and then go on the streets from there.
Another way is straight down Doncaster Road into the city. Its a lot quicker than the bike track.

Dancier said:

You can jump onto the track at Park Road.

I thought you would just keep on the bike track up to the falls in Collingwood and then go on the streets from there.
Another way is straight down Doncaster Road into the city. Its a lot quicker than the bike track.

Hi Dancier,

I thought about getting on the track at Park Rd, but for me that means riding the length of Park Rd, the other way is a bit flatter. Also Springfield Rd looks a bit more direct and flatter than that part of the Freeway track.

Same reasoning with the other end, I was trying to avoid the up/down across the Yarra at Fairfield Boat House.

I hadn't actually thought of Doncaster Rd, dunno if I'm ready for that much traffic.

Rod.

If you can handle traffic on the roads you mentioned, then try Mont Albert Road. Has a nice wide bike lane most of its length, and cars tend to drive reasonably slowly along it. Once you get to Burke Rd in Camberwell, take Sackville, Wellington and Stevensons Sts through Kew to get to the Yarra, or alternatively, Rathmines, Liddiard Sts Hawthorn to get to the Yarra near Hawthorn station. Then just follow the Boulevard to the city.

Pat

Rod_C said:

G'day All,

I've got my self to the point where I'm about to start occasionally commuting to work from Warranwood (North Ringwood/South Warrandyte) to Flinders St in the city.

Just looking for opinions as to the best route. At this stage I'm planning to go Deep Ck Rd, Maroondah Hwy, Mitcham Rd, Springfield Rd then the Eastern Fwy track. What I'm trying to determine is what's the best way to get from the Eastern Fwy to the city (Chandler Hwy, Heidelberg Rd, Wellington St??).

Any suggestions most welcome.

thanks,

Rod.

Regarding your initial bit, I hop on the same track from Maroondah Hwy, but I cross at Cook Rd, go on the sidewalk of the north side service lane to Thomas St, Harrison St, Doncaster East rd, Mitcham rd, then the track. The last bit of Mitcham rd is quite OK if you're prepared to take up the lane at the traffic lights at Springfield rd and Park rd. The rest is wide enough. Been doing this for 8 months now, never got buzzed yet.

Can't help you with the other end.

I might see you in the morning? I arrive there around about 8-8:15am. High viz polo top and baggy black shorts.

hi guys. Im from Heathmont but live in Sydney. How long does it take to get from Ringwood to town on the bike?

Cheers

Al

admcau said:

hi guys. Im from Heathmont but live in Sydney. How long does it take to get from Ringwood to town on the bike?

Cheers

Al

Riding a pretty direct route from Blackburn to the city takes me around 45 mins in the morning (6 am) and a little longer in the afternoon with the heavier traffic / lights etc.

Pat

vaudegiant said:

Riding a pretty direct route from Blackburn to the city takes me around 45 mins in the morning (6 am) and a little longer in the afternoon with the heavier traffic / lights etc.

Pat

Which roads or paths do you take Pat? I have been using the "freeway" path but am not convinced it is the best option.

roshea said:

Which roads or paths do you take Pat? I have been using the "freeway" path but am not convinced it is the best option.

To be exact, back streets through Blackburn (I've had too many high speed close-calls on Canterbury Rd), then Albion Rd Box Hill and through to Mont Albert Road, which has a nice wide bike lane most of its length, and cars tend to drive reasonably slowly along it. Once you get to Burke Rd in Camberwell, take Sackville, Wellington and Stevensons Sts through Kew to get to the Yarra near Victoria Bridge (Barkers Rd), or alternatively, Rathmines, Liddiard Sts Hawthorn to get to the Yarra near Hawthorn station. Then just follow the Boulevardto the city.
I actually take Victoria St and then a few back streets of Fitzroy / East Melbourne. All up 19 k's which take 45-55 mins at most.

Pat

vaudegiant said:

(I've had too many high speed close-calls on Canterbury Rd)

Yes I can vouch for the above, yesterday a P plater swung in front of me as I was coming down through station street in Box Hill and then at Mt Pleasant Rd in Nunawading another d--k head hesitates and then does the mad rush turn right in front of me.

I don't work in the city so I rarely travel to and from but yesterday I was coming back from an ATB training ride and Canterbury road was my last leg of the journey.

vaudegiant said:

To be exact, back streets through Blackburn (I've had too many high speed close-calls on Canterbury Rd), then Albion Rd Box Hill and through to Mont Albert Road, which has a nice wide bike lane most of its length, and cars tend to drive reasonably slowly along it. Once you get to Burke Rd in Camberwell, take Sackville, Wellington and Stevensons Sts through Kew to get to the Yarra near Victoria Bridge (Barkers Rd), or alternatively, Rathmines, Liddiard Sts Hawthorn to get to the Yarra near Hawthorn station. Then just follow the Boulevardto the city.
I actually take Victoria St and then a few back streets of Fitzroy / East Melbourne. All up 19 k's which take 45-55 mins at most.

Pat

Thanks Pat - I will look into this, since it is about 10K shorter than what I have been doing (Blackburn Rd to Springfield, freeway path then Heidelberg Rd and Clifton Hill).

vaudegiant said:

To be exact, back streets through Blackburn (I've had too many high speed close-calls on Canterbury Rd), then Albion Rd Box Hill and through to Mont Albert Road

<snip>

I have been trying to follow this route on-line, using the maps at the VicRoads site: 210.9.62.138viewer.htmOpen ↗
(VERY useful interactive maps here!)

Could you please give me a bit more detail about getting from Albion Rd to Mont Albert Rd?

After Stevenson St, what do you think about the following:
R - Carson St
L - Studly Park Rd
Off-road path to the North after Coombs Av
Straight - Johnston St etc to Parkville

I haven't actually tried this route, so there may be major issues that are not obvious from the map.

roshea said:

<snip>

I have been trying to follow this route on-line, using the maps at the VicRoads site: 210.9.62.138viewer.htmOpen ↗
(VERY useful interactive maps here!)

Could you please give me a bit more detail about getting from Albion Rd to Mont Albert Rd?

After Stevenson St, what do you think about the following:
R - Carson St
L - Studly Park Rd
Off-road path to the North after Coombs Av
Straight - Johnston St etc to Parkville

I haven't actually tried this route, so there may be major issues that are not obvious from the map.

Might be best if you follow this with a Melways....

Albion ends at Station ST.....turn R. then L. into either James / Howard Sts....R. into Surrey Dv.....L into Brougham St....L. into Elgar Rd, then R. into Mont Albert Rd.....total distance from end of Albion to start of Mont Albert @ 1 km.
Studley and Johnston Sts are pretty good for commuting and well used by cuyclists.

Hope this helps,

Pat

Many thanks Pat!

Hi guys

Rode into Collins St from home this morning in 1hr 25 mins using the Ringwood Bypass, Mullum trail, down along the Eastern Fwy Koonung trail and down through the Chandler Hwy/Yarra Boulevard, into Collingwood and down to Fed Square.

Total: 37km
Avg Speed : 27.45kph
Left home: 7.25am
Arrive Work: 8.50am

1 hr 15 min to Wellington Street and Victoria Parade
1 hr 21 min to Fed Square
1 hr 25 min to 555 Collins St.

Compare with train trip door to door incl walk to from station takes 1hr 20min.

Rode at about 80% capacity. Cheers, Nathan

What? The Australia & New Zealand forums. Ah, that explains a lot.

Nathan, I was reading some of the new posts listed on the bottom of the page and I came across this thread. I read your commentary about your commute to Melbourne and I couldn't understand why I did not recognize any of the routes that you rode. When I intended to reply, I noticed which forum I jumped to. I thought you were commuting to Melbourne Florida.

Yet another Senior Moment. Sigh. . . .

Quoted post said:

Originally Posted by Rod_C [IMG]/img/forum/go_quote.gif[/IMG]

Quote:
Originally Posted by Dancier You can jump onto the track at Park Road.

I thought you would just keep on the bike track up to the falls in Collingwood and then go on the streets from there.
Another way is straight down Doncaster Road into the city. Its a lot quicker than the bike track.
Hi Dancier,

I thought about getting on the track at Park Rd, but for me that means riding the length of Park Rd, the other way is a bit flatter. Also Springfield Rd looks a bit more direct and flatter than that part of the Freeway track.

Same reasoning with the other end, I was trying to avoid the up/down across the Yarra at Fairfield Boat House.

I hadn't actually thought of Doncaster Rd, dunno if I'm ready for that much traffic.

Rod.

IF you wanna avoid that bit when you go down the bike bath from bulleen road, jsut as you pass under burke road go right over the river, go left then first rright and past the tennis courts up onto the ivanhoe boulevard then onto hiedleberg road and avoid most of the hills.

Quoted post said:

Originally Posted by Daddo [IMG]/img/forum/go_quote.gif[/IMG]

What? The Australia & New Zealand forums. Ah, that explains a lot.

Nathan, I was reading some of the new posts listed on the bottom of the page and I came across this thread. I read your commentary about your commute to Melbourne and I couldn't understand why I did not recognize any of the routes that you rode. When I intended to reply, I noticed which forum I jumped to. I thought you were commuting to Melbourne Florida.

Yet another Senior Moment. Sigh. . . .

Ha! :-) Didn't the metric give you a clue?