Riding a bike has a lot to offer. Apart from the physical benefits of cycling, there are inherent benefits that play a big part on your overall mental and emotional health.
Riding to your place of work also helps save time and money, while being kind to the environment. Bike commuters reduce their carbon footprint by eliminating 1.2kg of carbon for every 5km, mitigating climate change effects.
However, depending on where you live, riding to work may not always be feasible.
In Victoria, bicycles are currently not allowed on buses. While the state allows riders to bring their bicycles on trains, they are discouraged during peak times, so bike commuters riding to train stations need a spot to park their bicycles while at work.
While most stations have public bicycle hoops for riders to lock their bike, these public hoops are often full. Many riders resort to locking their bikes to nearby poles, fences and handrails. Oftentimes, these bikes can result in blocked pathways and critical access points.
This is where the Parkiteer program comes in.
The Parkiteer program (stemming from the words ‘park it here’) is a network of bike cages providing undercover, free, and secure bike parking at selected train stations and major transport interchanges across Victoria.
A regular Parkiteer cage is the size of three carpark spaces, providing 26 bike parking spaces through a combination of ground rails and hanging rails.
Located alongside most metropolitan train stations, with one at a busy bus interchange, the Parkiteer program supports active travel. Riding to the station allows users to achieve their recommended 30 minutes of exercise a day during their daily commute.
With more than 130 Parkiteer cages across the Victorian Train Network, and many more on the way, cycling to and from the station is easier and more accessible than ever!