The cycle of life: Commuting to campus

October can be a particularly good time to cycle to Monash University’s Melbourne campuses, and coincides with a number of cycling events, including Ride2WorkDay, BikeTober, and Around the Bay in a Day.

Cycling also has several advantages over other forms of transport, potentially saving time and money while providing health and environmental benefits.

Quick and cheap

I’ve long enjoyed cycling, but its appeal has become clearer to me as roads get more congested, the cost of living increases, and climate change becomes more obvious.

When I cycle to campus it takes less than 30 minutes, while the trip home is slightly quicker (Monash Clayton sitting above surrounding suburbs). For comparison, my commute to Monash by bus takes 45 to 60 minutes, about half of which is on the bus itself, while the rest is walking and waiting. I save a lot of time by bike, and I don’t need a Myki.

While I can drive to Monash, it’s only 10 minutes faster than cycling even when traffic is light and parks are plentiful, which isn’t all that often. And driving comes with the expenses of parking, petrol, and car maintenance.

On your bike

For me, cycling to campus is now as easy as riding a bike, but it did require some preparation. Having the right bike and accessories, having suitable clothes and picking the right route can make a difference.

There’s no one bike that will suit all commuters – on campus you’ll see road, cargo, hybrid, single-speed and mountain bikes. E-bikes are also increasingly common. I commute on my old road bike that I’ve owned for 20 years.

If you need a bike, think about what you actually need, and don’t spend money on something that won’t be used. Mountain bikes are great fun, but if you aren’t riding dirt trails you could waste money on a suspension fork and fat tyres that will slow you down on city streets.

For those on a budget, second-hand bikes can be a good option. A 10-year-old bike from a major manufacturer with good parts may be more reliable than a new bike from a department store. Online guides can help you learn what to look for. And common sense helps, too – a new Facebook user selling “racer bike need gone asap” is perhaps best avoided.

If you’re commuting to Monash by bike, you’re probably bringing more than yourself. You may have books, a laptop, change of clothes and a lock. A backpack, courier bag or basket are all good options for light loads. I use pannier bags that are directly mounted onto my bike, which can carry heavier loads and are good in wet weather.

I wear gloves and pack a waterproof jacket for the cold and wet, but it rains less in Melbourne than you may think. Showers in Melbourne often don’t last long, and I can often pick gaps between showers using the weather radar. Most days I’m just fine wearing regular clothes and change my shirt at the end of a ride.

Bikes do need some maintenance, but a bike can go a long way if you do the basics.

Regularly pump your tyres, clean and oil the chain, tune the gears and maintain your brakes. You can learn to do this yourself using online instruction videos, or get a service at a local bike shop (including on the Clayton campus), which is far cheaper than car maintenance.

Safe cycling

Safety is one of the biggest barriers to people cycling, and one has to be safety -onscious when commuting in Melbourne. Helmets are essential and mandatory for cyclists in Victoria. I also have USB rechargeable LED lights for cycling at night and for improving my visibility to other road users. I even use lights during the daytime, which may further improve safety.

The most obvious risk to cyclists is cars, so off-road cycling paths and separated cycling lanes are a big plus. Many cyclists to the Clayton and Caulfield campuses, myself included, make use of the Djerring Trail along the Dandenong railway line. The Gardiners Creek, Scotchsman Creek and Anniversary Trails are also often used by Monash cycling commuters.

Melbourne’s bike paths are great for commuters, but can fall short, particularly at busy intersections and transport hubs.

The Djerring Trail is disconnected at Oakleigh Railway Station, so I end up cycling through a car park and bus terminus. The path connecting the Clayton campus to the Scotchman Creek Trail falls frustratingly short of campus, forcing riders to either negotiate traffic or walk.

There’s a real need for VicRoads, councils and other stakeholders to work together to provide safe, connected cycling routes for everyday travel.

Residential streets are often a good option when bike paths or lanes are unavailable and busy roads are unappealing (such as North Road in peak hour). The Strava fitness tracker has a heatmap that highlights cyclists’ routes, including some routes from Monash campuses that avoid busy roads. I ride residential streets for more than half of my commute, and they have little traffic and are low-stress.

While there are some cautions and caveats, my overall experience of cycle commuting is very positive. It’s cheaper and less stressful than driving and public transport, and often quicker, too.

The 25 minutes of exercise during my commute helps my health and clears my head, improving work-life balance.