Editing Melbourne (section)

== '''How to get around in Melbourne''' ==

[[File:Adel_019.jpg|thumb|right|Melbourne's famous trams ...]]
[http://www.thatsmelbourne.com.au/Gettingaroundthecity/Maps/Pages/MapsandBrochures.aspx Maps and brochures] are available for download. Please consider the environment before printing. There are also Smartphone apps available, Metlink, Train Trapper, & Tram Hunter.

=== '''Walking''' ===

Not only is it an excellent way to also see Melbourne and to explore the famous laneways and coffee shops, it's also the cheapest and easiest method to get around. A series of [http://www.thatsmelbourne.com.au/Gettingaroundthecity/walks/Pages/walks.aspx self-guided walks] developed by Federation Square and the City of Melbourne are available, or you can just wander around, getting yourself lost & found.

[http://www.racv.com.au RACV] have a great range of publications called Explore Hide & Seek, the [http://www.racv.com.au/shop/SelectProd.do?prodId=1140 Melbourne - Hit The Streets] guide looks especially good!

=== '''Public Transport''' ===
Melbourne has an excellent integrated public transport system, of trains, trams and buses. You can get pretty much everywhere throughout Melbourne & surrounding suburbs using a combination of all services but the transport system is radial so getting across town is slow and painful; allow plenty of time. 

For the time being you can still purchase the metcard to travel on public transport but it is being [http://ptv.vic.gov.au/fares-tickets/victorian-fares-and-ticketing-manual/victorian-fares-and-ticketing-manual/ phased out] for the new & highly despised [http://www.myki.com.au Myki] system.

The Myki card needs to be purchased prior to travelling on public transport. It can be purchased [http://www.myki.com.au/ online], from any major premium train station (first or last on any route), [http://www.myki.com.au/How-to-buy/Metropolitan-retail-outlets/Metropolitan-retail-outlets retail outlets], 7-Eleven convenience stores, at the PTV Hub on the corner of Little Collins & Swanston St's, or by calling 13 6954 (13 myki).

Once you've purchased your card you then need to ''top up'' by putting funds on the card, and when travelling ''tap on'' the card on the yellow reader on the bus/ tram or at entrance gates of train stations, and then remember to ''tap off'' when you leave. They say you don't have to tap off on trams because it automatically calculates the lowest fare. I always tap on & off anyway just so I'm in the habit of doing it for all services.

DO NOT TRY TO RIDE FOR FREE! Melbourne has Ticket Inspectors trained by North Koreans under the guidance of Hannibal Lecter. Being Johnny-Foreigner-I-don't-speak-no-English will not save you! The fines are BIG ($180) and will follow you to the grave so just BUY a ticket. The Age newspaper published an interesting story: [http://www.theage.com.au/national/ticket-inspectors-rated-as-less-than-fare-20100312-q48h.html Ticket inspectors rated as less than fare] that links to the [http://www.theage.com.au/ed_docs/Metlink_revenue.pdf The Revenue Protection Plan] that discusses how Metlink raise revenue. Brutal is best, apparently.

On a more positive note, the tourist [http://www.metlinkmelbourne.com.au/route/view/1112 City Circle Line] is free and well worth the ride, so take it!

If you need to plan your route use the [http://ptv.vic.gov.au/ Public Transport Victoria Journey Planner], it is recommended that you also cross reference with a Google map of where you're going. 

=== '''Cycling''' ===

Melbourne has a good system of bike paths. This, if the weather is good, is the ideal way (I think) to travel. The city also has a strong bike culture - so that bikes are not so much freedom machines but political statements ridden with ‘attitude’ in approved gear (lycra or t-shirts with political slogans). There is a reasonable network of bike paths [http://www.bv.com.au/ Bicycle Victoria]is a useful source for cycling related information, and for bike paths and cycling routes. [https://maps.google.com/maps?hq=http://maps.google.com/help/maps/directions/biking/mapleft.kml&ie=UTF8&ll=37.687624,-122.319717&spn=0.346132,0.727158&z=11&lci=bike&dirflg=b&f=d Google Maps] now has a very good outline of Melbourne's bike tracks too.

Bikes can be hired from [http://www.melbournebikeshare.com.au/ Melbourne Bike Share]. The bike share helmets can be purchased at 7-11s for a low $10 price tag - and the label easily scratched off & replaced with a CS sticker!

Helmets, and front and rear lights are compulsory (fines are $320 in total), passing a stationary tram with its light flashing ($360). For ABC Radio Background Briefing on Helmets - http://www.abc.net.au/rn/backgroundbriefing/ Under Victorian cycling laws there are jail terms for cyclists and fines of more than $68,000 as cyclists face the same road rules as motorists should they fail to stop after an accident or are guilty of careless or dangerous riding.

    * Hit or run resulting in serious injury or death: 5 years jail or up to a $68,052 fine or both
    * Dangerous riding: 12 months jail, or up to a $13,160 fine or both
    * Careless riding: $681 for first offense, $1361 for subsequent offenses
    * Riding through a RED light: $224 (law now operative)
    * $284 or seven days' prison if property is damaged by a cyclist and the rider does not
      immediately stop and offer assistance  

An experience of one CouchSurfer (Sept 2010): ''"After just 4 days in Australia; Melbourne, my room mate lent me his bike and his helmet. I didn't want the helmet... Honestly, I lived and ridden my bike in several places around the world without a helmet, I'm simply not used to it and felt weird. I happily left home and (literally) 75 meters after, was stopped by 2 policemen on bike. Tried to explain that I just arrived, that I didn't know that wearing it was "by law", that I was a foreigner... My fine was $150. I've been here 2 months now... Didn't catch the bike anymore. I miss it...But yeah, they do actually fine you for it."''

Melbourne has many bike lanes and bike paths and is an excellent city in which to cycle for work or pleasure. However, be warned, drivers may be a hazard as they sometime do not check for bikes before merging or opening car doors. Main roads, such as Sydney Rd. are not for the faint-hearted. There is also a lot of driver-cyclist road rage as drivers are not fond of cyclists, which is made worse when cyclists do not follow road rules and dodge traffic. 

Play is safe, and follow the road laws!

'''The Bike Shed at CERES'''

[http://www.thebikeshed.org.au/default.aspx The Bike Shed at Ceres] is an iconic Melbourne organisation, providing reliable and affordable bikes for over twenty years. It is run by unpaid volunteers, and famous as being somewhat eccentric; bargain, and the price goes up. Be rude or demanding and you will be ignored or even abused (all complaints to the CERES office 100m up the hill). That said, The Bike Shed is also [http://www.ceres.org.au/ CERES] (the Centre for Education and Research in Environmental Strategies) most popular site group, assisting about a thousand people each month. The volunteers may also give one another 'man hugs' for no apparent reason, yell at each other or even possibly invite you for a beer once the Shed closes. People may turn up and play music. They can also be very helpful and are a nexus of the Melbourne bike culture.

The Bike Shed's purpose is to skill you to fix your own bike - not fix it for you. If you need help that is fine, if you want your bike fixed you will just be left to stand there, not matter how cute you think you are. This is probably the source of much confusion and conflict. Also the volunteers don't wear uniforms or identification and usually help several people at once. So, at first, the place appears totally anarchistic when it is (usually) quite structured. Most people come away with good bikes and enjoy the experience as, in its own way, uniquely Australian. Bike Shed Volunteers have a range of skills and training from ultra-expert to novice. Some even work in bike shops, some are university academics and some are just quite ''odd''.

The Bike Shed [http://www.thebikeshed.org.au/OurLocation.aspx location]can be a site to see with its much photographed bike wheel dome.

=== '''Driving''' ===

Melbourne is not an easy city to drive in because of the trams, their [http://www.vicroads.vic.gov.au/Home/Moreinfoandservices/PublicTransport/TramProjects/TramPriorityAndSafety.htm rights] on the road, and also simply learning how to do a [http://www.vicroads.vic.gov.au/Home/SafetyAndRules/RoadRules/Turning.htm hook-turn] in the CBD. It's important to ensure you check out the [http://www.vicroads.vic.gov.au VicRoads] website before attempting to drive in Australia/ this state, in case there are [http://www.vicroads.vic.gov.au/Home/SafetyAndRules/RoadRules/ road rules] you're unfamiliar with, like driving on the left. You might also like to participate in the [http://www.tacsafety.com.au/jsp/content/NavigationController.do?areaID=9&tierID=1&navID=E95EEB2B7F00000100D71E347E6D54C5&navLink=null&pageID=322 TAC DriveSmart] program to gain more confidence or take a safety driving course.

We also have a few toll highways, managed by [http://www.citylink.com.au/ Citylink] and [http://www.melbourne.vic.gov.au/ParkingTransportandRoads/Parking/Pages/Parking.aspx parking] can be difficult to work out. Do not get caught without a valid ticket - the 'Grey Ghosts' (parking inspectors) are everywhere at all hours of the day & night! Parking permits are required in most areas/ suburbs of Melbourne whether there is signage or not. Each council manages their own parking permits so you will need to Google what council your home is in to find out where to get your permit.