Walking and cycling
Walking and cycling are great ways to include exercise into your day, as well as being sustainable and healthy transport modes. They are easy, cheap and accessible for most people and produce no direct pollution or greenhouse gas emissions.
Walking
Walking is the most popular form of recreational activity for Victorians, and has environmental, health and social benefits. Walking is also part of every trip, either the entire journey or as connecting trips to public transport or parked vehicles.
Places to walk
In Moreland there are some great places to get out and about and explore on foot:
- Explore the hustle and bustle of Sydney Road. Part middle eastern souk, part Mediterranean bazaar – the fresh food retailers along this shopping strip are renowned. Brides also come from afar to find that perfect dress or matching pair of shoes, and the cosmopolitan cafes and funky boutiques draw a crowd.
- Walk along the Merri Creek trail. Discover Brunswick’s own Russian Orthodox Church, complete with gold “onion domes," CERES environment park, remnants of old bluestone quarries, or have a picnic on the banks of Coburg Lake.
- Watch birds at Jacana Wetlands along Moonee Ponds Creek. Further downstream, marvel at the wooden trestle bridge across the valley, or watch the planes take off and land at Essendon Airport.
Cycling
Cycling is a great way to keep fit, save money and get around.
Places to cycle
Moreland has a great network of on and off road cycle paths.
- Shared off-road walking and cycling paths run along the length of both Merri Creek and Moonee Ponds, and connect to the Capital City trail.
- The Upfield bike path runs parallel to the Upfield train line as far as the Fawkner cemetery.
- The Western Ring Road path follows the Western Ring Road on the northern boundary of Moreland, and the shared path along Park Street (part of the Capital City trail) forms the southern boundary of Moreland.
There are many more on and off road bike routes in Moreland.
Bike Parking
Moreland Council supports riding by providing bicycle parking near shops and other activity areas. In some shopping strips Council has also converted an on-street car parking space into bicycle parking using 'bicycle corrals' (DOC 576Kb).
Bicycle corrals move bike parking off the footpath and onto the street, providing more space for people movements, cafe dining spaces and interesting shop displays. They also provide parking for 10 people who ride, rather than the one or two people who might arrive by car.
Having and maintaining a bike corral outside your business is a great way to demonstrate your commitment to sustainable transport.
Great shopping spaces that encourage people walk or ride are not only healthy and good for the environment, it makes good business sense as this Heart Foundation study shows.
TravelSmart maps
A TravelSmart map clearly shows public transport as well as good walking and riding routes. It will help you plan getting from A to B using your feet, bike or public transport.
When you hop out of the car and use an alternative mode of transport a whole range of routes present themselves – you don't have to stick to main roads. Choose some quiet backstreets and enjoy your trip – at the same time as getting some essential exercise.
Download the Moreland TravelSmart map (PDF 8Mb) or get one from a Metlink office or a Council Citizen Service Centre
