Active Transport (Walking/Cycling/Public Transport)
Ballarat is expanding rapidly and its age composition is changing as the city becomes a place for individuals to retire. The transport and health needs of the community will be a challenge which can be strongly supported by the benefits that cycling has to offer.
Encouraging active and equitable travel is essential in delivering social inclusion, health and wellbeing, safety and integrated mobility/transport outcomes for the community. The promotion and support of active forms of travel are important in fostering an environmentally sustainable, liveable and less car orientated community. Furthermore, cycling can reduce the financial burden and risk associated with increasing fuel costs.
In this section:
TravelSmart Map Bike Paths Bicycle Strategy
TravelSmart Map
This TravelSmart Map was developed by the Department of Transport and Melway with Ballarat City Council to provide sustainable transport information on a pocket-sized complete street map with standard Melway references. To download your copy of Ballarat's TravelSmart Map, click the following links.
Travel Smart Map Page 1
Travel Smart Map page 2
Bike Paths
Council is responsible for maintaining approximately 50km of off-road bicycle paths, as well as the many kilometres of on-road bicycle lanes. Council completes a regular annual maintenance regime to keep the cycle network in an acceptable condition.
The City of Ballarat has a strong relationship with BalBUG, and with their help, identifies issues and missing links with the existing network in an effort to provide an enjoyable and safe ride for all bicycle path users.
A section of Council's cycle path budget is dedicated to upgrading the Skipton-Ballarat Rail Trail. With the cooperation of local Councils in the area of the rail trail, it is expected that the rail trail will be of exceptional standard for cycling in the future.
For further information on local bike paths visit the Bike Riding section in Things to do.
City of Ballarat Bicyle Strategy
Arup, in conjunction with Design Cycle was appointed by the City of Ballarat in July 2007 to develop a Bicycle Strategy. The overarching goal of the strategy is to make Ballarat a more cycling friendly environment that caters for all types of potential bicycle riders.
The vision is a community that embraces cycling as a real transport choice realising the health and social benefits. The vision is a Ballarat with significantly greater tourism and recreational opportunities realising the economic benefits. The vision is a community that does not rely on excessive private motorised transport realising the environmental benefits.
Key initiatives include the development of a cohesive infrastructure network, establishing a focal person for cycling, a Social Marketing Program (including safety training and Travel Smart), audits and maintenance, monitoring, signage, information and town planning opportunities.
The City of Ballarat has produced a Bicycle Strategy - Ballarat Bicycle Strategy 2008 (PDF - 5651KB) recommending an integrated approach for an improved bicycle network and increased cycling partcipation.