travelsmart getting started guide 1 - carer solutions...

TravelSmart Getting Started Guide 1 i

1. Introduction to TravelSmart 1

2: Developing a Travel Plan — finding opportunities for increasing active travel in three easy steps 4

3: Actions to increase active travel — some strategies you may like to try 8

4: Writing a Travel Plan 9

5: Implementing and reviewing the Travel Plan 11

Attachments: (including useful templates, resources and web links)

1. Travel Plan template 13

2. Resident Travel Survey template 20

3. Useful resources and web links 29

Department of Human Services Disability Accommodation Services

TravelSmart Getting Started Guide 1

ii TravelSmart Getting Started Guide 1

Published by Disability Accommodation Services Victorian Government Department of Human ServicesMelbourne Victoria Australia

May 2011

© Copyright State of Victoria, Department of Human Services, 2011

This publication is copyright. No part may be reproduced by any process except in accordance with the provisions of the Copyright Act 1968.

Authorised by the Victorian Government, 50 Lonsdale Street, Melbourne.

TravelSmart Getting Started Guide 1 1

1: Introduction to TravelSmart

What is TravelSmart?

TravelSmart is a Victorian Government initiative which aims to encourage people to choose more physically active and environmentally sustainable forms of transport, particularly walking, cycling and public transport. The benefits of physical activity and environmentally sustainable transport include improved health, reduced carbon emissions and more liveable neighbourhoods. TravelSmart projects are delivered across Victoria by councils, schools, universities and workplaces.

The DAS TravelSmart project

During 2009 and 2010 Disability Accommodation Services (DAS) in the North and West Metropolitan region trialled a TravelSmart Project with 19 participating group homes in the municipalities of Moreland and Darebin. This project was a joint initiative between the Department of Human Services and the Department of Transport. The project aimed to increase resident and staff walking, cycling and public transport use via a travel plan which was developed in consultation with the TravelSmart project worker.

Key findings from the project (residents) include:

• The number of residents choosing to walk to local shops increased by 12%.

• The number of residents choosing to travel by train to cafes and restaurants increased by 17%.

• The number of residents choosing to travel by train to entertainment venues such as cinemas increased by 14%.

Key findings from the project (staff) include:

• A 10% decrease in car use for the journey to work.

• A 7% increase in walking to work.

• A 5% increase in cycling to work.

2 TravelSmart Getting Started Guide 1

The DAS TravelSmart Getting Started Guide

The aim of the TravelSmart Getting Started Guide is to:

•Assist interested group homes to develop a travel plan.

•Highlight some of the successful strategies which were adopted by the participating group homes in the DAS TravelSmart project.

The importance of physical activity

Physical activity provides proven benefits for a wide range of health conditions including:

• Preventing cardiovascular disease and cancer.

• Improving psychological health (relieving symptoms of anxiety and depression).

• Reducing the risk of obesity, adult-onset diabetes and osteoporosis.

(Commonwealth Department of Health and Family Services. Developing an active Australia: a framework for action for physical activity and health. Canberra, 1998).

The benefits of physical activity for residents

Residents can gain additional benefits from physical activity because it:

• Reduces boredom.

• Assists with balance.

• Assists with sleeping patterns.

• Contributes to maintaining healthy weight.

• Decreases behaviours of concern.

• Increases feelings of wellbeing.

• Provides opportunities for stimulating conversation.

How much physical activity is enough?

Adults should accumulate at least 30 minutes of moderate intensity physical activity on most days of the week (according to national recommendations for physical activity). Research conducted in 2007 by the DHS Equal Footing project suggested residents in DAS group homes do not always achieve recommended levels of physical activity. Anecdotal evidence also suggested some staff have lower levels of physical activity.

It is important the GP is consulted if concerns exist about a resident’s ability to participate in physical activity. In general people who are not used to physical activity should commence with low-level activity and increase intensity and duration over time.


How active are Victorians?

The Victorian Population Health Survey (2008) showed 60.3% of Victorian adults are sufficiently active to achieve a health benefit. Research shows adults with an intellectual disability are far less active (approximately 20% engage in sufficient activity to achieve a health benefit). It is also important to recognise women with an intellectual disability are less active than men.

Developing a Travel Plan for your group home

TravelSmart recommends developing a simple plan to identify opportunities for increasing active travel in group homes. Before starting the plan it is a good idea to obtain manager support as experience from other TravelSmart projects shows manager support is crucial to the travel plan’s success. Additionally, managers may be aware of other group homes developing travel plans and be able to facilitate opportunities to share travel planning experience.

You may also wish to include in the travel plan some strategies which were used by participating group homes in the TravelSmart Project (See page 8).

Why develop a TravelSmart plan for your group home?

In addition to the benefits outlined TravelSmart has other benefits for residents such as:

• Increasing community inclusion and independence.

• Reducing the reliance on taxis which can be expensive.

• Reducing the reliance on DHS fleet cars which are not always available.


2: Developing a Travel Plan — finding opportunities to increase active travel

The following three easy steps will help when developing a travel plan.

STEP 1: IdEnTIfy local PublIc TranSPorT and SErvIcES

Action resources to assist comment

Identify public transport options (trains, trams and buses) which are close to the group home

Local TravelSmart map (available from local councils or the Metshop Swanston Street, Melbourne)

Melways map

Online journey planner available at http://www.metlinkmelbourne.com.au/

A kilometre takes the average person 15 minutes to walk and 4 minutes to cycle

Write down the approximate distance and the time it takes to walk to the stop or station

Identify local services the group home often uses (shops, library, parks, medical centres, cafes, restaurants, etc)

Write down the approximate distance and time it takes to walk to these places

Note the group home’s proximity to cycle paths (optional)

Local TravelSmart map (available from local councils or the Metshop — Swanston Street, Melbourne)

Use off road recreational cycle paths as a safe way to introduce cycling

Place the information you have gathered on the first page of the Travel Plan

Use the grids on the first page of the Travel Plan template (Attachment 1)

This information will help identify local services and the best public transport options for use by residents and staff.


STEP 2: How do you TravEl now?

before exploring strategies to increase active travel it is important to obtain a picture of how residents and staff currently travel. This will help to identify opportunities for increasing active travel and deciding which strategies are realistic and achievable.

action resources to assist comment

Survey the main method of travel to and from day placement or work activity for each resident

Use the Resident Travel Survey template. (Attachment 2) pages 23 and 24

Choose a week when residents attend day placement

The survey is in easy English with pictograms, so residents can be involved in filling out the survey and gathering information

Write down if residents need staff support to travel to day placement

Use the Resident Travel Survey template page 25

Survey how many times residents travel to other activities outside the group home


Survey the main methods of travel residents use to travel to activities other than day placement


Write down if residents need staff support to travel to activities other


Find out if residents can cycle or would like to try cycling


After the survey week collate your data on weekly outings

Use the grid ‘Number of weekly outings and main methods of transport by residents’ on the Travel Plan template. (Attachment 1) pages 16 and 17

Collate data on methods of travel used

Use the grid ‘Number of weekly outings and main methods of transport by residents’ on the Travel Plan template pages 16 and 17

The information collected will highlight trends and help the group home to become more aware of how residents typically travel to destinations. It is important to discuss and share the results of the survey at team/resident meetings.

Tip: use a ring binder to store information collected, as it will be easy to include further information as the travel plan develops.


STEP 3: IdEnTIfyIng oPPorTunITIES for acTIvE TravEl

The information gathered using the resident Travel Survey will enable you to identify opportunities for increasing active travel options. It is a good idea to discuss the survey at team/resident meetings.

action resources to assist comment

Identify destinations that are nearby or within walking (or cycling) distance to which the resident is usually driven

Use the data collated on ‘Number of weekly outings and main methods of transport by residents’. (Attachment 1) pages 16 and 17

Destinations within walking distance may include local shops, supermarkets, medical centres, cafes, restaurants, etc

Identify destinations of interest to residents that are accessible by public transport

Local TravelSmart maps (available from local councils or the Metshop, Swanston Street, Melbourne)

Melways map

Online journey planner at http://www.metlinkmelbourne.com.au/

Local council Metro Access Workers for ideas about destinations

Consider developing a community resource folder with destinations of resident interest and information about how to get there (if a community resource folder already exists add public transport timetables and routes)

Identify trips undertaken at times when public transport may be an option

Use the data from each resident’s Travel Survey Template. (Attachment 2) page 27

Weekends are often a time when it is easier to consider public transport as there is more time available and residents are entitled to free public transport on Sundays using a Metlink Sunday pass


Action Resources to assist Comment

Identify cycling destinations for residents who can or would like to try cycling

Use the data from each resident’s Travel Survey Template page 28

Further information on cycling is located in the ‘Useful resources and web links’. (Attachment 3)

The use of off road recreational cycle paths is a safe way to introduce cycling

See local TravelSmart map

Consider opportunities for increasing active travel amongst the residents in the group home and/or consider each individual resident’s needs.

List the opportunities to increase active travel which have been identified in point form on the travel plan. (Attachment 1)

Opportunities for increasing active travel can be added to each resident’s Person Centred Plan

Travel Plan template Consider some of the strategies outlined in the next section

Step 3 cont’d


3: Actions to increase active travel — some strategies to try

The opportunities you have identified will form the basis of actions which residents and staff can adopt to increase active travel. Actions to increase active travel may involve small steps such as residents changing the way they get to local shops (from car to walking once a week), or involve options which increase the intensity and duration of physical activity over time and include public transport use.

Participating group homes in the DAS TravelSmart project identified a range of strategies to increase active travel options such as:

• Walking (all or part way) and using public transport to visit the supermarket and local shops and having items delivered.

• Using pharmacies and medical services within walking distance.

• Developing a community resource folder of accessible public transport destinations including route timetables and maps.

• Visiting cafes and restaurants in smaller groups making it easier to use public transport and maximise social inclusion opportunities.

• Encouraging interested residents to try cycling in a safe environment or use tricycles which are safer and easier to ride.

• Using the Sunday Pass which allows free public transport for residents on a disability pension to travel into the city on Sundays. See: Sunday Pass on the Metlink website.

• Obtaining a Scooter and Wheelchair Travel Pass (allows free travel on all public transport in Victoria) for residents who permanently use a wheelchair outside the home. See: Scooter and Wheelchair Pass on the Metlink website: http://metlink.com.au/

• Providing advice, support and training to residents capable of travelling independently on public transport.

• Promoting the use of discounted annual public transport tickets which are available to all DHS staff.

• Using the Metlink online journey planner and local government TravelSmart maps to find the easiest and most efficient route to travel. See: http://www.metlinkmelbourne.com.au/

http://www.metlinkmelbourne.com.au/

http://metlink.com.au/


Use the Travel Plan template provided to write the plan. Generally, travel plans include the following:

• Information from surveying local public transport options and local services.

• Information from surveying how residents currently travel.

• Opportunities which were identified to increase active travel.

• Goals for increasing walking, cycling and public transport use.

• Actions residents and staff can take to increase walking, cycling and public transport use.

The most important part of the travel plan is the list of ‘actions’. This is called the ‘action plan’ on the Travel Plan template. The actions may include all residents and staff or be developed with actions that refer to a particular resident.

It is important the actions identified are realistic and achievable. This does not mean they should be unambitious as the travel plan is a ‘live’ document (like a Person Centred Plan) which can be implemented over a long period of time.

The actions should have a timeline; list staff responsible for implementing them and be ‘ticked off’ on the template when completed.

4: Writing the Travel Plan


An example of an travel plan follows:

Proposed Actionsby When/Timeline by Who

completedyes/no

1 Obtain a Sunday Pass for residents so they can use public transport free of charge on Sundays

November 2011

Keyworker with support of House Supervisor

2 Where practical, use public transport for weekend outings

Ongoing Residents and staff

3 Where practical, walk to and from the supermarket and arrange for shopping to be delivered

Every Friday

Residents and staff

4 Where practical, arrange medical and other appointments at times when staff are available and not at ‘peak’ times (so public transport can be used for these trips)

Ongoing Staff

5 Continue the practice of walking to and from local shops

Ongoing Residents and staff

6 Join a video shop which is close to the group home and encourage residents to walk this distance

Ongoing House Supervisor, staff and residents

7 Support Bob to walk to his mother’s house once a week

Ongoing Bob and staff

8 Encourage Mary to walk 20 minutes a day as part of her ‘activity program’ (as recommended by her GP)

Ongoing Mary and staff

9 Update Person Centred Plans as appropriate and necessary

Next Person Centred Plan review

House Supervisor and Keyworker


Tip: To assist with the successful implementation of actions, include specific resident actions in their Person centred Plan.

When the travel plan has been written it is important to monitor its implementation (at monthly team meetings) and discuss its progress.

Reviewing the travel plan is also an opportunity to:

• Highlight any issues or problems which may have arisen.

• Identify creative ways to overcome issues or problems whilst still achieving the aim of increasing active travel.

A travel plan should be flexible and change over time in line with resident need. It is a good idea three months after its implementation to check its progress to see if changes are required as it may be necessary to add, change or delete actions to suit new circumstances.

Good luck and happy active and sustainable travelling!

5: Implementing and reviewing the plan


Write your own travel plan actions here (refer to attachments 1, 2 and 3)

Proposed ActionsBy When/Timeline By Who

CompletedYes/No

TravelSmart Travel Plan Attachment 1 13

TravelSmart Travel Plan — Attachment 1

Local Access to Public Transport (PT) in relation to house

PT Typee.g. train, bus, tram

PT Description e.g. station name,

tram or bus route number Distance (kms)

Estimated Walking Time

House supervisor

Melways reference

Phone No

Street Suburb

Number of residents Number of staff

/ /Date

14 TravelSmart Travel Plan Attachment 1

Aims and Benefits of having a Travel Plan at

Travel Plan will aim to:

• Increase the physical activity of residents and staff by encouraging walking and public transport use (and where possible cycling)

• Increase the community inclusion and independence of residents at

•Reduce the reliance on taxis which can be expensive for people with a disability.

(Add your own aims and objectives)

Location of local shops and services that are used by residents and staff

Location Service

Description

e.g. the address Distance (kms)Estimated

Walking TimeShop/milk barSupermarketCafeMedical servicesChemistLibraryRecreational cycle pathsParkOther


How do residents at travel now?

Residents at travel to a variety of destinations. The table below shows the destinations they went to during the week of (enter dates), the number of times they made trips to these destinations and the main methods of transport used.

(Collate information from the Resident Travel Surveys)

16 TravelSmart Travel Plan Attachment 1N

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18 TravelSmart Travel Plan Attachment 1

Opportunities to increase active travel

The information you have gathered using the Resident Travel Surveys should enable you to identify opportunities for increasing active travel with residents in your group home. List these opportunities in point form.

Action Plan (Enter your proposed actions into the table below — see the Getting Started Guide for some examples)

Proposed Actions

By When/Timeline By Who

Completed Yes/No

123456789

101112

Reviews and monitoring

Reviews of this plan will occur on / /

/ /

/ /


Write your own travel plan actions here (refer to attachments 1, 2 and 3)

Proposed ActionsBy When/Timeline By Who

CompletedYes/No

20

Disability Accommodation Services TravelSmart Project

Survey to be completed for week:

(enter dates)

Resident Travel Survey

.

TravelSmart is a program run by the Victorian government. TravelSmart aims to encourage people to choose good ways to travel. It helps look after the earth (environment). So it is good for you to walk to the shops instead of using a car. This is good exercise. It is also good as you can meet new people from your community on the way.

What is TravelSmart?

Department of Human Services

Attachment 2

21

The reason for this survey is to encourage you and staff to talk about: • How you travel to and from activities • Any problems that stop you using healthy ways to travel

Why have a Survey?

The info from the survey will be used to: • Help your house look at how residents travel now

• Develop a travel plan for you and others in your house .

What will the Survey info be used for?

Who fills out the Survey? The survey is designed to be completed by the resident with support from their key worker or the House Supervisor.

22

(Key worker or House Supervisor to support resident to complete)

House Street Name: ....................................................... First name of resident: ................................................. Key worker name: ..........................................................

Address of your where you work or go to Day Program:

Organisation name: ............................................................... Street Name: ......................................................... Suburb: ................................................................

Melways reference: .............................................

Contact name and phone: ......................................................

................................................................................................

23

Travel to Work OR Day Program Q1. How did you get to work or day program for the week of the

survey (enter dates)? Please tick the type of travel you used for each day. If you used more than one type of transport, tick the box for the type used for the longest distance.

Mon Tue Wed Thurs Fri

Walking

Cycling

Train

Tram

Public transport bus

Local council community bus

Taxi

DHS bus or vehicle

Day placement bus or vehicle

As a passenger in a staff member’s car

Other (please explain:…………….)

24

Travel Home From Work Or Day Activity Q2. How did you get home from work or day program for the week

of the survey (enter dates)? Please tick the type of travel you used for each day. If you used more than one type of transport, tick the box for the type used for the longest distance.

Mon Tue Wed Thurs Fri

Walking

Cycling

Train

Tram

Public transport bus

Local council community bus

Taxi

DHS bus or vehicle

Day placement bus or vehicle

As a passenger in a staff member’s car

Other (please specify:………….)

25

Q3. Are you currently supported by staff on these trips to and from

work or Day Program? (support might be driving you, buying ticket)

Yes

No

26

Q4. How many times did you visit the following destinations for the week surveyed (enter dates)?

Destination Mon Tue Wed Thurs Fri Sat Sun Total

Local Shops

Visit friends/family

Supermarket shopping

Library

Clothes shopping

Medical appointment

Haircut

Café/restaurant

Entertainment (i.e. film, theatre)

Recreation (i.e. sport, swimming)


27

Q5. For each of the places you visited during the week surveyed (enter dates) please tell us the type of travel you used AND tick the final box if you have been supported by staff.

Destination

1. W

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2. C

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3. T

rain

4. T

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car

11.O

ther

____

___

____

____

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12. Are you currently supported by staff on these trips?

Local Shops

Visit friends/family

Supermarket shopping Library Clothes shopping Medical appointment

Haircut

Café/restaurant

Entertainment (i.e. film, theatre)

Recreation (i.e. sport, swimming)


28

Q9. Can you ride a bike?

Q10. If you can ride a bike, do you own one? Q11. What would make it more likely that you would ride a bike?

Tick the boxes that are issues.

If I owned a bike and helmet If staff rode alongside me If I had clothes for riding a bike If I rode a three wheeler If I rode a modified bike If I rode a tandem bike with staff If I rode along an off-road bike path If I knew about safe cycling routes If I joined a bicycle users group I cannot ride a bike, but would like to learn Other (please specify:…………………….)

Q13. Is there anything else you would like to tell us about

how you travel?

No

No Yes

Yes

TravelSmart Project Useful resources and web links — Attachment 3 29

About TravelSmart

For information about TravelSmart, see:

http://www.transport.vic.gov.au/doi/internet/ict.nsf/headingpagesdisplay/travelsmart

TravelSmart maps

TravelSmart maps for your local area are useful in showing where local train, tram and bus services are located. The maps also show bike paths and safe cycling routes.

TravelSmart maps are available from local Councils or the city Metlink shop (next to the Town Hall on Swanston Street, Melbourne).

Public Transport information

For direct links to public transport information, timetables and other services, see:


Assistance with planning your public transport journey

If you have not used public transport much, knowing how to get around can seem daunting.

However, to make it easier the Met has an excellent online journey planner facility. The journey planner enables you to enter the address details and the chosen destination and tells you the best public transport options and how long your journey will take (including walking to and from public transport). It also tells you when your train, tram or bus will arrive. This means you can time your departure to coincide with its arrival.

Full public transport information is available online, including timetables for all routes.

When planning your public transport journey, see:


TravelSmart ProjectUseful resources and web links — Attachment 3



http://www.transport.vic.gov.au/doi/internet/ict.nsf/headingpagesdisplay/travelsmart

30 TravelSmart Project — Useful resources and web links — Attachment 3

Companion Card

The Companion Card is issued to people with a significant, permanent disability, who can demonstrate they are unable to access most community activities and venues without attendant care support.

The card contains a photograph of the cardholder and can be presented when booking or purchasing a ticket at events and venues. Participating organisations will issue the cardholder with a second ticket for a companion at no charge.

The Companion Card can be used on all Victorian public transport services. Cardholders can have their companions travel without charge, on all train and tram services, and metropolitan bus services, country trains, coach and town bus services. For further information, see:

http://www.vic.companioncard. org.au/

Sunday Pass

Those in receipt of a disability pension are eligible for the Sunday Pass, which entitles holders to free travel on public transport on Sundays. For more information and to obtain an application form, see:

http://www.metlinkmelbourne.com.au/fares-tickets/free-travel-passes/ sunday-pass/

Vision Impaired Travel Pass

Information about the Vision Impaired Travel Pass (which gives free travel on all public transport, V/Line services and interstate services) is available at:

http://www.metlinkmelbourne.com.au/fares-tickets/free-travel-passes/vision-impaired-travel-pass/

Scooter and Wheelchair Travel Pass

Information about the Scooter and Wheelchair Travel Pass (which gives free travel on all public transport, V/Line services and interstate services for residents who permanently use a wheelchair for travel outside the home) is available at:

http://www.metlinkmelbourne.com.au/fares-tickets/free-travel-passes/scooter-and-wheelchair-travel-pass/

Discounted Met tickets for DHS staff

The Department of Human Services has organised a great deal on yearly Met tickets at special discounted rates for staff. If you are a regular public transport user this is worth considering as payments can be made via fortnightly pay deductions. For further information, see:

http://intranet3.csv.au/operations/ human-resources/conditions-and-benefits/salary,-allowances-and-benefits/rail-ticket-club-policy

http://www.metlinkmelbourne.com.au/fares-tickets/free-travel-passes/vision-impaired-travel-pass/

http://www.metlinkmelbourne.com.au/fares-tickets/free-travel-passes/scooter-and-wheelchair-travel-pass/

http://intranet3.csv.au/operations/ human-resources/conditions-and-benefits/salary,-allowances-and-benefits/rail-ticket-club-policy

http://www.metlinkmelbourne.com.au/fares-tickets/free-travel-passes/sunday-pass

http://www.companioncard.org.au/


Accessible public transport

For information on accessible transport, see:

http://www.metlinkmelbourne.com.au/accessible-transport

Physical Activity

For lots of ideas on healthy eating and active living, see:

http://www.goforyourlife.vic.gov.au/

For information on the importance of physical activity and health, see:

http://www.heartfoundation.org.au/Professional_Information/Lifestyle_Risk/Physical_Activity/Pages/default.aspx

Why public transport is good for your health

For an endorsement for public transport from the Heart Foundation, see:

http://www.heartfoundation.org.au/ Pages/default.aspx

Walking

A good place for advice on walking is WalkSmart, the walking promotion part of TravelSmart. The site contains useful information, including the benefits of walking, how to check your progress using a pedometer and safety tips, see:

http://www.walksmart.net/Home.aspx

For further tips on walking, see:

http://www.goforyourlife.vic.gov.au/hav/articles.nsf/pages/Walking_tips?OpenDocument

Be part of ‘Walktober’ — a number of events are held in October each year to encourage walking (includes ‘Walk to Work Day’), see:

http://www.walktober.com.au/

http://www.metlinkmelbourne.com.au/accessible-transport

http://www.goforyourlife.vic.gov.au/

http://www.heartfoundation.org.au/Professional_Information/Lifestyle_Risk/Physical_Activity/Pages/default.aspx

http://www.walksmart.net/Home.aspx

http://www.goforyourlife.vic.gov.au/hav/articles.nsf/pages/Walking_tips?OpenDocument

http://www.walktober.com.au/

http://www.heartfoundation.org.au/Pages/default.aspx

32 TravelSmart Project — Useful resources and web links — Attachment 3

Cycling

A good place to seek cycling advice is CycleSmart, the cycling promotion part of TravelSmart. Lots of useful information is included such as benefits of cycling, how to choose a bike and safety tips, see:

http://www.cyclesmart.net/Home.aspx

For why cycling is great for our health and well-being, see:

http://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/bhcv2/bhcarticles.nsf/pages/Cycling_and_disease_prevention?OpenDocument

Can’t ride a bike? It’s never too late to learn.

Jika Jika Community Centre in Northcote offer a ‘Learn to Ride Your Bike from Scratch’ course, see:

http://www.jikajika.org.au/2008/

‘Bikes at Work’ will also teach people to ride a bike through a series of one-on-one lessons, see:

http://www.bikesatwork.com.au/index.htm

Or telephone: 0406 765 727.

Bicycle Victoria is a self-funded community organisation dedicated to getting More People Cycling More Often. For tips on bike riding, organised bike rides, bike insurance and more… see:

http://www.bv.com.au/

Bicycle Victoria organises the Melbourne Cycling Festival, see:

http://www.bv.com.au/great-rides/40698/

To register for Ride to Work Day in October, see:

http://ride2work.com.au/

Cycling skills and safety tips from Bicycle Victoria:

For useful tips and tricks including advice on how to ride on the road safely and avoid accidents from car doors and tram tracks, see:

http://www.bv.com.au/bikes-&-riding/10028/

Some options on bicycle insurance and accident cover:

A disclaimer. The following information is provided without any implied recommendation — you need to check out the insurance offered to determine if it adequately meets your needs. It is recommended to have a look at a range of products.

There are a number of different aspects associated with cycling insurance — the key issues to consider are:

•Personal injury (are you covered if you are injured while riding your bike?)

• Third party/public liability (are you covered if you injure someone else or cause damage to property?)

•Bicycle theft (is my bike covered if it is stolen?)

•Accidental damage (is my bike covered if it damaged in an accident?)

http://www.cyclesmart.net/Home.aspx

http://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/bhcv2/bhcarticles.nsf/pages/Cycling_and_disease_prevention?OpenDocument

http://www.jikajika.org.au/2008/

http://www.bikesatwork.com.au/index.htm

http://www.bv.com.au/

http://www.bv.com.au/great-rides/40698/


http://ride2work.com.au/


To obtain all these types of insurance you may have to take out more than one form of insurance. Some options are:

Bicycle Victoria membership includes personal injury and third party insurance. It does not include insurance for theft or accidental damage. To view Bicycle Victoria’s insurance package, see:

http://www.bv.com.au/join-in/91741/

Bicycle Victoria members can take out insurance for theft and accidental damage through CycleSafe Home, see:


Electric bicycles:

These bicycles (and tricycles) have an electric motor which can be used to boost power if needed, making it easy to get up hills. As the motor does not exceed 200 Watts they are below the maximum power allowable across Australia and no license or registration is required.

According to Bicycle Victoria: ‘Electric or motor-assisted bicycles can be great for people who need a bit of extra help to get up hills or carry a heavy load of groceries home, or travel a longer distance.

They are particularly useful for people with arthritic knees or other physical constraints that can restrict cycling opportunities on an ordinary bike.

Power-assisted bikes with a power output of up to 200 watts are defined as bicycles and covered by the same road rules as ordinary bicycles.’

For general information regarding electric bikes visit Bicycle Victoria, see:





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