Bike Share program

Registrations for the Bike Share Program are now full.

Add me to the waiting list

To place your name on the waiting list, download the Bike Share registration form [PDF 242 KB] and email the completed form to transportcentral@latrobe.edu.au.

Registration lasts until the end of first semester (Friday 7 June 2013) and gives 80 users access to the full fleet of bikes available at 10 bike share docking stations across the campus.

There are two different kinds of bikes available in the fleet. Some have been purchased from Reid Cycles and some have been lent by Lifeskills.

Starter pack

On registration you will receive your starter pack which includes:

• Universal La Trobe Bike Share key
  
• A Kali bike helmet
• Front and rear lights
  
• Handy information about cycling on campus
  
• An invitation to join a free cycle-confidence training session, especially for La Trobe students and staff, on campus.
  

Loss or damage fees 

Part of registration includes registrants agreeing to return, in good order, the below items by the end of semester (Friday 7 June 2013). Should items not be returned in good order then registrants are liable to pay La Trobe University the value of each missing item.

• 1 X helmet ($59.95)
• 1 X numbered bike key ($200)
• 1 X white front light ($38.50)
• 1 X red rear light ($27.50) 
  

Deregistration

At the end of the semester, you will be required to deregister by returning the key, helmet and lights. The last date on which to do this is on Friday 7 June 2013.

 

View the map of the 10 bike docking stations around the Melbourne campus. 

The docking stations are located at:

1. Sports Centre
2. East Lecture Theatre
3. Menzies College
4. Union Building
5. David Myers Centre (undercroft)
6. Thomas Cherry forecourt
7. Health Sciences 3
8. LIMS 1
9. Wildlife Sanctuary
10. La Trobe Melbourne. 

The universal 'key capture' locking system keeps your key safe in the bike-mounted lock, until you dock the bike at a La Trobe bike share docking station. Once you dock a bike, the key is released and you can be on your way.

Bikes in La Trobe University's Bike Share Program can be found at one of 10 designated bike share docking stations around the campus. Each bicycle has a lock fitted to it, and bike hoops at bike share docking stations are fitted with chained latch-bolts. Once a universal key is used to release bike from the bike share docking station, the key remains ‘captured’ in the lock - much like the common coin-operated shopping trolley system. This means that as the bicycles are ridden around with the key captured in the lock until they are docked at a bike share docking station.

To unlock a bike

• Insert the key.
  
• Turn the key 90 degrees.
• Turn the latch-bolt 90 degrees.
• Pull the latch-bolt out of the lock — the bike is released and you are on your way.  

To lock a bike

• Insert the latch-bolt at a docking station into your bike's lock.
  
• Turn the latch-bolt 90 degrees.
  
• Turn the key 90 degrees.
  
• Pull the key out of the lock.
  
• Carry the key with you safely until next time you want to ride a bike.
  

As part of the starter packs, you will receive a brief introduction to have a practical understanding of how the system works.

Registered users will be able to attend free cycle-confidence training sessions on campus. They will be especially tailored for La Trobe students and staff, on campus. Supported by the City of Darebin, this training will be delivered by Bikes@Work who have been training bicycle users for over five years in and around Melbourne.

Two sessions are planned, with dates and times to be confirmed. We intend to hold weekday sessions, but suggestions for day and time would be appreciated. It is proposed that the first session will be at the end of March, with the following session about three weeks after.

Introductory class

The introductory class will cover items such as: 

• riding for visibility and safety
  
• bike safety check
  
• setting pedal and starting off smoothly
  
• braking technique
• how gears work
  
• straight line riding
  
• one handed riding
• scanning
  
• slalom (steering around cones).

Intermediate class

The intermediate class will cover items such as: 

• bike control drills e.g. steering around cones and cornering, emergency braking
  
• merging and taking the lane
• using gears appropriate for speed and conditions
• avoiding obstacles
  
• rights and responsibilities on the roads
  
• correct positioning on roads
  
• approach to and positioning at intersections
• roundabouts
  
• sharing the roads with heavy vehicles.
  

Did you know that all people using bicycles on campus are welcome to enjoy a free breakfast at Lifeskills café once a month? Find out more about La Trobe University's free Biker's Brekkie.

• Lifeskills are loaning 14 of the fleet of 24 bikes to the La Trobe University Bike Share program. Lifeskills will also be providing all of the maintenance for the bikes. Lifeskills’ contribution is invaluable for the success of the project while at the same time providing an opportunity for Lifeskills participants to develop their bicycle auditing and maintenance skills.
• Kali bike helmets have given a generous discount on helmets for this program, and thrown some in for no cost too. Check out their range.
  
• La Trobe University’s Sports Centre is a big supporter, they are doing registrations and giving out helmets and keys to get the La Trobe community moving.
• The City of Darebin actively encourages sustainable travel and is supporting La Trobe University’s bike share scheme.

We are looking for all feedback from students and staff interested in the scheme. Please email transportcentral@latrobe.edu.au and you will hear from the Environmental Operations Department shortly.