VIC Park and Ride Pushes the Two-Wheeler Message

In a move that could eventually be adopted by city councils around Australia, a Melbourne 'Park & Ride' facility has created designated areas for scooter and motorcycle parking.

Park & Rides are sizeable parking facilities located outside of city centres that incorporate public transport hubs, allowing commuters to drive or ride from their home to the Park & Ride, before switching to a bus or train to continue their journey into the CBD. Commonplace in many European and American cities, the concept is gaining momentum in Australian cities too as a means of combatting traffic congestion and pollution.

In Melbourne's east, the Doncaster Park & Ride now has four parking areas set aside purely for scooters and motorcycles, which can accommodate up to 24 of these eco-friendly machines. The initiative was officially launched recently by Manningham Mayor Ron Kitchingham, with staff from Ringwood's Metro Honda, Julio Languiller from John Blair Honda and a number of scooter riders also in attendance.

According to Damien Codognotto, the Resident Representative on the Manningham Park & Ride Taskforce, it is steps like this that have the potential to make a significant impact on traffic congestion.

"Most park and rides are on rail routes and capacities range from 50 to 1000 cars, but they fill fast, mostly with cars carrying just one person," he said. "At least six scooters will fit in a single car bay, and this could free up many more car spaces. Over the network this could mean a significant reduction in exhaust emissions, traffic stress and pressure on residential streets," he added.

A joint initiative of the City of Manningham and the Ventura National Bus Company, the Doncaster Park & Ride is located on Doncaster Road, just by the Eastern Freeway at High Street (Melways ref: map 46, K1).