Future Victoria: Fastest way to travel from Melbourne’s northern suburbs

The Herald Sun put four types of transport to the test on a morning commute to the city from Melbourne’s northern suburbs. See the results.

Riding a motorcycle on the morning commute proved to be the quickest way to master Melbourne’s roads from the north.

The powered two-wheeler blitzed the field in the Herald Sun Commuter Challenge from Melbourne’s northern suburbs.

The timed test started at Rose St, Essendon, and ended at Southbank.

The travel exercise compared four modes of transport – bicycle, car, motorcycle and train – on a time trial during the morning peak hour, departing about 8am.

Ian Royall rode from Essendon to Southbank in just 23 minutes. Picture: David Crosling

The challenge’s motorcyclist clocked in at just 23 minutes for the 10.6km journey for an average speed on 27.6km/h.

Next best options on the day were by pedal power and train, both at 34 minutes. The car was the longest journey, at 39 minutes.

Motorbike rider Ian Royall said a combination of a good run with traffic lights and being able to filter through stationary traffic helped to record the journey in just 23 minutes.

“I got few green lights and breezed down Mount Alexander Rd and then Flemington Rd. It was one of the smoothest journeys. And legal and sale filtering helps too! Just one of those days, I guess.’’

Sam Landy encountered heavy traffic on her journey from Essendon to Southbank. Picture: David Crosling

Motorist Sam Landy’s Google map route for her 14km journey was mostly a red line, indicating heavy traffic.

“There was a lot of congestion on both CityLink and the West Gate – I barely hit the 80km/h speed limit, and regularly had to slow down below 20km/h and come to a stop along the way. The worst traffic was getting on the West Gate and exiting at Power St.

“I wish I had left Essendon about 20 to 30 minutes earlier than 7.55am as I think that would have cut my commute time.

“I normally catch the train into work and certainly don’t see myself driving regularly.”

Phillippa Butt encountered a packed train on her journey from Essendon to Southbank. Picture: David Crosling

Rail commuter Phillippa Butt said her ​t​rip on the Craigieburn line was “pretty busy’’.

“Not as busy as it is sometimes and we were lucky to have no delays on the line this morning. I take the train every day and some days it’s busier than it was today, but it was still fairly packed.

“The train is definitely the easiest way where you don’t have to deal with cars, traffic, anything like that.’’

Cyclist Kirk O’Dwyer tried a quick detour to get ahead but it didn’t quite pay off.

Kirk O’Dwyer took a detour on his journey from Essendon to Southbank but it didn’t pay off. Picture: David Crosling

“It was a good ride in — a little bit scrappy down Mount Alexandra Rd.

“It was very disheartening, I thought I got the jump on Ian, I came down Puckle St – that was going to be my secret weapon, bit of a cut through the suburbs. When I got the traffic light, Ian just flashed past on his motorbike.’’

Kirk then joined the Moonee Ponds Creek bike path at Flemington.

“There you meet the most wonderful connection of other cyclists. They all travel along at about 30km/h, (so) find the fastest one, jump on his back wheel and get towed the whole way to the city. At least that’s what I did.

“But I wouldn’t want to do that every day if I am honest.

“The conditions were perfect, I had a bit of a northerly wind which actually aided me, especially up in Essendon where it was far more windier.

“All in all, probably one of the better ways to start the day. Certainly feel like I got my exercise out of the way, I’m not going to be sitting back and thinking I have to do something later on.’’