1. The relevant regulations under the Road Safety Act 1986 ("RSA") are:

2. As noted in the last edition the Road Legislation Amendment Bill 2009 amended the RSA to provide that cyclists can be charged with serious traffic offences similar to those that apply to drivers of motor vehicles. The offences apply to all drivers of non-motorised vehicles, not just cyclists, and the penalties for these offences are approximately half that of the penalties applying to corresponding offences for drivers of motor vehicles, reflecting the fact that cars tend to cause significantly more damage to people and property. The serious traffic offences are:

3. Road Rules 163 (Driving past the rear of a stopped tram at a tram stop) and 164 (Stopping beside a stopped tram at a tram stop) now make it clear it is permissible to proceed past a stopped tram at no more than 10 km/h, once the doors are closed and there are no pedestrians crossing. This removes the ambiguity in the old rules. Failing to comply with these rules carries a maximum penalty of 10 pu. Schedule 7 of the RS General Regulations imposes a 2.5 pu infringement penalty on these offences.

4. The Department of Transports new bike hire scheme in the CBD called Melbourne Bike Share (www.melbournebikeshare.com.au) is supported by the City of Melbourne and operated by the RACV. Bike Share cyclists must provide their own helmets or, if they take out a yearly subscription, they can have one sent out for an additional $20. There are two ways the scheme operates:

In both cases the first 30 minutes is "free" and then it costs $2 for the next 30 minutes, then $7 for the next 61-90 minutes, $17 for up to two hours, then $10 for every additional 30 minutes. The pricing is designed so that only short trips are taken. For longer bike touring the website recommends the use of other bike hire or tour companies. Daily and weekly hire also requires a $50 deposit, and you can hire a maximum of two bikes for each credit card. There are currently 50 bike stations and 600 bikes in and around the CBD, extending north to Melbourne University and as far south as Albert Park Lake.