Understanding your transportation options is an important concept when you arrive at a new location.
Whether it’s going to college or exploring the city, read on to discover Canberra’s transportation system.
1. Buses
Buses are the only public transportation option for getting around Canberra. The city is not designed as a grid like most other capitals, but rather a network of city centers and suburbs that derive from Civic. Canberra’s public bus service is called the ACTION bus and operates from four bus interchanges in Civic, Belconnen, Tuggeranong and Woden, which have regular routes to and from Civic and other city centers. If you need to take your bike on the bus, pay attention to the Blue Rapid or Red Rapid services, which have specially designed luggage racks. You can pay cash for a ticket when you board or use a prepaid MyWay smart card. To plan your route, visit transport.act.gov.au or ask the driver where he’s headed if you’re not sure where the bus is going. You can also see in real time which buses should arrive in the next 90 minutes by jumping online and using ACTION’s NXTBUS service.
2. Bikes
The first thing to do when buying a bike is to determine how often and where you will ride. This will help you decide which style of bike to buy. Once you have established this, you can determine whether you want to buy new or used. It is illegal to ride in Australia without a helmet, and you must have a light on your bike if you plan to ride at night. Canberra offers numerous cycle paths or cycle routes throughout the city. Make sure you stay in these lanes while driving and obey all applicable road rules. Visit the transportation and municipal services website to check the rules in detail. Bike rentals are available at several locations in Canberra, including Mr. Spokes on the foreshore of Burley Griffin Lake.
Popular Visas
If mountain biking is more your style, check out Capital Bicycle Hire. ACTION has a BIKE ‘n RIDE policy to encourage commuters to combine cycling and bus travel on the same route. Many bus stops have free facilities that allow you to lock your bike in a bicycle cage or locker during the day before you get on the bus for the rest of your trip. Bicycle racks are also installed on some ACTION buses and allow two drivers to fix their bikes to the front of the bus. Foldable bikes specially designed for public transport are also generally allowed on buses.
