Sustainable Transport
Consider all your transport options including walking, cycling or public transport. Using alternative methods can save you time and money, help with getting exercise, all while helping to relieve road congestion and reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
Download the TravelSmart Map for Hobsons Bay(PDF, 5MB) to find your closest bus routes, shared paths and bicycle lanes.
Public transport
Hobsons Bay is well served by public transport by trains and buses with two train lines, 10 train stations and a network of bus routes providing links within the area and to neighbouring municipalities. Visit the PTV website for a map of bus and train connections as well as up-to-date timetables and updates.
Walking
Walking is the cheapest form of transport available and is well suited to short distance and local trips. Hobsons Bay has 700 kilometres of footpath and one of the largest shared path networks in Melbourne which can be used for both transport and recreation.
Cycling
Cycling is a great option for transport as well as recreation. Shared paths in Hobsons Bay are a low-stress options for long-distance commuting and on-road cycle lanes and quiet residential streets can provide other connections. The Westgate Punt provides a short-cut for cyclists and pedestrians travelling to the CBD from Spotswood. Prices and timetables are available on the Punt website.
Electric vehicles
Council is committed to encouraging the uptake of electric vehicles (EVs) as a low emission transport option and is guided by a discussion paper adopted in 2018 committing to trials across the municipality. Residents can now charge their cars at the Council Civic Centre carpark in Altona, Laverton Community Hub, and Hobsons Bay Visitor Centre on Nelson Place, Williamstown. A charging rate of $0.48 per kWh will apply from Monday 11 December 2023. A 50 kW DC charging station is available at Altona which takes as little as 30 to 40 minutes to recharge DC compatible EVs, depending on the vehicle and its battery state. The charging stations at Laverton and Williamstown are 11kW AC stations and take several hours to recharge a vehicle. To make use of the charging station, residents will need to download and register with the Chargefox app and follow the instructions which are also available on the charging station. Please ensure to follow all parking restrictions when charging and to only use dedicated EV parking when actively charging.
Carshare
Carshare allows members to hire cars from convenient locations by the hour and so is a great alternative to car ownership. Evidence suggests that each carshare vehicle takes around nine privately owned cars off the road. Carshare scheme are growing in popularity in Melbourne and we welcome operators in our municipality.
Carpooling
There are multiple online carpooling programs to match you with people with similar travel origins and destinations so you can share your commute and travel costs. JoinWheels is a mobile application that can link co-travelers with the same destination.
Transport strategies
Improving transport is a key priority in Hobsons Bay. Council’s Integrated Transport Plan 2017-30(PDF, 6MB) establishes a long-term vision for integrated transport that brings different travel methods together, providing safe and sustainable ways for people and goods to get around their neighbourhood or across town. The plan will guide Council’s transport planning, programs, investment and operations, and provide a strong platform for continued advocacy and collaboration.
Council has also endorsed the Western Transport Strategy 2012(PDF, 9MB) to provide strategic direction for transport in the west. The strategy was developed by LeadWest, the Western Transport Alliance and western region councils to prioritise projects that improve transport services and associated infrastructure across western Melbourne.