Since last April, cyclists have been able to store their bikes on the front of two route 16 buses while travelling between Strathfieldsaye and Bendigo.  

Bus Association Victoria data shows the racks were used a total of 187 times in Bendigo, or about once every two days.

The number of monthly uses increased over the course of the trial, with the bus peak body reporting regular users included a weekday commuter travelling to their Strathfieldsaye workplace and weekend patrons bound for cycling tracks.  

Strathfieldsaye Transit’s Jamie Whitmore said bike racks fitted to two of his buses would stay in place. 

He said the tool encouraged people to be more active and contributed to a citywide “one in five ideology” that urged people to get to work without their car once every week. 

“I hope, for regional areas, it's another way of promoting health and fitness,” Mr Whitmore said. “Maybe a teenager who can't be bothered walking to bus stop will ride to the bus stop, meet his friends in town and have a ride.”  

Bus Association Victoria planning and industry development manager Parry Serafim recommended the bike racks now be rolled out to more buses across regional transport networks.  

More racks would mean greater patronage, Mr Serafim said, because commuters would then be able to take their bikes further.

He also believed fitting out buses that served universities and the city centre would see more uptake.  

Public concern the bike racks would slow down bus services was also unfounded, with no report of impacted services once riders became familiar with the tool, Mr Serafim said. 

Mr Whitmore also said some brief training was enough for drivers to get comfortable behind the wheel of a bus with an attached rack.