E-Bike vs Public Transport: What a CBD Commute Really Costs
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Is an e-bike cheaper than the tram? It depends on how often you ride, and 2026 has thrown a curveball: half-price public transport.
The public transport side
From 1 January 2026 the full-fare myki daily cap (Zone 1+2) is $11.40, with a 2-hour fare of $5.70; a 28–365 day myki Pass works out at $6.84 a day.1 From 1 June 2026 until 1 January 2027 all fares are halved, so the full-fare daily cap is $5.70.2
| Scenario (full fare) | Per work day | Approx. per year (230 days) |
|---|---|---|
| Daily cap, normal fares | $11.40 | ≈ $2,622 |
| myki Pass rate (365-day) | $6.84 (every day) | ≈ $2,497 |
| Half-price period cap | $5.70 | ≈ $1,311 (if it lasted a year) |
The e-bike side
- Purchase: [price of your bike — verify]. Spread over expected life (say 5 years) that's the big number.
- Servicing & tyres: [Kirk: your real annual servicing cost].
- Electricity: small — [battery Wh] × charges per year × your tariff. [Kirk: calculate from your bill.]
- Lock, helmet, lights, insurance: one-off plus yearly costs.
The honest verdict
If you commute 4–5 days a week at full fare, a mid-priced e-bike can pay for itself within a few years — sooner if it replaces a car trip. During half-price fares the gap shrinks a lot. Many people mix: ride on good days, tram when it pours. [Kirk: add your own numbers once you've tracked a month.]
Sources
- Transport Victoria — Fares from 1 January 2026
- Transport Victoria — Public transport now half price (1 Jun 2026 – 1 Jan 2027)