Petition: Bikes on trains

Please add a message below to keep this petition on the front page for a while.

Many thanks,

“Currently there is no minimum requirement for train operators to carry bicycles and each operator has a different set of rules and booking procedures. This makes the system extremely complex to use, especially where multiple operators are used. Its not possible to book bicycle reservations online and hence one does not know whether there will be room for a bike on a train when a ticket is purchased (note, advanced tickets cannot subsequently be altered to a train with available bicycle carriage space). Some operators have extremely poor provision. The Crosscountry service has reduced the capacity of its trains from 4 bicycles per train to 2 bicycles (so they can provide secure accomodation for their retail trolly). Hence, a maximum of 2 people can travel together with bicycles when you using the crosscountry service (a major element of the national network). Clearly, a national policy is required with a fully integrated booking system (that is available online through the standard ticket retailers) and incentives/requirements for operators to improve capacity.”

http://petitions.number10.gov.uk/bikes-on-trains/

*signed

Wholeheartedly agree with the sentiment, not entirely sure how it would occur and whether the ticket prices would sky-rocket if it did. I just accept that generally I can drive to places cheaper than getting a train and since I need a car anyway, life is easier when driving!

Signed, but government have been promising and failing to deliver an integrated transport policy for as long as I can remember, so I doubt this will make much difference 🙂

“Clearly, a national policy is required with a fully integrated booking system (that is available online through the standard ticket retailers) and incentives/requirements for operators to improve capacity.”

poorly written solution centric business case!

*bump*

I live in London where it takes an hour just to drive beyond the M25, and two hours to drive back!

It’s incredible how difficult it is to escape by bike.

The Train Operator Companies have had it too easy too long.

As a sign of how things can change, campaigning led to the Eurostar allowing bikes http://www.lcc.org.uk/index.asp?PageID=1105

🙂

They have good reasons though. Southern are doing it because of the environment:

“10. TAKING MY CYCLE ON THE TRAIN TO USE AT THE OTHER END OF MY JOURNEY IS ENVIRONMENTALLY FRIENDLY – SO SOUTHERN STOPPING ME IS ENVIRONMENTALLY UNFRIENDLY

Whilst it may not be environmentally-friendly for the individual, in the bigger scheme of things it is more environmentally-friendly to carry more people on our trains rather than them using a car.”

http://www.southernrailway.com/faq.php?s=&c=13&page=0&q=68

Yeah, the environment of their bank balances.

Many off-peak trains could easily fit space for bikes if the seats were designed adequately.

signed a while back

here’s hoping those new high speed trains being built have some bike racks

A while back I spent an informative hour’s train journey chatting to one of the guys who’s involved in the consultation process for the London Crossrail (? I think that’s what it’s called) and who’s a major lobbyist for cycling and ‘green’ transport. Apparently the Government’s position on bikes-on-trains is that we should adopt the Dutch model of improving cycle parks at either end of your train journey – so, more lockers, ‘secure’ places to lock up etc, rather than making space on the trains themselves. That way they can argue that they’re pro-cycling and doing their bit whilst not having to waste valuable real-estate in the carriages that could be taken up with more season ticket holding commuters without bikes.

They are apparently purposefully oblivious to the fact that this runs completely against how the majority of people commute on a daily basis using bike / train. Personally I have zero desire to leave one bike chained up overnight in London and another throughout the day at a very deserted country train station. Given cars have a tendency to disappear from the latter I’d give a bike, however cruddy, about 2 days before it’s ‘vanished’…

I’m not looking forward to July when I have to swallow the whopping 8% hike in the cost of my annual season ticket. It’s not far off being cheaper for me to buy a car and drive up to London and back every day and sod the environment, if it comes down to putting food on the table and paying Southeastern their 3K a year I know who’s going to lose out.

To be honest I have always been wondering if cycling is that “greener” (way for TJ to come and spout his bile) compare to other mean of transportation like public transport.

You could say you don’t burn fossile fuel, but on the other hand, lets face it you need to buy a fair amount fo things to be able to commute in a safe and comfy way.

Lights, locks, fluoro jackets, waterproof trousers rack and pannier. Plus you tend to eat more, so more food to process go to the shop more rubbish etc etc.

I have calculated that during the 3 month I have been commuting by bike in southampton it actually cost me more that if I’d commute by car.

Dream on Juan.

what do you mean kelvin?
i had to buy a lock a Hi-vis jacket so that cost me around 60£ that’s 3 week of petrol.
Then I bought a rear light to commute 17.5£.
Plus before I commute by car I lived 200 m from the door of my lab when I started commuting I tripled my food bill… But then I run on quite expensive stuff.

Ponce.

Done. And Juan, get a grip, it’s not like you have to buy all that stuff every three months is it? Try adding the cost of your car every three months and see if that affects your maths, oh, and don’t forget insurance etc.
(and no, I don’t commute by bike)

way for TJ to come and spout his bile

pot. kettle.

well I commute by bike not by car even if it did cost me more. Think is if you already own a car going to work with it isn’t going to cost you the inssurance on the top of it.

You are right about not buying stuff every 3 month, but then the first time you buy them it still cost you money… Plus how long is a jacket going to last you if you use it everyday into town etc etc. Mine is 6 month old and not waterproof anymore, and that does not solve the food bill. In my case I had to drastically increased my food consumption before getting sick thin…

All very interesting, but surely your journey would be better if you could hop on the train when it rains?!!

😉 🙂

Trains are good.

Sitting on the platform waiting for the next one, because they wouldn’t let you on the previous one with your bike, is not.

as a daily commuter into london, bikes on the train are a pain in the arse, even more so the brompton ****-squad.

Would happily sign one against bikes on trains.

I think you’re missing the point pk-ripper. The idea is to encourage train compaines to make provision for bicylces so that you don’t have to hurdle over several bromptons on your way to work.

What’s wrong with the brompton ***-squad? Are you jealous because you don’t have a folding bike? Honestly.

citydreams

Signed.

To be honest I have always been wondering if cycling is that “greener” (way for TJ to come and spout his bile) compare to other mean of transportation like public transport.

What planet do you live on?

Its because the trains are vastly overcrowded, so anyone with any kind of luggage whatsoever incurs the wrath of all the other commuters. when they should really be directing their anger at the train companies/government.

Bromptons are tiny as well. Thers a chap on my commute with a bike that has 26″ wheels and literally just folds in half. ****er.

citydeams – Member
I think you’re missing the point pk-ripper. The idea is to encourage train compaines to make provision for bicylces so that you don’t have to hurdle over several bromptons on your way to work.

But, the problem as I see it is that at present, the size and volume of the rolling stock is limited by the stations, rails and other infrastructure. With the majority of peak trains from a number of locations that I’ve travelled from being full already (and that’s likely to only get worse), there’s no additional space for bikes that isn’t already full of people – given that the bike doesn’t pay a fare, I understand exactly where the rail companies are coming from – it’s maximising their income for a given journey, as any shareholder driven company is likely to do.

With regard to the Bromptoms, they are pointy, generally filthy, you don’t always have the option not to be pushed onto them (and I like clean suits).

Just because I ride a bike and frequent this site, doesn’t make me pro cycling in all forms.

juan
Think is if you already own a car going to work with it isn’t going to cost you the inssurance on the top of it.

Saved £150 on my car insurance by stating that I wouldn’t be using it to travel to and from work…

Fair enough pk, your commuting journey looks dreadful, I consider myself very lucky to either work from home, or the odd trip to London once a week (with my lovely shiny Brompton I love so much).

I will sign this but also signed a Number 10 petition on this subject 2 – 3 years ago, when Mr Blair was PM.

The decision at the end of the day was some waffle finished with “..it is not Government policy to regulate/stipulate how private companies operate…”.

No of course not, who ever heard of any company in the UK or anywhere in the 1st world having to meet regulations stipulated by their/our government in order to operate?

Though obviously here in the UK the Government can rescue Banks with Tax Payers money and not include any regulations as to how these businesses, who would have gone under, should/would operate after their resurrection.

So as I say, I will sign, but won’t hold my breathe. I’m afraid nothing real will happen until the final car rolls out on to a UK road somewhere and total gridlock occurs, OR the last gallon of petrol disappears down the injectors of Jeremy Clarkson’s latest gas guzzler and the lights turn off all over the world.

Excuse the excess of dramatics there. Got all holy.

Soz!

X 😀

pk-ripper:

I can fully understand the attitude that peak-hours are for commuters first and foremost. But what about off-peak trips? Weekends? How can other countries provide cyclist facilites yet our TOCs get away with blaming the environment?

I really don’t think that SW Trains, Great Western &c. give a damn about cyclists because there are no requirements being made of them.

speaker2animals:

Thanks for signing, and for the wobble 🙂 You have to laugh at nu-labour’s ‘ten year plan’ for transport for achieving absolutely nothing.

I’m hopeful that a coming election is going to make Gordon’s domestic policy much more mindful of his electorate. Should move to Scotland really..

🙂

signed

Done (poss taking 4 bikes up North over the summer…)

Fingerbike fair enough, didn’t new you could do that.
As I said I am just wondering due to all the gear you need to buy to commute in safe and comfortable conditions if it’s greener than taking the train or the bus.
What is the carbon footprint of a fluoro jacket from the raw materials to your back?

As a regular rail commuter paying over £3k a year for a season ticket, I fully agree that there should be provision for full size bikes, but NOT during peak hours as their’s precious little space as there is.

Bromptons are OK as long as they are folded (you’d be amazed at the number of lazy feckers who don’t fold them!) and stored sensibly