Worldwide Cycle Carriage on Trams

The following is a list of 40 Light Rail Systems in Europe, North America and Australia that allow Cycle Carriage :

• EDINBURGH (2013)
• Sydney Metro
• Lille Transpole
• Rotterdam RET
• Amsterdam GVB
• Hannover USTRA
• Bielefeld moBiel
• Koln KVB
• Frankfurt VGF
• Stuttgart SSB
• Munchen MVV
• Nurnberg VGN
• Nurnberg VGA
• Berlin BVG
• Prague Dopravny Podnik Hlavniho Mesta Prahy
• Vienna Wiener Linien
• Copenhagen Metro
• Brussels STIB
• Helsinki HKL
• Basel
• Geneva
• Lausanne
• Zurich
• Istanbull Ulasim A.S.
• Porto Metro
• Edmonton ETS
• Phoenix Valley Metro
• Mineapolis MetroTransit
• Portland Trimet • Calgary Transit
• British Colombia SkyLink
• St Louis Metro
• Washington Metrorail
• Dallas Area Rapid Transit
• Santa Clara VTA
• Penssylvania SEPTA
• Charlotte LYNX
• Sacramento Regional Transit
• Denver RTD
• Miami Dade County Transit

Denver Shows M/cr How To Carry Bikes

Denver’s Transport Authority, RTD-Denver, announced that as of April 2009 cyclists will no longer require a permit to bring bikes on light rail, making it even easier to combine bikes and transit.

A Winning Combination: Bikes & Transit
RTD-Denver’s Bike-n-Ride Program already offers cyclists an excellent integrated service, making it easy for cyclists to combine cycling with public transport with a seamless door-to-door journey.

The removal of the permit system, introduced to ensure cyclists were aware of the conditions of travel, shows that cyclists can be trusted to share the light rail system with little if any problems.

Manchester’s cyclists would be amazed at how pro-active RTD are in creating a fully integrated, cycle-friendly system. “It’s as if cyclists are regarded as valued customers, a completely different experience from what we’re used to in Manchester”.

Full details can be seen at RTD-Denver's site:
http://www.rtd-denver.com/Bike_n_Ride.shtml?tab=1

Bikes on M/cr's Metrolink - A Brief History

Currently only folding bikes can be carried on Manchester's Metrolink tram system, and these have to be completely enclosed in a cover of some kind.

1992 - Greater Manchester’s Light-Rail system ”Metrolink” replaces the heavy rail network between Altrincham and Bury.
Bicycles are banned from the carriages and platforms.

2000 - Phase ll between Manchester and Eccles comes into operation.
Bicycles are still banned from the carriages and platforms (again, no cycle parking is provided).

2002 - The GMCC produce its report on Cycle Carriage.
http://www.gmcc.org.uk/main/wp-content/uploads/MetrolinkReport_72dpi.pdf

2002 - The GMCC gets the support of Greater Manchester’s MPs for cycle carriage, forcing the GMPTE to carry out a public survey.

2002 - Result — The GMPTE survey shows that 85.6% of Metrolink passengers support cycle carriage on trams, with 58.8 supporting carriage at all times, with no restrictions.

2002 - The GMPTA “Unanimously agree in principle to allow cycle carriage on Phase III trams during non-peak hours.
http://www.gmpte.com/news.cfm?news_id=364754

2008 - The Government finally gives the go-ahead for Phase III.

2009 - The new Pahse III trams are delivered (with capacity for cycle carriage built in) and the GMITA (formerly GMPTA) confirm that they have requested the GMPTE to report back on the issue for a final decision to be made.

Next - Will Greater Manchester’s Metrolink system finally enter the 21st century, following numerous light rail systems around the world that allow cycle carriage?

Make room for bikes plea

During Bike Week 2008 local people in Manchester carried cardboard bicycles onto several (off-peak) metrolink trams.

The point was to highlight that that there was currently space provided for cycles on the train service which the Metrolink will replace - which amounts to a loss of service for people already using the service. Vastly improved secure cycle parking at Metrolink stops would be part of the solution - but not if you're one of the many people who use their bike at both ends of their journey (i.e. cycle to the station, get the train, cycle from the station to your final destination).

The new Metrolink service to Oldham and Rochdale will be using new trams which could easily be fitted with spaces for cycles, prams, large luggage etc (like trains are) - the protest is trying to ensure that the opportunity to do that is not missed.




We are still waiting to hear whether the Greater Manchester Integrated Transport Authority (GMITA) will be announcing a change to the current policy and allow bicycles to be carried on (off-peak) trams.



The Manchester Evening News ran the following story on 19th June 2008.


PROTESTERS armed with cardboard bikes have urged transport chiefs to make room for cycles on trams.

Campaigners from Friend's of the Earth are fighting a ban on taking bikes on to the Metrolink.

They want the next generation of trams, being built as part of the massive investment in the region's transport system, to feature cycle storage bays.

The Love Your Bike campaign coincided with the news Metrolink's `Little Bang' - the extension to Rochdale, Droylsden, Chorlton and Oldham - should be complete by spring 2011 after engineers M Pact Thales were appointed to create and maintain the new line.

But cyclists say the new trams will be a wasted opportunity unless cycles are allowed on board.

Campaigners want Greater Manchester Passenger Transport Executive and Greater Manchester councils to do a U-turn on the ban.

David Coleman, of Manchester Friends of the Earth, said: "We want to show that it is possible to get a bike on a tram by taking on cardboard life-size cut outs of cycles.

"It's illogical that prams, push chairs and wheelchairs are allowed onboard when bikes aren't - unless they are folded up."

Robbie Gillet, a Friends of the Earth campaigner said: "We need trams to accommodate as many cycles as possible, otherwise people will tend to use cars."

GMPTE's Metrolink director Philip Purdy said: "We are currently reviewing the policy that people can't take bikes on the trams by asking the public for their opinions and by investigating the impact allowing bikes on trams would have on all our passengers.

"We will put forward a recommendation to Greater Manchester Passenger Transport Authority once this review is complete.