|
|
Thread Tools | Display Modes |
#11
|
|||
|
|||
Crap respsonse from Connex about bikes on trains.
"DJ" wrote: Well no it's not ok but understandable to make restrictions at certain peak times due to possible risk to other commuters. Restrictions start to look like persecution when there are only ever a tiny number of people who would take a bike on a peak hour train. Say you weren't a bike rider, and your travelling in a fairly packed carriage and someone gets on the train with a wet bike with some mud splashed up the side of it or just dirty water from the roads, rubbed up against your suit or workclothes, And say you had a need to take your bike on a train, and had chosen a carriage that was not packed full?? And the bike was clean? or worse still, you get scraped along the leg with a sharp end of a pedal or chainwheel or it rips your suit leg to peices, just because the bike was in the carriage, Some people just lack gross motor skills, I know. no fault to anyone but all it takes is a jerk from a sudden stop to send standing passengers scurrying to get balance. One thing all our crap train carriages lack is overhead straps and rails, so that stops and starts are not such a threat. Why blame the cyclist? We had plenty of straps and open spaces in the old carriages of the 70s and 80s. It's like on a bus, at no time are bicycles allowed on a bus due to the tight confines of that type of vehicle. Yes, but they can be carried on external rails vis. Brisbane and Canberra buses Prams are another pain in the arse,but unlike bicycles, don't have the sharp peices to rip you open !!!! and that's the only reason they restrict bikes at these times plus the fact that for every bike on the train, they can fit 2 more people. No, the rail authorities seem to have an innate antipathy to bikes. V-line is banning bikes on peak country services, despite the fact that NO additional passenger space will be available as a result (all bikes go into designated bike luggage areas) Maybe things are differnet in NSW. You need to get a perspective on Victoria, where one of the best PT systems in Australia for bike/rail multimode travel, is being made much less usable... and all by a Labor government who lay claims to wanting greater sustainability!!! -- Cheers Peter ~~~ ~ _@ ~~ ~ _- \, ~~ (*)/ (*) |
Ads |
#12
|
|||
|
|||
Crap respsonse from Connex about bikes on trains.
"Boostland" wrote in message
g.com... "Vintage" wrote in message ... Well great to see the cut and past job from Connex that didn't address any of the concerns I raised with them over the bike ban on trains in peak hour. Lets me just say that if its dark in the arvo, the rain hits hard, the roads are REAL nasty I'm telling the wife to get the train still home with her bike instead of riding home that night. We will cop any fine they want to throw at us or action taking as its still better than the worst case scenario of her on the roads in those conditions. And I trust her skills on the road, its just all the other nuts I don't trust and see daily. I take it when the new trains are here we are allowed back on? Here is the response about the bike scapegoat issue we are facing. "Thank you for your feedback to Metlink regarding bikes on trains. During the last two years, patronage has increased by 23% on Connex train services. Patronage is expected to continue to increase and a number of steps are being taken to increase the capacity of the train network to enable more passengers to be carried. The Victorian government has recently announced an order for 18 new suburban trains and 22 new V/Locity carriages. However, growing patronage has meant that a number of difficult operational decisions were required to maximise the number of passengers that can be carried on peak hour services. It is expected that the removal of bikes from the most congested parts of the network during peak hours will enable more passengers to be carried, providing significant environmental and community benefits. The restrictions for bikes are highly targeted and only apply to bikes travelling in the peak direction during peak times. For Connex trains, the ban only applies to services within Zone 1. Customers will continue to be able to travel at off-peak times and in the counter peak direction without restrictions. Similar rules exist in other Australian suburban train networks, including Brisbane and Perth. The Victorian Government and the public transport industry strongly support the use of public transport in conjunction with cycling and regret the need to restrict bikes from peak hour trains. Public transport users are encouraged to continue to use bikes in conjunction with public transport by leaving their bikes at the station at peak times and taking their bikes on trains during off-peak times. (who wants to leave a good bike at a station all day, day in day out at the same time each day in most areas?) Lockers are provided at many Connex and V/Line stations.(Rubbish) Rental fees for lockers have been eliminated, with only a refundable deposit now required. Fees for the carriage of bikes on public transport have been eliminated. CCTV coverage at stations reduces the chances of theft. Six carriage trains are now operated on the majority of off-peak services, providing more room for bikes during the day, at night and on weekends. The Victorian Government recognises that there is more work to do in relation to bicycle storage at stations. The Department of Infrastructure is working with Connex and Bicycle Victoria to implement a bike cage storage facility at a suburban station as a trial. If successful(100 bikes NOT stolen) , more bike cages are likely to be implemented. Thank you for raising this matter with the Public Transport Division. Yours sincerely Adrian Webb Victorian Fare Policy Manager What about folding bikes that pack into the size of a suit case are these banned as well ? If not riders that are affected by this might want to think about the folding options. I don't know about Victoria, but in Sydney there's no special rule and it's pretty much at the discretion of whatever rail staff you happen to come across. My husband and I both independantly asked the helpline and both times the person who answered had to ask their supervisor and came back with the answer that if you can pick it up and carry it, it counts as luggage (we didn't point out that you can actually pick up and carry an unfolded bike). However, one particular ticket seller insisted on my buying an extra ticket for the bike, despite being told this, pretty much on the grounds of "a bike's a bike". Cheers, Liz |
#13
|
|||
|
|||
Crap respsonse from Connex about bikes on trains.
"Liz" wrote in message ... "Boostland" wrote in message g.com... "Vintage" wrote in message ... Well great to see the cut and past job from Connex that didn't address any of the concerns I raised with them over the bike ban on trains in peak hour. Lets me just say that if its dark in the arvo, the rain hits hard, the roads are REAL nasty I'm telling the wife to get the train still home with her bike instead of riding home that night. We will cop any fine they want to throw at us or action taking as its still better than the worst case scenario of her on the roads in those conditions. And I trust her skills on the road, its just all the other nuts I don't trust and see daily. I take it when the new trains are here we are allowed back on? Here is the response about the bike scapegoat issue we are facing. "Thank you for your feedback to Metlink regarding bikes on trains. During the last two years, patronage has increased by 23% on Connex train services. Patronage is expected to continue to increase and a number of steps are being taken to increase the capacity of the train network to enable more passengers to be carried. The Victorian government has recently announced an order for 18 new suburban trains and 22 new V/Locity carriages. However, growing patronage has meant that a number of difficult operational decisions were required to maximise the number of passengers that can be carried on peak hour services. It is expected that the removal of bikes from the most congested parts of the network during peak hours will enable more passengers to be carried, providing significant environmental and community benefits. The restrictions for bikes are highly targeted and only apply to bikes travelling in the peak direction during peak times. For Connex trains, the ban only applies to services within Zone 1. Customers will continue to be able to travel at off-peak times and in the counter peak direction without restrictions. Similar rules exist in other Australian suburban train networks, including Brisbane and Perth. The Victorian Government and the public transport industry strongly support the use of public transport in conjunction with cycling and regret the need to restrict bikes from peak hour trains. Public transport users are encouraged to continue to use bikes in conjunction with public transport by leaving their bikes at the station at peak times and taking their bikes on trains during off-peak times. (who wants to leave a good bike at a station all day, day in day out at the same time each day in most areas?) Lockers are provided at many Connex and V/Line stations.(Rubbish) Rental fees for lockers have been eliminated, with only a refundable deposit now required. Fees for the carriage of bikes on public transport have been eliminated. CCTV coverage at stations reduces the chances of theft. Six carriage trains are now operated on the majority of off-peak services, providing more room for bikes during the day, at night and on weekends. The Victorian Government recognises that there is more work to do in relation to bicycle storage at stations. The Department of Infrastructure is working with Connex and Bicycle Victoria to implement a bike cage storage facility at a suburban station as a trial. If successful(100 bikes NOT stolen) , more bike cages are likely to be implemented. Thank you for raising this matter with the Public Transport Division. Yours sincerely Adrian Webb Victorian Fare Policy Manager What about folding bikes that pack into the size of a suit case are these banned as well ? If not riders that are affected by this might want to think about the folding options. I don't know about Victoria, but in Sydney there's no special rule and it's pretty much at the discretion of whatever rail staff you happen to come across. My husband and I both independantly asked the helpline and both times the person who answered had to ask their supervisor and came back with the answer that if you can pick it up and carry it, it counts as luggage (we didn't point out that you can actually pick up and carry an unfolded bike). However, one particular ticket seller insisted on my buying an extra ticket for the bike, despite being told this, pretty much on the grounds of "a bike's a bike". Cheers, Liz Easy to fix put bike in bag or suitcase then it is luggage Brompton Travel Case http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZJJ7zakGLbw Bike Friday Travel Case that is also a trailer http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aYOhcJtxmpg Bike Friday soft bag http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-eUmBfSgU5w I wonder what they would say to a normal sized bike with wheels removed inside a large soft bag, might be a way to get around the no bike rule :P Would have to read the rules about luggage size to confirm. |
#14
|
|||
|
|||
Crap respsonse from Connex about bikes on trains.
In aus.bicycle on Sun, 06 Jan 2008 00:51:23 GMT
PeteSig wrote: "DJ" wrote: carriage and someone gets on the train with a wet bike with some mud splashed up the side of it or just dirty water from the roads, rubbed up against your suit or workclothes, And say you had a need to take your bike on a train, and had chosen a carriage that was not packed full?? And the bike was clean? Except that the reason they are banned is because they are full. Will you have an inspector who will check bikes for cleanliness before they are allowed on? Will you agree that if there are more than X people on the train at any one time all cyclists are thrown off at the next station? or worse still, you get scraped along the leg with a sharp end of a pedal or chainwheel or it rips your suit leg to peices, just because the bike was in the carriage, Some people just lack gross motor skills, I know. Some do, yes. Elderly people, those with some varieties of MS, those with injuries, those with some balance problems, some people with Downs Syndrome, some people who are tired. I am unsure why they don't count. One thing all our crap train carriages lack is overhead straps and rails, so that stops and starts are not such a threat. Why blame the cyclist? We had plenty of straps and open spaces in the old carriages of the 70s and 80s. OPen spaces are usually about lack of people. What's the population of the city and the numbers using trains now compared to them? It's like on a bus, at no time are bicycles allowed on a bus due to the tight confines of that type of vehicle. Yes, but they can be carried on external rails vis. Brisbane and Canberra buses How many? And how much time does it take to insert and remove? Should other passengers have to wait? Zebee |
#15
|
|||
|
|||
Crap respsonse from Connex about bikes on trains.
In aus.bicycle on Sun, 06 Jan 2008 01:39:34 GMT
Liz wrote: I don't know about Victoria, but in Sydney there's no special rule and it's pretty much at the discretion of whatever rail staff you happen to come across. My husband and I both independantly asked the helpline and both to quote: Bicycles - standard, folding and disassembled - travel free in non-peak periods. You will need to purchase a child ticket as well as your own if you wish to travel with a bicycle between the hours of 6.00am and 9.00am and 3.30pm and 7.30pm on weekdays. to me that makes it clear that a "bicycle" includes a folding one, even folded. So presumably a large backpack is OK but a folder in a bag is not... It also appears that a bike in a bike bag or box is also banned on peak hours, but a bar fridge would be OK. I suspect that most staff would not care about a folder in a bag, but might care about one out of a bag. I have been asked to show a 2nd ticket for the 'bent towards the end of evening peak, but being a disgustingly law abiding type I had bought one. Zebee |
#16
|
|||
|
|||
Crap respsonse from Connex about bikes on trains.
"Zebee Johnstone" wrote in message ... In aus.bicycle on Sun, 06 Jan 2008 01:39:34 GMT Liz wrote: I don't know about Victoria, but in Sydney there's no special rule and it's pretty much at the discretion of whatever rail staff you happen to come across. My husband and I both independantly asked the helpline and both to quote: Bicycles - standard, folding and disassembled - travel free in non-peak periods. You will need to purchase a child ticket as well as your own if you wish to travel with a bicycle between the hours of 6.00am and 9.00am and 3.30pm and 7.30pm on weekdays. to me that makes it clear that a "bicycle" includes a folding one, even folded. So presumably a large backpack is OK but a folder in a bag is not... It also appears that a bike in a bike bag or box is also banned on peak hours, but a bar fridge would be OK. I suspect that most staff would not care about a folder in a bag, but might care about one out of a bag. I have been asked to show a 2nd ticket for the 'bent towards the end of evening peak, but being a disgustingly law abiding type I had bought one. Zebee I remember one weekend i took my bicycle on the train from Mac Flds to the city(Syd) and got chatting to 2 of those city rail ticket checkers on the train going in and i was telling them about BUGs and what they do and some of the rides we go etc etc and kept them chatting untill we got to Kingsgrove where they got off to go back on another train...they didn't even ask if i had a ticket for myself let alone the bike...mmm good diversion i thought.... But yeah, in the peak time in Sydney you just buy a child ticket for the bike then no probs usually except you might get a few growls from passengers in a packed carriage....i had one guy say to me one night "why don't you ride the f'ing thing home"? and I said "why don't you walk home? he shut up then....it helps when you don't reply with obsenities back as it makes you look better than those who do...sometimes!! lol I must say though, i wouldn't mind betting that some day soon if the petrol prices go higher and higher and more people opt for the train that cityrail could bring in the 'no bikes in peaktime' policy..wouldn't put it past them. DJ |
#17
|
|||
|
|||
Crap respsonse from Connex about bikes on trains.
Zebee Johnstone wrote:
It's like on a bus, at no time are bicycles allowed on a bus due to the tight confines of that type of vehicle. Yes, but they can be carried on external rails vis. Brisbane and Canberra buses How many? And how much time does it take to insert and remove? Should other passengers have to wait? Zebee I've been researching these... it's my estimate that we have sufficient 'slack time' in our timetables not to need to alter them. ie buses currently wait at main stops (waste time) in order not to be early. That is the case with a fair proportion of rural/suburban services down in Vic... not sure about NSW though, and it isn't the case in inner city areas either. G-S |
#18
|
|||
|
|||
Crap respsonse from Connex about bikes on trains.
Liz wrote:
.... snip What about folding bikes that pack into the size of a suit case are these banned as well ? If not riders that are affected by this might want to think about the folding options. I don't know about Victoria, but in Sydney there's no special rule and it's pretty much at the discretion of whatever rail staff you happen to come across. My husband and I both independantly asked the helpline and both times the person who answered had to ask their supervisor and came back with the answer that if you can pick it up and carry it, it counts as luggage (we didn't point out that you can actually pick up and carry an unfolded bike). However, one particular ticket seller insisted on my buying an extra ticket for the bike, despite being told this, pretty much on the grounds of "a bike's a bike". I rarely use public transport these days; however if I ever find myself in the position of wanting to take my folding bike on a train in Sydney peak hour, I fully intend to *not* purchase a ticket, and if the transit police issue a fine, I fully intend to contest it through the courts. I think there is an arguable case that a folding bike (in a bag) is not a bike. Getting back to the original topic, I've spent the last 3 months living and working in Melbourne, commuting 30km both ways each day with one exception when I used the train. The trip home that day was enough to convince me that almost anything would be preferable to a peak hour train trip in Melbourne, with or without a bike. That 'almost anything' arrived just before Christmas, when a severe afternoon thunderstorm sent me to Parliament station with my bike for the trip home. I would have happily paid a quadruple fare; luckily the train had enough space for both of us, and the bike was free. I can see both side of the issue too - I think any lobbying should encompass a willingness to pay a surcharge of some kind for the bike. -- beerwolf |
#19
|
|||
|
|||
Crap respsonse from Connex about bikes on trains.
"G-S" wrote in message ... Zebee Johnstone wrote: It's like on a bus, at no time are bicycles allowed on a bus due to the tight confines of that type of vehicle. Yes, but they can be carried on external rails vis. Brisbane and Canberra buses How many? And how much time does it take to insert and remove? Should other passengers have to wait? Zebee I've been researching these... it's my estimate that we have sufficient 'slack time' in our timetables not to need to alter them. ie buses currently wait at main stops (waste time) in order not to be early. That is the case with a fair proportion of rural/suburban services down in Vic... not sure about NSW though, and it isn't the case in inner city areas either. G-S That may well be in the slack periods early in the morning (first services) and late in the evening (after 7.30pm or 8pm) and on some holiday periods like it is right now but generally in my experience having been a Sydney Buses driver for 18 years (not at the moment though) in those above mentioned times, they tend to tighten up the timetable so they can get more trips in per operating bus for eg. instead of doing 2 round trips in/out of city per half shift, they'll be timetabling for 3 round trips. I was up in Brisbane for 9 months recently and in that whole time i think i seen 2 bikes on those front racks so i don't know if they have been a paying proposition. I think people have to realise that with buses, they try to cater for most of the travelling public but it's bloody hard trying to cater for all purposes. I know when they first bought out those low floor wheelchair buses about 7 years ago, i think i have carried about 6 wheelchair passengers in 5 years. DJ |
#20
|
|||
|
|||
Crap respsonse from Connex about bikes on trains.
In aus.bicycle on Sun, 6 Jan 2008 20:13:29 +1100
DJ wrote: I know when they first bought out those low floor wheelchair buses about 7 years ago, i think i have carried about 6 wheelchair passengers in 5 years. I've seen elderly passengers being quite thankful for those. Ditto people with prams. Long ago when I was young, Perth buses used to carry prams on racks on the back of the bus. They stopped it, I believe because of the hassle the drivers had doing the loading and unloading as not all pram owners could manage it. When I was working in North Sydney I used to take the train home if I was late home of an evening and couldn't be arsed facing the hills. No point trying to get the bike on in peak hour though! I expect the 'bent wouldn't fit on a bus bicycle rack anyway. Zebee |
Thread Tools | |
Display Modes | |
|
|
Similar Threads | ||||
Thread | Thread Starter | Forum | Replies | Last Post |
Bikes on trains | Don Whybrow | UK | 4 | May 2nd 07 07:12 PM |
Bikes on One trains | Tony Raven | UK | 12 | January 3rd 07 11:04 PM |
Bikes on trains and DRL | Alex Potter | UK | 9 | December 15th 06 11:27 PM |
Bikes on Trains | Tony Raven | UK | 4 | October 16th 05 10:15 AM |
Bikes on Trains | Simon Parker | UK | 3 | July 22nd 03 01:20 PM |