61653 HTAFC
Veteran Member
I don't think I've ever heard an announcement about upcoming disruption that doesn't specify that non-folding bicycles can't be carried on replacement buses, so anyone who uses the train regularly will have heard this and will "know the score".
The issue comes with infrequent travellers who decide that taking their bike on a train to the countryside would be a good idea, and are then disappointed when they arrive at the station to be told they can't take their bike.
As we start to move "back to normal" leisure travel is likely to increase, and this will no doubt include cyclists. For routes that are particularly popular with cyclists (Settle-Carlisle, Hope Valley, Anglian branches among others) perhaps there is a case for minibuses with trailers or the "bike buses" mentioned upthread to be used.
However those need to be paid for, and as others have pointed out, taking a bike on a train is usually free. Perhaps if non-folding bikes provided revenue for the operator there would be more incentive to provide a service during disruption. Something like a flat £5 charge per bike would probably suffice.
The issue comes with infrequent travellers who decide that taking their bike on a train to the countryside would be a good idea, and are then disappointed when they arrive at the station to be told they can't take their bike.
As we start to move "back to normal" leisure travel is likely to increase, and this will no doubt include cyclists. For routes that are particularly popular with cyclists (Settle-Carlisle, Hope Valley, Anglian branches among others) perhaps there is a case for minibuses with trailers or the "bike buses" mentioned upthread to be used.
However those need to be paid for, and as others have pointed out, taking a bike on a train is usually free. Perhaps if non-folding bikes provided revenue for the operator there would be more incentive to provide a service during disruption. Something like a flat £5 charge per bike would probably suffice.