Bicycles on trains

[Derwan]

We've discussed bicycles on trains in various threads before - but we haven't had a thread dedicated to bicycles on trains for some time.  (Feel free to correct me if I'm wrong.)

What are your thoughts on bicycles in trains?  Should they be allowed at all?  Should they be allowed in peak as well as off-peak?  Should they only be allowed on a certain carriage?  Should special bike racks be included in carriages?

The last I heard was that bikes were permitted on the last carriage of the train, but were not permitted in the peak direction during peak times.  I cannot find any information regarding bicycles on the new QR site.  (Am I blind?  Was this an oversight?  Was it deliberate?)  The last carriage is now the quiet car, which could potentially cause issues.  (What if you're have your bike, are with a friend and want to talk when you're on the train?)

The poll is very generic.  Please post your thoughts on all the issues.  The poll will close in 20 days.

Edit:  Thanks to Sunbus - information is on the TL website here:  http://www.translink.com.au/howto_travelwithlargeitems.php

[O_128]

How about we get rid of some of the pointless disabled spots that arent used (they prefer to sit in the vestibules)  and put some bike racks in

[Sunbus610]

There is some info on this topic HERE via the TL website

[Golliwog]

In my opinion there should be a bike area in one of the end cars (like where the toilets are on the IMUs) which should just be open space, no seating at all, and it should be marked as a bike storage area. That way bikes can be put there (I don't think a rack is needed, just lent up against the wall/each other or use the bikes own stand) if needed or if theres no bikes it can be used by standing passengers.

One problem with that would be if the train is already full of passengers and someone with a bike wants to get on. This would really only be a problem in peak.

[#Metro]

This will reduce the capacity of the train but IMHO a multidimensional view to what services the trains provide needs to be taken- maximum capacity is not the only goal. Comfort and convenience is important too. The seats lost can be made up by putting another service on! It is the same reason why there are seats for the disabled, baby change tables and toilets on trains, even though all of these reduce capacity. The train with the highest capacity is one with no seats at all- and everyone stands! It's also the most discomforting!!!

And there should be plenty of room for that as most lines only have trains every 30 minutes!
There are also other ways to deal with spreading peak hour load- such as more trains, better signaling for more trains and funnily enough, the quiet carriage, which is spreading the load more evenly through the train.

Maybe bicycle carriage trial will have to join the quiet carriage trial.  

Also, I think if stations get decent bike racks that are decent looking and respectable, then people will use them.
Registered GoCard activated cages would be good, maybe for larger stations. It would also attract passengers as cycling can be used to feed rail.

[p858snake]

The last I heard was that bikes were permitted on the last carriage of the train, but were not permitted in the peak direction during peak times.  I cannot find any information regarding bicycles on the new QR site.  (Am I blind?  Was this an oversight?  Was it deliberate?)  The last carriage is now the quiet car, which could potentially cause issues.  (What if you're have your bike, are with a friend and want to talk when you're on the train?)

AFAIK QR policy is/was bikes are allowed in any section (near the doors) during off peak only.

[Derwan]

Interesting results in the poll so far.  Everyone thinks bicycles should be allowed on trains but with set rules (e.g. time, carriage, bike spaces).

[p858snake]

Found the policy, It's listed on their Bike Lockers page. See: http://www.queenslandrail.com.au/AllStations/Pages/BikeLockers.aspx

[awotam]

"Bicycles are permitted on Queensland Rail city service on weekdays at all times, excluding the following **peak times due to safety, customer service, cleanliness and capacity issues:

Between 7:00am - 9:30am towards the CBD
Between 3:00pm - 6:30pm outwards from the CBD"
So what's the point of having this policy if they don't enforce it? I regularly see people with bikes getting on trains during these peak times, and only once has the guard announced that bikes aren't allowed during peak hours and made the guilty party get off.

[#Metro]

Between 7:00am - 9:30am towards the CBD
Between 3:00pm - 6:30pm outwards from the CBD"

These times seem unnecessarily broad. Would people agree that peak hour is dead and buried by 9 am?
And in the afternoon, anything after 6 pm is also dead and buried?

[somebody]

Between 7:00am - 9:30am towards the CBD
Between 3:00pm - 6:30pm outwards from the CBD"

These times seem unnecessarily broad. Would people agree that peak hour is dead and buried by 9 am?
And in the afternoon, anything after 6 pm is also dead and buried?

I agree with that.  I guess the question is: "Should QR be providing a service to those who would wish to do a cycle-train-cycle commute?"  Are there any such people?  I'm going to vote for the continuation of the current policy, but those times could be revised.

[#Metro]

I agree with that.  I guess the question is: "Should QR be providing a service to those who would wish to do a cycle-train-cycle commute?"  Are there any such people?  I'm going to vote for the continuation of the current policy, but those times could be revised.

I'm going to have to change my view, because CityCycle is coming and that changes everything re: cycle-train-cycle.
Better bike facilities at stations IMHO and bus interchanges and bike racks along main routes.

[p858snake]

Slightly Offtopic:What ever happened to those bike racks on buses?

[#Metro]

Apparently it didn't work, so Brisbane scrapped them and ACTION in Canberra bought them.
They are now on Canberra buses.

Lesson learned: have cycling infrastructure in place before doing things like this...

[justanotheruser]

"Bicycles are permitted on Queensland Rail city service on weekdays at all times, excluding the following **peak times due to safety, customer service, cleanliness and capacity issues:

Between 7:00am - 9:30am towards the CBD
Between 3:00pm - 6:30pm outwards from the CBD"
So what's the point of having this policy if they don't enforce it? I regularly see people with bikes getting on trains during these peak times, and only once has the guard announced that bikes aren't allowed during peak hours and made the guilty party get off.

I was led to believe the guard has power of discretion and can allow them on.  It is a shame that we have single deck trains as in Sydney with double deckers the rule is in peak hour you have to buy a childs ticket for a bike and outside peak hour it is free.  The rules here don't consider that most people have to travel in peak hour because even if workplaces can be flexible in their hours they generally aren't