Yes you can. You pay. Then no, you can't.

[whole diary]

[grahame]

Would welcome views / comments on this scenario, as reported to me by a person who had cycled from Melksham to another Wiltshire town and wanted to get the train back from there.

a) Person goes to station and asks at booking office if she can take her cycle on the train at xx:xx (next train) to Trowbridge.   Told, yes, she can.

b) Buys ticket

c) Is then denied boarding

Travels on next train to Trowbridge, missing Melksham connection.

[Phil]

My understanding is that the person was also very concerned because the delay meant that their car parking ticket over-ran - luckily for them however the parking authorities weren't on the ball that day, so the fine was avoided. It would be interesting to see if the fine could have been claimed back in full or in part though (doubt it somehow)

[JayMac]

Cycle space is always subject to availability. That should be communicated to a passenger making such a query though.

[grahame]

Cycle space is always subject to availability. That should be communicated to a passenger making such a query though.

... agreed.   But it was NOT communicated - they were given the clear indication that they would be able to take their cycles on the train at XX:XX, without any caveats, and on that basis entered into a contract to travel y purchasing a ticket.

Very interesting ... in that I have been talking about cycles on trains with a member of the TOC^▸ (Train Operating Company) team this afternoon, and cycles is such an emotive subject with them that I would suggest that it's one of the more difficult areas for interested parties to discuss positively and dispassionately!

[SDS]

Sorry but the train was apparently full.

[Richard Fairhurst]

What you can't see in SDS's pic is that the designated cycle space is just out of shot and is full up with suitcases...

[thetrout]

You should see what happens when someone boards a Class 150/2 with a 4th Bike. Then 2 stops up the line, someone with a Wheelchair wants to board. But a bike is now in the Wheelchair space...

It put the conductor in a very difficult position and I think she had to make the decision of who she was going to annoy the least!

[SDS]

Easy

The Equality Act protects the Mobility Impaired customer. It Doesn't protect the Cyclist. So off goes the Cyclist. It all reality the 4th bike shouldn't have been allowed on in the first place 'just in case' their is a wheelchair.

[lordgoata]

Easy

The Equality Act protects the Mobility Impaired customer. It Doesn't protect the Cyclist. So off goes the Cyclist. It all reality the 4th bike shouldn't have been allowed on in the first place 'just in case' their is a wheelchair.

Hardly equality then is it! 

As an avid cyclist, full size cycles on trains p*ss me right off. They should either add space, or just ban the lot. Personally I would have converted the 1st classes on the Turbos to cycle areas, and anyone with a bike (inc folding) made to stand in there with the bikes - that would have freed up even more seats!

Even when the rules state no bikes, none of the staff stop people with them. There was a poster up at Maidenhead for months saying no bikes on Turbos that arrive at Paddington before 9:30 (I think it was), but I only ever once saw someone being stopped (and physically dragged off) - but that was when the 180 was replaced with a (2 car if I recall) turbo.

There is some guy that gets off at Maidenhead who hoiks up his full size bike onto his shoulder in the vestibule before getting off - he almost hit me so many times I moved to another area on the train just to avoid the idiot.

[Phil]

Easy

The Equality Act protects the Mobility Impaired customer. It Doesn't protect the Cyclist. So off goes the Cyclist. It all reality the 4th bike shouldn't have been allowed on in the first place 'just in case' their is a wheelchair.

So what happens if there's, for example, no bikes but several wheelchairs? What happens if the Lower Moulding on the Scroat Wheelchair Users' Club decides to have an outing by train one day, and all 12 of them turn up at once? Are they all protected, and the TOC^▸ (Train Operating Company) required to start removing seats to make space for them?

[ellendune]

The point is that a bike is luggage and therefore discretionary. And if not a folding bike very large luggage. The bike user can travel without his/her bike. A wheelchair is essential for the user to travel. There is no contest.

[SDS]

Easy

The Equality Act protects the Mobility Impaired customer. It Doesn't protect the Cyclist. So off goes the Cyclist. It all reality the 4th bike shouldn't have been allowed on in the first place 'just in case' their is a wheelchair.

So what happens if there's, for example, no bikes but several wheelchairs? What happens if the Lower Moulding on the Scroat Wheelchair Users' Club decides to have an outing by train one day, and all 12 of them turn up at once? Are they all protected, and the TOC^▸ (Train Operating Company) required to start removing seats to make space for them?

I think the "Reasonable Adjustments" under domestic law would come into play on this one. But even then under European Law FGW^▸ (First Great Western) would have to find alternative transport for them.
Cyclists should be completely and utterly banned, no exceptions. I dont care if you got a ^27.47bn brompton bike or a 99p folding bike from halfords or a ^9.99 full man-sized bike. Trains are for humans (term used loosely in accordance with the great unwashed of Reading and Glastonbury festivals) and not for stupid bikes.

[CLPGMS]

Another problem with bikes is short platforms.  For example, due to the positioning of a signal at the end of the UP platform, HSTs^▸ (High Speed Train (Inter City class 43 125 units)) calling at Evesham station have coach A (in which the cycle space is provided) 3 or 4 coaches beyond the end of it.  Train Managers usually allow bikes to be stored in the vestibules of the front 4 coaches and, if someone boards at Evesham with a bike, I have seen the train delayed at the next suitable station so that the bike can be moved to the correct place.  In Evesham's case, the next station is Honeybourne.  Here, there can be a problem with bikes stored in the rear portion of a Class 180 on trains heading towards Worcester.  The DOWN platform is only 3 coaches long. On occasions, the Train Manager has had to request the driver to draw forward to allow a bike to be removed from the train.  This results in delays.

[Alan Pettitt]

The last time I took a bike on a train, some 45 years ago, it was a piece of cake, simply paid for a ticket for the bike, train arrived at Preston Park, put bike in guard's van, got on train,  got off East Croydon, sorted. I think the bike ticket cost as much as my child's fare, but I can't really remember.  Stupid idea to get rid of guard's compartments, and fares for bikes.

[Richard Fairhurst]

Cyclists should be completely and utterly banned, no exceptions.

I do not work for FGW^▸ (First Great Western)

Thank goodness for that!