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