> 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