> "Vintage" <dontemai...@hotmail.com> wrote in message
> news:477e25d1$1@dnews.tpgi.com.au...
>> 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

> What about folding bikes that pack into the size of a suit case are these
> banned as well ?

> If not riders that are affected by this might want to think about the
> folding options.