Message from discussion
Crap respsonse from Connex about bikes on trains.
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From: "Liz" <l...@chows.com>
Newsgroups: aus.bicycle
References: <477e25d1$1@dnews.tpgi.com.au> <477f0f0f$0$5448$9a6e19ea@unlimited.newshosting.com>
Subject: Re: Crap respsonse from Connex about bikes on trains.
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Date: Sun, 06 Jan 2008 01:39:34 GMT
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"Boostland" <Boostl...@kooragangcycling.asn.au> wrote in message
news:477f0f0f$0$5448$9a6e19ea@unlimited.newshosting.com...
>
> "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.
>
I don't know about Victoria, but in Sydney there's no special rule and it's
pretty much at the discretion of whatever rail staff you happen to come
across. My husband and I both independantly asked the helpline and both
times the person who answered had to ask their supervisor and came back with
the answer that if you can pick it up and carry it, it counts as luggage (we
didn't point out that you can actually pick up and carry an unfolded bike).
However, one particular ticket seller insisted on my buying an extra ticket
for the bike, despite being told this, pretty much on the grounds of "a
bike's a bike".
Cheers,
Liz
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