Crap respsonse from Connex about bikes on trains. - aus.bicycle

Message from discussion Crap respsonse from Connex about bikes on trains.

beerwolf

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More options Jan 6 2008, 7:54 pm

Newsgroups: aus.bicycle

From: "beerwolf" <beerw...@REMfastOVEmail.com.au>

Date: Sun, 06 Jan 2008 08:54:39 GMT

Local: Sun, Jan 6 2008 7:54 pm

Subject: Re: Crap respsonse from Connex about bikes on trains.

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Liz wrote:

... snip

>> 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".

I rarely use public transport these days; however if I ever find myself
in the position of wanting to take my folding bike on a train in Sydney
peak hour, I fully intend to *not* purchase a ticket, and if the transit
police issue a fine, I fully intend to contest it through the courts. I
think
there is an arguable case that a folding bike (in a bag) is not a bike.

Getting back to the original topic, I've spent the last 3 months living
and working in Melbourne, commuting 30km both ways each day
with one exception when I used the train. The trip home that day was
enough to convince me that almost anything would be preferable to
a peak hour train trip in Melbourne, with or without a bike.
That 'almost anything' arrived just before Christmas, when a severe
afternoon thunderstorm sent me to Parliament station with my bike
for the trip home. I would have happily paid a quadruple fare; luckily
the train had enough space for both of us, and the bike was free.

I can see both side of the issue too - I think any lobbying should
encompass a willingness to pay a surcharge of some kind for the bike.

--
beerwolf

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