Wave your Allen key and offer to turn sideways.
CityCyclingEdinburgh Forum » Infrastructure
bikes on trains (originally “Booking”)
(106 posts)-
Posted 2 months ago #
-
Good point.
Posted 2 months ago # -
My MTB has 80cm bars... I guess I have to hope the conductor doesn't have a tape measure.
If I may be so bold, 80cm is really very wide, and on trains, perhaps unreasonably so given that there is only so much space inside. Were those handlebars mine, I'd be sawing off a good 3 inches from either end!
(on my mtb, the handlebars are 67cm; on my Elephant Bike, they're 65cm, both including bar ends.)
Posted 2 months ago # -
yep. Every modern bike I've bought (excepting the Helios), I've cut about 50mm off each end of the bars.
Mostly because I'm afraid of clipping something while filtering with such long factory-fitted bars. Why the trend for such madly long bars?
Posted 2 months ago # -
Had a bit of a panic last night, first time getting a very late train back from Edinburgh and I didn't realize they reduce the number of coaches compared to the daytime trains, was only a single bike space carriage and I only just got the second place.
As for long bars, easier to sell wide ones and let people who don't need cut them down than maintain multiple SKUs so as to not leave out the wide-shouldered amongst us?
Posted 2 months ago # -
“I only just got the second place“
Presume train not full of passengers?
I wouldn’t panic.
Long time since (most/central belt) train staff enforced 2 bike rule - as long as ‘nested’ well enough. Some are ok with using door space. (Potentially a problem where there are no bikes/buggies/luggage stickers - more of an issue on lines where trains don’t always stop at same side platforms at all stations.)
Some units with the green stripes above the doors also have bikes spaces at the blue door too. Most 170s (3 coaches) are like this, but a few only have one coach with ‘bike space’.
Most(?) 158s have the ‘bike bar’ in both coaches.
I suspect neither type run on the line you use.
Posted 2 months ago # -
I *think* the Waverly to Helensburgh Central via Glasgow Queen Street uses 334 refurbs? Not enough of an anorak to know for sure on sight alone. Usually when I've taken them they have two carriages with the fold-down seating double bike spot. And yeah I've seen other people happily stacking their bikes 3 or 4 deep, but with the weight of mine I wouldn't trust it to remain upright unless it's strapped in.
Posted 2 months ago # -
My MTB and Pashey both have weirdly wide bars, never been chucked off a train with either.
Even with 'both' spaces taken I just get on the train, never been chucked off because of that either.
I did get chucked off once for not paying, when they had started rolling out card payments, but not all trains could take card payments yet, and I had no cash. Wasn't so bad as I at least got over the bridge so only had to cycle half way home.
Posted 2 months ago # -
Had to use ScotRail to assist with an Urban Arrow delivery today. Was to Helensburgh and wasn't that keen to cycle the 70 plus miles from Edinburgh.
So... I had screenshots of the ScotRail web pages which day what bikes can go on what trains plus a pic of the 'cargo bike and tandems allowed on certain trains' sign plus a tape measure.
Cycled to be at Waverley early to get on the 8am. Train left from Platform 9 so luckily the lifts are big enough as had to use two to get over. Despite obscure platform a crowd gathered including a cyclist competing for same space. There was another four bike area on next unit as was 8 coach train but he was getting off at Linlithgow. Was able to help me get the cargo bike front wheel on train which I appreciated. (Had makeshift ramp just in case stowed in bucket).
Guard duly came round and asked 'who had trailer on train?'. Guys bike was sticking out a bit but was clear my caused by me selfishly taking all the space (!).
I then told him it was a cargo bike and technically allowed (even encouraged as on a sign). He was decent guy and looked at the screenshot but it could have gone badly. Basically he still has power to remove anything he considers is blocking a corridor. So the on-paper cargo bike might be fine but seeing the large UA was not likely to go down so well.
Later on he came by to chat about bike spaces. All in all a good outcome but not without stress. Another customer with quite small Veloe was almost barred a coouple of weeks ago from returning with it at Queen St. Again due to staff not being aware of that type of bike. She did get on after assuring guard it was within the guidelines.Posted 4 days ago # -
Glad of your pioneering here, the more they see the more they are aware! Shame Scotrail can't provide adequate / consistent enough training though - you shouldn't have to persuade them.
Posted 4 days ago # -
I was one of at least 9 cyclists trying to squeeze into the, I think, 6 advertised cycle spaces on a busy Bristol-London train yesterday. Everyone claimed to have a reservation, which seems unlikely, but I did notice that the space that I had a reservation for said it was reserved for a different journey, so maybe it was overbooked somehow.
Very helpful guard got us all squeezed in. I also learned that there are unadvertised cycle spaces, presumably to help with situations like this.
Posted 3 days ago # -
I wish their guidelines were a bit more explicit and general. I've fancied an Urban Arrow Shorty for a while, but would they take it on the 334? They seem to assume "cargo bike" means regular UA's or longtails which aren't allowed on that model due to the length of the bike bay, but the Shorty is no longer than my Gazelle which is allowed, and its cargo box is narrower than the Gazelle with panniers which also hasn't ever been an issue, but because the guidance is so wishy-washy and so much depends on whether the Guard is in a grumpy mood or not I've held off buying one because I don't want to risk having to argue the toss when I'm trying to catch the last train out of Waverly or whatever.
Posted 3 days ago # -
@Yodhrin - main issue from staff point of view is whether you can lift a bike on board. However some staff still think bikes should be hung up which is impossible for many e-bike owners. Traditional view of bike as lightweight sports equipment prevails.
The Activity Coach is the answer for some lines but not able to be used above 70mph so niche.
LNER set such a barrier to bike use that almost any ScotRail train is better.Posted 3 days ago # -
“Basically he still has power to remove anything he considers is blocking a corridor.”
Was on a train to Falkirk the other day.
Got on at HYM to the coach with the green flash - (notionally for 4 bikes - but only if you interlace them). Found 4 already on so put our 2 next to doors away from platform side.
Ticket man came and said we’d have to move them. ‘But it’s alright, just go to coach with wheelchair space. Don’t worry, plenty time, I’ll come back and show you’.
He did, all fine.
Staff definitely more understanding/helpful.
So must be some training going on.
However much more clarity on all rolling stock would be helpful. There are many coaches with blue bands that have the horizontal bike holders.
And there are some sets with only blue bands!
Posted 3 days ago # -
@chdot - Staff definitely more understanding/helpful.
Can be of course. Often challenged by the size and quantity of wheelie suitcases in use now. Bike users are generally more aware of space and how to make it work. Was on a train where cases were just left in corridor in front of rack. Guard had to re-pack while visitors watched!
Posted 2 days ago # -
Well
There’s actually LOTS of info on SR website
Don’t know when it was last updated, but there are now videos of many train types (2nd link)
https://www.scotrail.co.uk/plan-your-journey/cycling/bikes-trains
Posted 1 day ago #
Reply
You must log in to post.
posts
