CityCyclingEdinburgh Forum » Cycling News
"Anger at bike space cut on ScotRail's new long-distance trains"
(12 posts)-
Posted 7 years ago #
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It is not good number has reduced but what matters is spaces not official spaces how many useable spaces there will be and the guards approach
Posted 7 years ago # -
Surely what matters is the [/i]reliable[/i] number of spaces; anything that depends on discretion of staff can't be relied upon.
One can imagine the reaction if tourists were told they could not drive to Inverness because the A9 was currently too busy and they would have to wait for the next free access from Blair Atholl in an hour's time, despite their advance planning.
Posted 7 years ago # -
Well some argue in favour or pre booking, however this may be bad for utility cyclists multimodal commuting and encourage wasteful journeys .
If trains allow pre booking may encourage groups of people wasting resources on frivolous journeys , at the cost of utility cyclists. As journeys to shops or commutes cannot be planned months in advance as what time people finish work at may vary or what people require from shops.
If allowed pre booking may be hard to use bike for utility as would get large groups of cyclists taking up trains month in advance creating frivolous journeys that would then cause commutes to be taken by other vehicles. So may be less sustainable
So personally I think no advanced booking is a an advantage of cycling in Scotland.
Posted 7 years ago # -
Here's the response I got back from Humza regarding my letter (via MSP Daniel Johnson) on this matter:
https://www.dropbox.com/s/tzewp246rahxvfo/SG125Letter.pdf?dl=0
Annoyingly, the text is not copy/paste-able.
Also, SPOKES info and response here:
http://www.spokes.org.uk/2017/04/save-the-highland-bike-rail-dream/Posted 6 years ago # -
Travelling solo than guard's discretion is often manageable - especially if there is likely to be another train along in not too long. travelling as a family or with kids, all that becomes far more challenging as your flexibility diminishes - it may be plausible for an 8yo to cycle home from a day out at 6pm, but not at 8pm or 10pm etc.
Posted 6 years ago # -
Have to say that whatever ScotRail does, it needs to have a system they stick to. Leaving it to guards discretion is a really bad idea.
I regularly travel with Cross Country between Edinburgh and Glasgow and officially they have three spaces - two bookable, one for walk-ups. There's a big poster that explains this and stresses no more than 3 non-folding bikes can be carried for health and safety reasons. This means nothing. Guards sometimes are easy going, other times they cling hard and fast to the rules and...sometimes just make it up.
Last month a guard refused me entry onto the train at Waverley because 'the walk-up space is filled and I have one reservation space filled. Yes there's a third space, but what if someone has a booking at Haymarket or Motherwell? Sorry, feel really cr@p about that, but...<shrugs, door closes, train leaves>'. XC guards have a sheet that tells them where cyclists are boarding and exiting - so they can handle situations like this. The guard couldn't be bothered to go and get it to check...
This week, when I had a reservation, three cyclists boarded at Haymarket. The remaining two spaces were used and cyclist 3 slotted their bike into a space in the unused luggage bay. Guard said not a word...
Posted 6 years ago # -
"Leaving it to guards discretion is a really bad idea."
Dunno. At least they are potentially persuadable. If it's just "those are the rules" then you are up the swannee...
Posted 6 years ago # -
"Leaving it to guards discretion is a really bad idea."
It's a problem either way.
In general 'guard has final say' is reasonably IF the there was an official line such as 'bikes will be accommodated where possible'.
But that would allow a whole lot of other areas for interpretation...
Posted 6 years ago # -
TOMORROW
You can sit in pub gallery.
(Or email your MSPs)
"
Highlands & N.E. bike-rail cuts: Parliament debate, May 24
"
http://www.spokes.org.uk/2017/05/highlands-n-e-bike-rail-cuts-parliament-debate-may-24/
Posted 6 years ago # -
i emailed all 6 a while back, this was the only response that didn't feel 100% boilerplate
------------------
Dear Iain,Thank you for your email.
I have supported motion S5M-05106 on this matter by my colleague Liam Kerr MSP, who is the Scottish Conservative spokesman on transport and infrastructure. You can find the text of the motion on the Scottish Parliament website.
As an avid cyclist myself, I am concerned about reports that promises over cycle space are being watered down by Scotrail. It is important that the immense contribution cyclists bring to local economies is recognised, including by Transport Scotland and the ScotRail Alliance.
I will be calling on the Scottish Government to bring pressure on Transport Scotland and ScotRail to review this decision, and increase cycle space on Scotland’s railways, to the levels promised in 2015.
Once again many thanks for taking the time to get in touch.
Kind regards,
Gordon Lindhurst MSP
Lothian Region
(Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party)
------------------Posted 6 years ago # -
"It is important that the immense contribution cyclists bring to local economies is recognised, including by Transport Scotland and the ScotRail Alliance."
Can't disagree with that!
Posted 6 years ago #
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