You think people travel in wheelchairs for fun, or because they are lazy? Those are their legs. Wheelchair use is not a discretionary passtime.

Some of those who carry a bike on a train have to cycle some great distance when they reach their destination station, given poor PT connection availability, frequency and routes in outer suburbs. They are not necessarily lazy either.

Compliments of V/Line and the State Govt. - I've had a stressful Christmas break wondering how I'll get to work in the new year - Thanks a million Guys:( Apart from the usual pollies and media to voice your opposition to the ban, anyone opposed to the bicycle ban should contact Adrian Webb (Victorian Fare Policy Manager, Dept of Infrastructure). He's dealing with the objections to the ban. Ph 9095 4626 & email Adrian.W...@doi.vic.gov.au. He seemed like a nice enough fellow and seemed genuinely sorry about the cyclists who are caught up in the ban and don't have a public transport option at one or both ends of the train. He said that Bicycle Victoria was told on the 3rd of August of the proposed bike bans, and the idea was to bring in the policy softly softly in the New Year with a grace period for cyclists. But because people started complaining about the ban when they found out in Dec 07 and the PTUA also objected, the govt had no choice but to say the ban would be enforced immediately. So basically it's our fault for objecting to the ban!!! I can't believe how short sighted the govt was to think that no one would object to the ban if they didn't tell anyone about it in the first place (apart from Bicycle Victoria - No wonder they have been very quiet on the matter - and when I rang them on the 12th Dec 07 they said that they had only heard the rumour and they hadn't received anything official)!! Adrian suggested that there would be a grace period for bikes (at least on V/Line) but couldn't say for how long or if at all. Appears to be up to V/Line to decide. Anyway, please ph and email Adrian to voice your opposition and make sure you also contact your local MP and local papers to protest/ letters to the editor, oh and V/Line for what its worth! Adrian confirmed that V/Line is still govt owned and run by a separate govt business unit. Adrian agreed that it was unacceptable that I still haven't received a reply from V/Line from the 12 Dec 07 regarding the bike ban and that the customer service staff knew nothing about the ban right up until after Christmas (and probably still don't know much about it - I was told on the 28 Dec 07 to check the website for information on the ban and that they didn't have any other information). Russell

Well great to see the cut and past job from Connex that didn't address anyof 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, theroads are REAL nasty I'm telling the wife to get the train still home withher bike instead of riding home that night. We will cop any fine they wantto throw at us or action taking as its still better than the worst casescenario of her on the roads in those conditions. And I trust her skillson 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 trainservices. Patronage is expected to continue to increase and a number ofsteps are being taken to increase the capacity of the train network toenable more passengers to be carried.

The Victorian government has recently announced an order for 18 newsuburban trains and 22 new V/Locity carriages. However, growing patronagehas meant that a number of difficult operational decisions were required tomaximise the number of passengers that can be carried on peak hourservices. It is expected that the removal of bikes from the most congestedparts of the network during peak hours will enable more passengers to becarried, providing significant environmental and community benefits.

The restrictions for bikes are highly targeted and only apply to bikestravelling in the peak direction during peak times. For Connex trains, theban only applies to services within Zone 1. Customers will continue to beable to travel at off-peak times and in the counter peak direction withoutrestrictions. Similar rules exist in other Australian suburban trainnetworks, including Brisbane and Perth.

The Victorian Government and the public transport industry strongly supportthe use of public transport in conjunction with cycling and regret the needto restrict bikes from peak hour trains. Public transport users areencouraged to continue to use bikes in conjunction with public transport byleaving their bikes at the station at peak times and taking their bikes ontrains during off-peak times. (who wants to leave a good bike at a stationall 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) Rentalfees forlockers 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 trainsare now operated on the majority of off-peak services, providing more roomfor bikes during the day, at night and on weekends.

The Victorian Government recognises that there is more work to do inrelation to bicycle storage at stations. The Department of Infrastructureis working with Connex and Bicycle Victoria to implement a bike cagestorage facility at a suburban station as a trial. If successful(100 bikesNOT stolen) , more bikecages are likely to be implemented.

Thank you for raising this matter with the Public Transport Division.

Yours sincerely

Adrian WebbVictorian Fare Policy Manager

However, bikes can still be carried free of charge on all other metropolitan train services, including trains travelling in the counter peak direction (eg outbound in the morning peak and inbound in the afternoon peak).

For example, this means that if you are travelling from Flinders Street Station to Brighton Beach Station at 7.30am or from Yarraville Station to Melbourne Central Station at 5pm, a customer can carry a bike on a train.

Interesting to see this page on the Metlink web site:

i wonder if there are any stats on how many people this really affects and how many others it is discouraging from giving riding to/from the train a go?

Connex and V/Line rail staff defy bicycle peak hour ban

Geraldine MitchellJanuary 09, 2008

RAIL staff are refusing to force commuters to get their bikes off peak hour trains as the State Government's ban descends into a farce.

Industry sources yesterday said that the ban was unpopular and unworkable.

The Herald Sun last month revealed the Government would ban bikes on peak-hour Connex and V/Line trains from January 1.

The decision was hidden in a government document and published on the Metlink website.

A government spokesman said commuters would not be fined but urged rail staff to take a common-sense approach and advise passengers of the rule.

However sources said it was impossible to enforce the ban without official warnings or fines.

"Authorised officers, station staff, conductors -- none have the power to enforce it, so they're just not doing it," a source said.

Acting Premier Rob Hulls said: "There's been no decision made about rescinding (the ban). The fact is passengers on trains want to be able to travel in comfort."

However Public Transport Users Association president Daniel Bowen said: "Given no fine has been specified and because of the way it applies to peak services, the ban is almost unenforceable.

"V/Line's definition of peak hour includes all trains into Melbourne before 9am.

"So . . . even people boarding a train leaving Geelong at 5am and arriving in Melbourne around 6am can't take their bicycle."

V/Line's Daniel Moloney said its ban operated since January 1.

Mr Moloney also said V/Line had no plans to ask the Government to reverse the decision.

Connex spokeswoman Kate De Clercq said staff had been told to advise passengers of the law.

From the Herald Sun, Wednesday 9th January 2007.

http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/story/ ... 62,00.html

Hi all, first post...I'm a regular PT-user and sometime bike rider.Basically i avoid peak-hour, mainly cos it's commonsense and I can't fit!

However, the alternative of parking my bike at the station is basically useless.Those bike boxes are a stupendous waste of money in my opinion.

Yes you can lock your bike in one.

If you can get one!!! The problem with these boxes is they are registered exclusively to ONE user for 1 or more years (presuming they get reissued if requested-?).

Where can I order one for my station?

Rail bike ban 'backward'Amy Wise08Jan08

Cyclists Jacques Fievez, Barry McCaig, Bruce Dite, Marion Winton and Russell Hick will have to avoid taking their bikes on the train during peak hours. Picture: STEVE TANNER

CYCLING groups have described Connex's snap decision to ban bikes on all peak-hour trains as a backward step.

Connex made the shock announcement just a day before the ban took effect on January 1, giving the public no warning to absorb a move it says was in response to crowded trains.

The new rules prevent cyclists from taking their bikes on to Zone 1 metropolitan trains during peak hours, from 7-9am and 4-7pm.

Whitehorse Bicycle Advisory Committee secretary Robin Friday said Connex's decision was "disappointing", given the push for sustainable forms of transport.

"The trains are overcrowded but to place a ban on bikes on trains seems to be a backward step to me," he said.

He said more bike facilities were essential, especially at Box Hill railway station, which had fewer bike lockers and hooks than the less-patronised Mitcham station.

Seasoned cyclist and eastern suburbs resident Ray Peace condemned the measure, saying more lockers and cages at stations was not the answer.

"It would help, but only to a limited degree; it's OK if you don't need to ride at the other end but if you want to ride your bike at both ends you're stonkered." Mr Peace said.

Bicycle Victoria has campaigned for more bike storage at suburban stations, with less than a third of Melbourne's 200 stations featuring secure bike lockers.

Mr Peace said banning bikes was a "backward step" and the real fault lay with the public transport system "a 19th century railway system trying to cope with the demands of the 21st century".

Barry McCaig of Whitehorse Cyclists said members of his group were mainly retirees so the ban was not inconvenient.

Mr McCaig said bikes could be awkward and less bulky alternatives included fold-up bikes.

Connex said no penalties would apply for offenders in the first few months of the bans.

members of his group were mainly retirees so the ban was not inconvenient.

I wouldn't think that any actual statistics are available but based on several years of daily travel to the city I would think it might affect a few tens of people against the tens of thousands using trains in the peak hours every day.

A really very small number indeed.

The department has bought cages from Transperth - Western Australia's public transport body. More than 10 of the cages operate in Perth and initial findings show increases in the number of cyclists riding to stations and then catching the train to work.

Transperth's cycling integration manager Jim Krynen said a car park survey found 60% of motorists drove less than two kilometres to their preferred station. And 40% had driven less than 800 metres to the station.

Mr Krynen said the new cages had increased the rates of cycling to the station. "Initially, looking at the commute element and boosting the modal share in cycling, that short two to three-kilometre trip to the station is not a sweaty activity. It's convenient and it adds to sustainability and the rider's health," Mr Krynen said.

Perth riders will eventually have access to the cages through their SmartRider card - similar to the myki card under development in Victoria - and receive discounted fares for cycling.

Bicycle Victoria facilities development manager Jason den Hollander said the cage offered more flexibility to more users than the lockers, which can only be used by one person. "In the long term, we think this type of solution is a winner," he said.

A department spokesman confirmed the trial and said the cage will feature more secure access and significantly larger storage than the 930 bike lockers and 790 bike racks in use across Melbourne's metropolitan train network.

Cyclists slam ban Kelly Brown14Jan08

Moonee Valley Bicycle Users Group vice president Frank Kinnersley wants lockers at train stations after bikes were banned from peak hour services. Picture: Derrick Den Hollander

MORE bike lockers are needed at Moonee Valley train stations to cope with a bike ban on peak-hour trains, a local cycling group says.

Two weeks ago the State Government announced bicycles would not be allowed on zone 1 services that arrive in Melbourne between 7am and 9am or leave Melbourne between 4pm and 7pm.

A statement on the Connex website said the Government decision was in "direct response to increased patronage".

Moonee Valley Bicycle Users Group vice-president Frank Kinnersley, pictured, said the group was disappointed by the decision.

"We think there are other things that can be done to ease crowding problems, like having a place to store bikes on trains would make more room for passengers," he said.

Public Transport Users Association president Daniel Bowen agreed, saying the ban was a "knee-jerk reaction" that would not make a difference.

"There is a crowding problem on Melbourne's trains but banning certain passengers is not the way to go. The Government should be looking for other solutions."

Mr Kinnersley said some commuters needed to ride at both ends of their journey, travelling suburb to suburb and not just into the city. More station lockers would be needed if the Government and Connex insisted on separating users from their bikes.

North Melbourne, Newmarket and Essendon are the only Moonee Valley stations with lockers.

Mr Kinnersley said stations from Essendon outwards would benefit from additional lockers.

Cyclists could have a bike at both ends of their journey if they chose with more lockers systemwide.

However, Department of Infrastructure transport communications manager Drew Douglas said there were no immediate plans to introduce or increase lockers at any of Moonee Valley's stations.

"A new secure bike parking cage, which has a significantly larger storage capacity than lockers or racks, is being trialled at Eltham Station in 2008," he said.

"Consideration will be given to introducing bike cages at other stations pending the outcome of the trial."

Bike rail call Julia Irwin14Jan08

CYCLISTS from Darebin are calling for the State Government to rethink its ban on bikes on trains during peak hours.

Darebin Bicycle User Group spokesman Robin Gallagher said trains in countries such as Germany had designated bike-carrying areas fitted with special racks that kept the bikes from encroaching on passenger space.

"It is important that transport infrastructure keep pace with increasing rates of bike use and for an integrated service to be provided", Mr Gallagher said.

"Bikes need to be seen as part of transport rather than as a recreational toy".

He said options the Government could consider included taking out seats at one end of a carriage and providing hooks.

Thornbury cyclist Julie McDonald, 48, said she had been riding to Glen Iris to work every day after the doctor told her it was the best way to fend off arthritis.

After being on her feet all day in her mail-room job, she caught the train home with her bike.

Ms McDonald said the bans, in place since January 1, had forced her back into her car because she could not ride the 20km to Thornbury after work.

Bike ban blow to cyclistsTania Martin 15th January 2008

A KNOX City councillor has labelled a bicycle ban on peak-hour train services as a Band-Aid treatment for the overcrowding of the public transport system.

Tirhatuan Ward councillor Mick Van de Vreede said the ban would force Knox cyclists back into their cars.

Many Knox residents are doing the right thing by combining riding to work with a trip on pubic transport, he said.

But under a State Government ban, from 1 January, bicycles are not be permitted on train services travelling through Zone One and arriving in Melbourne between 7am and 9am and on trains departing between 4pm and 7pm.

Cr Van de Vreede said that for many residents it was not practical to ride the whole way to work and that it was especially difficult for those who worked in the city.

He said all the ban would do was force riders back into their cars and would again increase traffic congestion.

This ban really seems at odds with the Governments support for increased use of public transport, Cr Van de Vreede said.

Its little more than a Band-Aid solution to peak hour overcrowding.

Cr Van de Vreede said the Government should be encouraging people to combine cycling with public transport, not banning them.

He said the ban highlighted Melbournes need for a more integrated public transport system.

Perhaps the State Government needs to look at a public transport system that accommodates everybody, Cr Van de Vreede said.

Public transport is the key to a more sustainable future and its needs to be made accessible to people with and without bikes.

The Mail attempted to contact the Minister for Public Transport Lynne Kosky but was unable to get a response before going to print.