V/Line and Connex plan to ban bicycles on peak hour trains from the 1st of January 2008. The V/Line ban will apply to all trains in the peak direction, and we understand that the Connex ban will apply to all trains in the peak direction within zone 1. (Bicycles will be allowed at all times within zone 2, including stations in the zone 1/2 overlap.)
- V/Line Fares & conditions — changes from 1 January 2008
- Victorian Fares and Ticketing Manual 2008 — see page 76
The PTUA is opposed to this ban.
While we recognise that many peak hour services are crowded, we are aware of a number of passengers who genuinely need their bicycles at both ends of their train trip. These represent only a small number of people relative to total passenger loads. So a total ban is unlikely to have a big effect on crowding, while unfairly disadvantaging those people who need to take their bikes on trains.
More use of bicycles helps keep cars off the road, and combining bikes with train use can make more trips competitive with car travel.
Instead of a complete ban, we would be open to re-introducing a small fee for taking bicycles on trains in the peak direction (to discourage unnecessary use), in conjunction with the provision of more secure bicycle storage at stations where demand currently outstrips supply (including regional stations).
Other measures that could be considered would include:
- Waiving or reducing the bond for bicycle lockers (currently up to $100) for concession card holders
- Limiting bikes to the last carriage of trains (often less crowded than carriages in the middle of the train)
- Limiting the number of bikes on peak V/Line trains to a certain number of pre-booked (first come, first served) places, based on expected passenger loading, with the conductor having discretion
And of course the longterm solution is to provide more train services, so that overcrowding doesn’t occur in the first place!
Get active
We would encourage concerned people to get active on this issue. Write to the Department of Infrastructure Public Transport Division, V/Line and Connex.
And contact your local MP, write to the newspapers (metropolitan dailies or your local newspaper) and call talkback radio.
You can also join in the Bin The Bike Ban campaign organised by concerned cyclists.
Media coverage
- Herald Sun 20/12/2007: Revamp as train use soars
- Herald Sun 31/12/2007: Peak-hour bike ban plan for trains sparks outcry
- Herald Sun 1/1/2008: Call for bike lockers not bans
- The Age 1/1/2008: Bike racks or not, cycles banned on peak-hour trains
- Herald Sun 2/1/2008: Opinion: The road to rail
- Bendigo Advertiser 2/1/2008: V/Lline’s bike ban ‘makes no sense’
- Age 8/1/2008: Country cyclists win reprieve from railways bike ban
- Herald Sun 8/1/2008: Train rule: Govt won’t budge on bike ban
- Whitehorse Leader 8/1/2008: Rail bike ban ‘backward’
- Herald Sun 9/1/2008: Connex and V/Line rail staff defy bicycle peak hour ban
- ABC Online 9/1/2008: Rural cyclists criticise bike ban
- Herald Sun 10/1/2008: Conflicting rules published on websites
- Bendigo Advertiser 12/1/2008: Cyclists oppose ban
- Age 13/1/2008: Opinion: Cyclists still find their path blocked by bureaucracy
- Geelong Advertiser 13/1/2008: Cyclists call for V/Line ban to be lifted
- Moonee Valley Leader 14/1/2008: Cyclists slam ban
- Age 15/1/2008: Station tries cages to ease peak bike ban
- Geelong Advertiser 15/1/2008: Opinion: Bike tales of the ad hocracy
- Ferntree Gully/Belgrave Mail, Ranges Trader Mail 15/1/2008: Bike ban blow to cyclists
- Bendigo Advertiser 17/1/2008: Council opposes travel ban on bikes
- Age 21/1/2008: Opponents of bike ban gear up for protests
- Age 22/1/2008: Backflip likely on controversial trains bicycle ban
- Herald Sun 22/1/2008: Train bike ban to go
- ABC Online 23/1/2008: Bike ban protest (Castlemaine/Bendigo protest pictures)
- Melbourne Leader 23/1/2008: Anger at bike ban
- Bendigo Advertiser 24/1/2008: Ban prompts action
- Whitehorse Leader 30/1/2008: Train bike ban review
- Herald Sun 15/2/2008: Train bike ban backflip
- The Age 15/2/2008: Minister lifts bicycle ban on peak-hour trains
- Government press release 15/2/2008: Bikes back on peak hour trains and further improvements announced
We will continue to update this web page as developments occur
1-Feb-2008: We are advised that while there is a review of the bans, no action will be taken against any cyclist with a bicycle on a peak hour train.
15-Feb-2008: The ban has been officially withdrawn. More information.