[Article] Quango goes against bike plan on safety concerns

[Colm Moore]

http://dublinobserver.com/2010/07/qu...fety-concerns/

Government policy promoting cycling is being undermined due to safety concerns by the agency which oversees Luas and Metro projects.

Taxpayers may end up footing the bill to retrofit the multimillion euro Metro North from Dublin to Swords because of the stance against Government policy taken by the Railway Procurement Agency (RPA).

Safety concerns were given by the state agency as the reason for only allowing folding bicycles on its trams.

“[RPA] policy is to allow only fold-up cycles on Luas due primarily to safety concerns from emergency braking incidents and minor contact with non-foldable cycles,” said RPA spokesman Tom Manning. “The current design for Metro North will not cater for the carriage of bikes.”

Ciaran Cuffe, Green Party Minister of Sustainable Transport and Planning, said he’s disappointed with the RPA. He said: “I’m underwhelmed by their replies and shall take up the issue with RPA.”

Introduced in April 2009 by Fianna Fail transport minister Noel Dempsey, the National Cycle Framework Policy says bicycles will be accommodated on off-peak trains and on trams where passengers are not affected. The Government’s key ‘Smarter Travel’ policy also backs bicycles on trains.

The policies were secured as Government policy by the Green Party as part of the Renewed Programme for Government last October. But when it comes to bicycles on trains and trams the policy is still ignored by the RPA.

“If bicycles are not to be allowed, what of other objects accompanying passengers – large suitcases, sporting equipment, prams, wheelchairs and other mobility aids? A bicycle isn’t any more inherently obstructive or dangerous than any of these,” said Colm Moore of the Dublin Cycle Campaign.

The cycle campaign notes how allowing bicycles increases train use at off-peak times.

Train makers Bombardier and CAF which are part of groups bidding for Metro North both build trams and trains which carry bicycles, although the final interior specifications will be decided by the RPA.

The RPA also claimed the section of the national cycling policy covering trains and trams was only an “objective” and that it will be subject to a more detailed study. The policy, however, only says that finding suitable bicycle restraints would be subject to a detailed study.

Rail Users Ireland, a national rail users group, says it is simple to put straps on trains and trams to allow bikes to be restrained, they add that trams can easily handle three to four cyclists off peak in their current format.

Manning said, “Incidentally, I understand that Manchester has recently renewed their policy of not allowing cycles which I believe supports the original RPA stance on this issue.”

However, after objections from cyclists groups in Manchester, the city’s transport authority is now reviewing its decision to ban bicycles from trams. Campaigners in the city protested using ironing boards to highlight larger items still allowed onboard the Manchester trams.

The Greater Manchester Cycling Campaign pointed out that bicycles are carried on trams in Frankfurt, Cologne, Istanbul, Minneapolis, Porto, and Rotterdam.

Elsewhere, bicycles are carried on metro and regional rail networks in Denmark, Germany, and the Netherlands. In the United States, cities such as Washington DC and Los Angeles allow bicycles on their metros and urban buses.

Meanwhile, Irish Rail is running a pilot scheme of carrying bikes on suburban trains.

Blogging shortly before becoming a junior minister about a meeting with Dick Fearn, chief executive of Irish Rail, Cuffe wrote, “Mr Fearn said he will introduce a pilot scheme on the Maynooth and Drogheda services shortly. I urged him to implement this recommendation on the Dart as soon as possible.”

The semi-state company was heavily criticised last year for the lack of provision for bicycles on Intercity trains. But campaigners say progress has been made in this area.

“We now have bikes on all intercity and regional trains and have this listed in the timetable and online, it took a lot of work to get this in place. That’s a key step forward,” said Mark Gleeson a spokesman from Rail Users Ireland.

Tom Manning at the RPA said the agency is implementing other sections of the national cycle policy.

He said 250 bicycle parking spaces would be provided along the route of Metro North, sheltered parking will be included at all stops in the Fingal County Council area, and the RPA has agreed with the council to widen footbridges to facilitate cyclists and pedestrians.

However, Dublin Cycle Campaign called the RPA’s planned bicycle parking provision “inadequate.” It points out that it is a fraction of what is required under the Dublin City development plan; the campaign says the development plan figures may be excessive at some Metro stops but more of an effort should be made to provide space for bicycle parking.

On bicycles on buses, the cycle policy only mentions a pilot project. It says: “We will support the development of a pilot project for the carriage of bikes on urban bus services comparable to what is currently used on buses in Canada and US [mounted bicycle racks on the front of buses].”

Dublin Bus spokeswoman, Cliodhna Ni Fhatharta, said: “We have no provision on our current vehicles for the carriage of bikes unless they are fold up and can be carried or left in the luggage area. We did not purchase any new buses in 2009 and will not purchase any new buses in 2010. However we will keep the proposals set out in the National Cycle Policy under review.”

[plant43]

“We now have bikes on all intercity and regional trains and have this listed in the timetable and online, it took a lot of work to get this in place. That’s a key step forward,” said Mark Gleeson a spokesman from Rail Users Ireland.

Not really true - there are still some 6 car and 3 car 22k sets that don't have the bike racks. I know there is a cupboard too, but 9 times out of 10 these are locked and it can be hard to find a staff member who can open it.

What would really be progressive too is if Irish Rail abolished the bike charge.

[Mark Gleeson]

There is 1 3 car set without a rack currently, 22x12, only spotted this recently. The rest I don't know.

Last weekend, there were 3 bikes on the 17:20 Waterford Rosslare on the Saturday.

The bike charge is not routinely enforced if you board beyond a major terminus

[plant43]

I have a feeling there is more than one 3 car 22k set without the racks and there is definitely at least one (first class) 6 car set without the racks.

The not being charged the bike fee isn't an official policy - it's because the staff don't care or are too lazy to issue them. I tried to buy a bike ticket at a non-major terminus and was told "Ah sure you'll be grand" and then I got threatened with a 100 euro fine at Heuston.

[plant43]

Originally Posted by plant43

I have a feeling there is more than one 3 car 22k set without the racks and there is definitely at least one (first class) 6 car set without the racks.

22x14 also has no racks.

[plant43]

Originally Posted by plant43

22x14 also has no racks.

22x19 also has no racks.

[plant43]

Add 22x25 to the list.

[plant43]

22x33 (six car first class set) has no racks and five cyclists who turned up for the 17:45 Heuston-Galway.

[Colm Moore]

Interestingly, Today's Railways UK (Issue 104, August 2010, page 22) says "All 22000 InterCity Railcar sets have been fitted with bike racks."