Should cyclists really be allowed to travel on trains?
ON Tuesday, July 26 I was a passenger on the 6.09pm train from Liverpool South Parkway to Ainsdale.
You will be aware that from Liverpool Central onwards this is an extremely busy service and, indeed, on leaving that station people were standing both in the aisle and also in the door areas.
These standing passengers included an elderly gentleman who was using a walking frame. As the guard was preparing to dispatch the train from Liverpool Central, a man appeared at the train door with a bike and pushed his way through the already standing passengers.
The elderly gentleman was pushed over and it was only because of the volume of standing passengers that he was prevented from falling to the floor. The cyclist remained standing, holding his bike and causing an obstruction, until alighting at Bootle Oriel Road. (There was another bike which had obviously been on the train prior to South Parkway that was stowed in the cycle area – but nevertheless was preventing passengers from using the seats in those areas).
On Wednesday, July 27 I was descending on the escalator at Liverpool Central – standing to the right – when a man overtook me carrying a bike above his head. Whilst I did not see anyone hit by his bike, his equilibrium in carrying this weight caused him to jostle others using the escalator at that time.
On the same day I travelled on the 1.28pm train from Southport to Ainsdale, two people got on with bikes at Birkdale and actually walked along the gangway with their bikes from one door entrance to the next.
I bring these matters to your attention as I feel there is a huge health and safety issue here in allowing bikes to be brought onto trains, in addition to the inconvenience caused to other travellers.
We appear to live in an age where cycling is treated almost as a religion. Everybody has to bend over backwards to accommodate this pastime and few are prepared to speak up for the majority who are put at risk by the thoughtless actions of the cyclists.
I recall that at one time there was a considerable cost involved in taking a bike on a train, and even then it had to be placed in the guards’ van. This exercised a degree of control over the numbers carried and moderated the attitude of the cyclist who did not consider himself to have a divine right to inflict his hobby onto his long suffering fellow passengers.
I am also mindful of the expense that has been incurred by those taxpayers who contribute towards the MerseyTravel precept by the extensive provision of cycle storage facilities on most MerseyTravel stations. Many of these appear to be used very little.
Whilst I fully realise that MerseyTravel is not the only organisation that panders to the cycling religion, I would respectfully ask them to show a greater awareness for the inconvenience and dangers caused to the majority of fare paying passengers by this small minority of inconsiderate public service users. Terry Durrance Ainsdale OF course they shouldn’t be banned just because someone had a bad experience. May as well ban all the train passengers who have no manners which is the majority.
If you’re going to ban anyone ban the fools with bag loads of Primark bags and don’t have the manners to make space for anyone else!
Simon Dredge
I WONDER how many people offered the elderly man their seat? Also the bay for cycles has no seats I’ve stood in that spot many times with my pram.
Hazel Robinson
I REMEMBER when trains had carriages for large luggage and bicycles. That was a good system that worked.
Eleanor Wylder
WHY not have a carriage that bikes can be put on and locked where you can stay on that bit too if you put bikes in there, then it will keep other spaces free for wheelchairs and prams.
Chelsea Jade Sagar
WHY was an elderly man with a frame left standing? Disgusting that no one gave a seat to him.
Helen Taylor
I HAVE heard of disabled people having to wait for the next train because the space allocated has been too full due to being used by a cyclist!
Lyn Hilton
OR put six carriages on instead of three at peak times to make room for everyone... common sense really.
Nina Smalley
WHY not ban prams too? Because they might get in the way as well. Behave.
Cassie Gerrie
NO. My son gets the train and has to ride a fair distance to school.
Ashleigh Richards
THAT could be handy. No bike with you to use the planned bike lane round Liverpool.
Suzanne Blundell
HAVE four of the carriages for passengers on foot, dedicate one carriage for people on bikes, scooters skateboards wheelchair users etc. If it’s empty have the fold down seats for regular commuters or have standing.
Daniel Fudge Cook
YES, what is the point of having a bike if you are going on the train with it.
Barbara Mckenna
I AGREE at peak times yes! Barely enough space for the regular commuters!
Maddy Davison
AT peak times yes. At other times no.
Paul Aird
NO. Not all people with bikes act like this. Why not have more longer trains?
Georgina Gillen
IT is true that at rush hour, three carriages are insufficient.
Neville Grundy
IT might help if the trains had the bike racks... not all of them have them and you have no alternative but to stand with your bike.
If they do ban bikes, then should it be the same for prams? What about wheelchairs?
Tracey Barlow
IT’S usually the person who has the bike who needs banning.
Mike Stafford
IF bikes are banned for being a hassle then so should dogs. I find this preposterous. I used to get the train regularly and never saw too much of an issue.
If this idea comes for bikes, what’s next prams, wheelchairs? The only times I’ve seen people getting pushed in escalators is when they are stood on the left.
If you want to stand on them, stand on the right. If you want to move, you move up the left. Simple.
Gilly Louise Hulse
THE bike racks on Merseyrail trains can only take two bikes and there’s normally a rack at either end of the train. More racks or a bike specific carriage would be a better suggestion.
Ali Butler