mjr wrote:hamster wrote:I agree, too many tales of gloom and doom about National Express. I use them regularly and find them faultless with drivers very helpful. Note that the doomsayers have never had a problem personally.
Be fair! One of what you call "doomsayers" had tried to use it and chickened out, one has been on the bus when there were problems for another cyclist and the other is Woodtourer posting the actual NatEx policy that says unfolded bikes aren't allowed! Compared to that, you posted that you'd never seen problems on some local bus service. Hardly a glowing reassurance, was it?
Have you actually taken your bike on Nat Ex then? That might have been useful info to post!
Most posters there had no recent experience of bikes on Nat Ex (they only have two buses a day near me, I think: one to Yarmouth and one to Aberystwyth - not much use to me) and offered only possible fallback plans in case they are as bad as they look.
I recounted my experiences upthread: I have taken bikes in flight bags several times, no trouble. That's the same size as a typical bike box: wheels and bars removed. I also use the south coast routes regularly, the buses are rarely full and there is plenty of empty space.
That's all there is to say, that dull and reliable.
The bit in the policy is clear: unpacked full sized bikes are not permitted. I quote directly from the website: not permitted 'Bicycles which aren't folded, dismantled or wrapped'. Pack and wrap, plus book an extra luggage slot and it's fine. As his bikes are in a flight box, they will comply.
Turn up with a fully assembled bike and be rude to the staff and you get what's coming.
https://cycle.travel/map?from=Heathrow+ ... Portsmouth