Bikes on Buses

[AllRides]

There’s an excellent discussion thread on Bikes on Trains but there are some instances of (non-folding) bikes being accommodated on Buses. Flix buses allow them under the coach, and some Scottish buses have bike spaces.

Are there any more examples (or plans) around?

[rjb]

I've seen the sw falcon flyer (Megabus) collect a tourist and slide his loaded non folding bike into the luggage bay.

[xjs]

Wonder if there would be any demand in the UK for this kind of thing:
https://la.streetsblog.org/2014/09/10/g ... nsit-buses

I would not want to cycle on the main roads in LA, so I can see why people use it.

Once as a teenager a kindly bus driver let me onto his double decker with my bike when I was stranded with a puncture - got me into Bath and a bike shop.

[Jdsk]

There are good bus services between Oxford and London and Heathrow. Lots of bikes get carried, but the last time that I checked it was "at the driver's discretion".

Jonathan

[AllRides]

Wonder if there would be any demand in the UK for this kind of thing:
https://la.streetsblog.org/2014/09/10/g ... nsit-buses

I would not want to cycle on the main roads in LA, so I can see why people use it.

Once as a teenager a kindly bus driver let me onto his double decker with my bike when I was stranded with a puncture - got me into Bath and a bike shop.

I think DfT did a trial of these and ruled them out on Pedestrian safety grounds. I believe you can have a rack on the back but that’s got some usage disadvantages (like being easier to steal and the driver not knowing if you’ve finished loading/unloading).

[simonhill]

In South Korea, you can put a full size bike in the baggage hold of all long distance buses. You load yourself. Very useful for getting in or out of large cities.

A couple of times I made a point of checking when buying my bus ticket and the seller gave one of those silly question, of course you can looks.

I've taken a bagged bike onto the Stansted Southend bus. I doubt they would have allowed a naked one.

[Jdsk]

There are good bus services between Oxford and London and Heathrow. Lots of bikes get carried, but the last time that I checked it was "at the driver's discretion".

Bikes don't need to be bagged.

Jonathan

[ANTONISH]

There’s an excellent discussion thread on Bikes on Trains but there are some instances of (non-folding) bikes being accommodated on Buses. Flix buses allow them under the coach, and some Scottish buses have bike spaces.

Are there any more examples (or plans) around?

I stand to be corrected but I think that in the UK Flixbus subcontracts it's services to British operators who may not be willing to take bikes - or perhaps driver discretion - not so good if you have a timetable to meet.

[Jdsk]

There’s an excellent discussion thread on Bikes on Trains but there are some instances of (non-folding) bikes being accommodated on Buses. Flix buses allow them under the coach, and some Scottish buses have bike spaces.

Are there any more examples (or plans) around?

I stand to be corrected but I think that in the UK Flixbus subcontracts it's services to British operators who may not be willing to take bikes - or perhaps driver discretion - not so good if you have a timetable to meet.

Bikes on FlixBus:
https://www.flixbus.co.uk/service/bike-travel

Jonathan

[Jdsk]

There are good bus services between Oxford and London and Heathrow. Lots of bikes get carried, but the last time that I checked it was "at the driver's discretion".

Bikes don't need to be bagged.

Heathrow (the Airline):
You are allowed to stow two suitcases (up to 20kg each) in the luggage hold of the vehicle and take one small item of hand luggage on board the coach. A surcharge of £5 is payable per additional suitcase.
Large items such as skis, trunks and cycles can only be transported if space permits and this is at the driver’s discretion. A surcharge of £5 is payable per large item. Items must be suitably packaged. Whilst we take every care possible to ensure the safe carriage of your items, we still strongly recommend that you take out insurance.
https://www.theairlineoxford.co.uk/oxfo ... -bus/#faqs

London (Oxford Tube):
Can I take my bike or ebike?
Yes, up to 2 pushbikes can be carried on each coach. ebikes are not permitted
The designated racks allow for up to two standard cycles that do not exceed the dimensions below to be carried at any one time
Length: 1675mm
Height: 979mm
Width: 700mm
Passengers are advised that bicycles or bicycles with baskets that exceed the above dimensions will not fit in the racks due to restricted space
If the coach/storage area is full then all customers, including those with a bike, must wait for the next coach
Folding bikes can be stored in the external luggage compartment at the rear of the coach
https://www.oxfordtube.com/help-and-con ... e-or-ebike

(The X90 doesn't run any more.)

Jonathan

[ratherbeintobago]

Borders Bike Buses look really good, though I’ve not used. I think the first route they used them on (X62) goes past some of the 7 Stanes trail centres which presumably helps drive demand/custom?

For it to work, would either need to be long distance (e.g Flixbus - not sure I’ve seen them with bikes on the back in the UK) or some there that there’s demand but no train option (so e.g. Hebden Bridge to Rochdale bisecting the MTL is probably pointless). Anyone got any suggestions for routes?

[axel_knutt]

When I was touring I operated on the assumption that bike buses are so rare they don't exist, on the grounds that I needed a turn-up-and-go service, not a maybe-it-will-maybe-it-won't service.

London (Oxford Tube):
Can I take my bike or ebike?
Yes, up to 2 pushbikes can be carried on each coach. ebikes are not permitted
The designated racks allow for up to two standard cycles that do not exceed the dimensions below to be carried at any one time
Length: 1675mm
Height: 979mm
Width: 700mm

That makes my bike 170mm too tall.

[Traction_man]

in Northern Ireland, the longer distance (Goldliner) coaches do take bicycles, in the hold:

17.4 When bicycles are carried as passengers’ luggage they will be carried free of charge
provided that suitable space is available and do not get in the way of others. Unfolded
bicycles are not permitted on buses prior to 0930 Monday to Friday. On Metro and
Glider services, unfolded bicycles are not permitted at any time. Folded bicycles will
only be carried on Glider services where there is sufficient space to do so and provided
they do not get in the way of others. Priority must be afforded to wheelchair users on
all occasions.

https://trn-stg-cdn-01.azureedge.net/me ... ldline.pdf

the Goldliner services cover large parts of NI beyond the limited rail network,

https://trn-prd-cdn-01.azureedge.net/me ... te-map.pdf

[AllRides]

Borders Bike Buses look really good, though I’ve not used. I think the first route they used them on (X62) goes past some of the 7 Stanes trail centres which presumably helps drive demand/custom?

For it to work, would either need to be long distance (e.g Flixbus - not sure I’ve seen them with bikes on the back in the UK) or some there that there’s demand but no train option (so e.g. Hebden Bridge to Rochdale bisecting the MTL is probably pointless). Anyone got any suggestions for routes?

Those Borders buses look great and much better than a hold option (particularly for shorter journeys.

In terms of routes. I’d love to see the whole Traws Cambria network in Wales with similar capacity.

[simonhill]

The trouble with holds is that they are finite and priority is usually given to other luggage.

If all the passengers have large or multiple suitcases then unlikely to have room for bikes.