Bikes and Trains

[fatboy]

I just got the email from John Snow and I thought about writing to my MP using the example of how I can't commute to work as I'm not allowed to take my bike on the train in rush hour other than one stop. It's a 50+ mile round trip like that. My argument was going to be if only I could go to a further stop then the ride would only be a 25ish round trip. Well I looked it up on the rail company website to discover that now I can take my bike on this route. I am now thrilled and will give this a go sometime soon.

Not sure what to right to my MP though!!!!

[squeaker]

Well I looked it up on the rail company website to discover that now I can take my bike on this route. I am now thrilled and will give this a go sometime soon.

Not sure what to right to my MP though!!!!

I'd try it first before writing to anyone

[atoz]

It's good to see the CTC taking this subject more seriously. I particularly appreciate the fact that our new President is highlighting this subject himself- whatever else you make think about him.

Imagine, if you will, bikes on trains- it's not too hard to do- in fact, it was only 20 years back. I well remember using trains for cycletours in Wales, the Cotswolds, East Anglia and other places without any worries.

Don't forget that without those trains, maybe we would be "enjoying" the Settle Carlisle cycle route (!)- of course we would need a car to get there. I speak as a Settle Carlisle closure objector. I have to say that every time I use this line, and it's reasonably frequently, I am reminded of the fact that without my little contribution and a hell of a lot of other peoples, a valuable route both for locals and tourists alike would have been lost forever. So as well as campaigning for more space/facilities for cycles on trains, we should push for better train services generally. After all, more bums on train seats means less in cars, which can only benefit us.

I know that MP's can be useless- but I'd email them anyway. Apathy suits the establishment's purposes perfectly....

[thirdcrank]

Apathy suits the establishment's purposes perfectly....

I'm not sure that is always the case. I think the fact that the present government was elected by a minority of those who actually voted, which was itself the smallest turnout in modern elections, really worries some of them. That is why they are talking of reducing the qualifying age and extending postal voting willy-nilly. They know they are losing credibility. The future Baron Prescott of Prestatyn may bray about a landslide but even he knows it was subsidence.

[fatboy]

Imagine, if you will, bikes on trains- it's not too hard to do- in fact, it was only 20 years back.

I didn't used to cycletour but when I was a teenager I used to throw my bike in guards vans so that I could visit friends etc. You always had to run the gauntlet of the grumpiest men in surrey (guards!) but you could always do it.

[fatboy]

Just got into work by taking the train for 20ish miles of my commute and cycling the last 12 miles. I feel really alert if a bit tired. No problems with getting the bike on the train. Now what's the return journey going to be like....?