Allow Cycle racks on buses!

Greater Wellington has a report on the Transport and Access agenda
on Carriage of cycles on buses and trains.

Report 6: the Transport and Access Committee on Carriage of Cycles on Buses and Trains

This report includes a review of the recent survey of people using trains, and a Environment Canterbury trial of racks on buses. The good news is that cycles can still be carried for free on trains (but with possible restrictions on peak hour Matangi trains).

The bad news is that the Report recommends against carriage of bikes on buses.

The report says that there has been little demand for bikes to be carried on buses, and recommends that Greater Wellington not install bike racks on buses, or move to carry bikes inside buses.

This is very contentious. The general public has never been consulted at all. The Public Transport Review was  circulated to 50,000 Wellingtonians, and could have included a relevant question but didn’t!

What you can do

Request a copy of the Wellington Public Transport Review from the Greater Wellington reception, freephone 0800 496 734, or you can send an email to ptreview@gw.govt.nz

Contact myself, Paul Bruce indicating your support for cycle carriage on buses, and/or Peter Glensor

Summary of Bikes on Buses report

This report reviews Environment Canterbury’s experience with racks on small buses (competed in Nov 08), and an extended trail to large buses, to be completed in April 2010.

NZ Transport Agency has advised that there will be an amendment to a Ministry of Transport rule change, to allow for bike racks without special exemptions being necessary. Bikes may be carried inside a bus only if the bus has been designed and built accordingly. Bikes may be transported at the outside rear of a bus provided certain conditions are met.

NZ Bus is opposed to the carriage of cycles inside buses on health and safety grounds, and indicates that they believe that the addition of cycle racks would pose significant issues for bus storage at depots.

The cost to Greater Wellington to provide racks for 450 buses amounts to about $1m, or $2000 per rack.

The report states that there has been little demand for bikes to be carried on buses.

Please free to ring me at any time.

For more information

Contact Regional Councillor Paul Bruce
paul.bruce@greens.org.nz
phone: 04 9728699 cellphone:021 02719370