Nexus & Bikes on Metro

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Dreaming again...

20.02.2012

In a letter today Bernard Garner says the task & finish group is in the process of being set up. His own head of communication was of the opinion it had been set up. Communications! Wires. Crossed. Inching closer...

Metro's Stephen Psallidas will be in touch. In the near future. Here's what was said in 2005 "However, Stephen Psallidas of transport charity Sustrans, is urging Nexus to support the idea in principle and carry out a trial on Sundays and bank holidays".

We remain. 

Waiting. 

And. 

Seeing. 

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Today Metro announces the first modernised carriage has taken to the tracks. Years ago the cycling community had been promised that the refurbishment would give consideration to the carrying of bikes. Funny that.

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09.02.2012

We 'learnt' that Metro bosses are still playing the same old record, see today's Journal and the Chronicle. 

For the ones interested in the detail: 

• Contrary to Huw Lewis, head of communciations, announcement, the working group (task & finish group) has NOT been set up. As we would be part of it, we would have heard, surely?
• We remain requesting to hear from Bernard Garner directly, not by proxy from his head of communications; and wonder whether Bernard's taken up the offer by a Newcastle Councillor to meet at South Gosforth station to discuss the very subject?
• We renew our offer to analyse Metro patronage data to once and for all lay to rest the "a very busy system" smoke screen. We believe it's only very busy at certain times ie rush hour and special events.
• We ask Metro to share their latest customer research for our independent assessment.

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 04.02.2012
 

Today we wrote an open letter to Bernard Garner calling for a trial run. We've also pledged our involvement. Here's the accompanying press release.

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19.11.2011

Metro's press release following the conference now reveals they weren't considering the matter of bicycles on the metro after all. They'd already ruled it out!

Why, Metro, why?

Left hand, right hand... or is it something altogether more sinister? We'll have to keep wondering...

We are in the process of drafting an open letter and will be seeking your support soon. Watch this space. All we are asking for is a fair exchange of information and ideas. Open. Frank. Transparent.

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03.11.011
 

Today took place the Metro conference. We are unsure what we could tell the operators that the cycling community hadn't told them already in the past. We are still waiting for an invite from Metro / DB Regio to bring them up to speed on the subject of bicycles-on-trains… a working group is not the answer. 

Completely undeterred, Nexus soldiered on and today lauched an online survey on bike parking at stations http://snipurl.com/nexusbikesurvey

We'd suggest to let them know what you want, what you really-really want. There's some free text you can 'highjack'.

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02.11.2011 

Cllr Gallagher (Gosforth East ward) posed a written question to the administration. The reply from Cllr Murison (cabinet member 'Quality of Life') did not provide any new answers, and rather skirted the question. Read it for yourself here. We have included some commentary.

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19.10.2011
 

DB regio has announced a Stakeholder Conference, to be held on 3rd November, aiming to improve cycling initiatives on the Metro system. We have contacted the organiser to enquire whether an open debate on standard bikes on metro is allowed to take place.

Richard McClean (DB Regio) ensures us that It would hardly be a true piece of stakeholder engagement if we couldn’t debate this key issue which I know is very important.

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29.09.2011
 

(Saga continued) Bernard Garner was on BBC Radio Newcastle and we were given the chance to ask a question. Here it is: "Metro is run by DB Regio who are in charge of German light rail systems, notably Hanover, Hamburg and Berlin - where standard bicycle are allowed on the carriages without a problem. So, what's so different in Newcastle?" In his reply Mr Garner actually failed to answer the question. He was later asked by a caller whether he really was 'anti-bike'! In addition, Mr Garner said he currently does not cycle himself. There was a lot of 'bicycle buzz' on the show - thanks to everyone who phoned-in, texted, tweeted! Upshot: Mr Garner has made up his mind: bicycles on the metro is not an option he will consider any time soon. An option simply wiped off the table by him. More to the point: we still don't know on what grounds or what these "serious practical difficulties" are.

What is it that makes Newcastle different to light rail systems in Hanover, Hamburg and Berlin run by the same company? 

We will have to keep pressing for a sensible debate. And we will. 

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27.09.2011
 

Nexus and their operator are talking to us but are they listening? See their reply to our Cycle-friendly Metro report. "Stakeholder engagement" conference soon, hmmmmm, watch this space. In the meantime why not send a question to Bernard Garner who will be on BBC Radio Newcastle on Thursday 29th September, asking "when will you be piloting bikes on metro?"

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15.09.2011
 

Here's our related press release Bikes on the Metro Anyone?

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11.07.2011 

The results are in! Remember the cycle-friendly metro competition, when we asked for your comments? Well, the winner has now been announced! Thanks for everyone who took part. Analysis of your comments showed, yet again and very clearly, the importance of being able to take standard bikes on the metro trains. 

We will forward the report to Nexus & DB Regio and press for a true two-way dialogue to be opened up. 

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29.04.2011 

This sounds great! Stephen Psallidas appears to reveal in a recent sustrans report (April 2011) that Nexus are considering setting up a discount for folding bike purchase for annual Metro ticket users. [ref.] 

Just as we suggested in our LTP3 response: "Nexus must show real commitment to mode integration by offering options to their customers such as secure bike storage at stations, a  folding bike subsidy and station bicycles".

Katja says: We do not know how serious a consideration by Nexus this is or what corporate commitment is behind this plan, or how advanced the thinking and planning is, or indeed how much subsidy we are talking about here. It's certainly the first time we have heard of it: through this sustrans report. We literally just stumbled upon it!

Really what we are ultimately asking for is full-sized bicycles to be allowed on the metro - it is difficult to understand what is holding Nexus. Passengers' safety & comfort is quoted in their conditions of carriage. But we know this perception can be overcome: other cities and regions have taken this step before. So, why not here? Why not Nexus?

We believe that the first step for Nexus should be a trial phase during off-peak times when there's little conflict with passengers.  We need a real integrated transport system in Tyne & Wear to fully unleash the power of all green travel modes.

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29.03.2011
 

At our AGM members agreed on this year's campaign priorities. Not surprisingly bikes on Metro is featuring.

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18.02.2011
 

We took part at a council event termed 'Access & Mobility' organised through the Health & Wellbeing Partnership. Amongst other information we submitted this poster for display at the event.

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Early 2011
 

Never mind that we had a Nexus person visiting the council's cycle forum, and we told him that bikes should be allowed on the metro trains.

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Mid 2010

Metro organised a Question Time style event at the Centre for Life, and cycling community was allowed the question of bicycle-on-trains. Richard McClean (DB Regio) did his best to toe the party line, whilst Bernard Garner (Nexus) and David Wood (TWITA) remained silent.

QUESTION: What steps have been made to redesign Metrocars to allow bikes on board, and to bring back an integrated transport system?

Richard McClean: One part of the plan agreed with Nexus is to work on how make the Metro more accessible to people using more forms of transport; that includes discussion with bus operators, working on improving how people who cycle to and from stations can use the system and working and looking at other transport modes, including the car. There is park and ride which is still an effective solution to the whole of the region’s transport issues, so transport integration for all modes, walking, cycling, bus and car are part of the plans we have got to deliver. [ref]

It must be said, that there's something eerie about the way the Metro chiefs act. It very much feels like they are closing ranks, some secret pact.

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Previously on another planet.

Of course, the story is much older, it dates back years, probably decades even.

In 2006 Metro actually geared up for taking bikes on board: their forthcoming carriage refurbishment was to include bikes.

For example... Newcastle Cycle Forum minutes for 24 Oct 2002 (one of the first minutes available from that forum) - it reads "It was suggested that a representative of Nexus should attend future meetings to address issues such as bikes on the Metro"

Cycling, sidelined? 

Never!