"Cycling and rail travel are perfect partners. The combination provides a ‘doorstep-to-
destination’ option for longer-distance journeys which might otherwise be possible only by car.

It is also a really simple way to set about tackling a whole range of problems all in one go: obesity, air pollution, congestion and climate change to name but a few.”

Jon Snow, CTC President

Cycle-rail integration - CTC policy

CTC believes rail operators should promote travel by the cycle rail combination by providing:

1. Good cycle parking and storage facilities;
2. Good access to, from, through and within stations (e.g. including wheeling ramps);
3. Dedicated space for cycle carriage on trains, with additional 'flexible' capacity as required (e.g. tip-up seating);
4. Convenient ticketing and cycle reservation systems;
5. Information about and promotion of cycle-rail travel opportunities;
6. Consultation with cycle users and monitoring of the effectiveness of cycle-rail initiatives.

So who benefits from cycle-rail?

• Individuals: it provides a door-to-door alternative to cars for longer-distance journeys.
• Commuters: can cut total daily journey time by up to one hour by cycling to and from the station, avoiding congestion and additional bus or inner-city rail journeys.
• Rail operators: it increases their customers' ability to access rail services, with 60% of people living less than a 15 minute cycle ride from a station. 
• Local economies: the increased catchment area helps keeps branch line services running, further reducing the need for car journeys.
• Public policy: bike-rail increases cycling and lowers car travel, supporting a wide range of health, transport, social and environmental objectives.

CTC's Keep Cycling on Track campaign believes that the delivery of passengers to and from stations is not being effectively audited and that savings on provision of car parking, supporting bus services, and reductions in congestion make a solid economic case for encouraging cycle-rail.

We also believe that the natural regulation created by the hassle of trying to board a crowded train with a cycle is more effective than an outright ban.

 Keep us posted...

Don't forget that CTC is always interested in your cycle/rail experiences, good and bad. Go to CTC's forum here.