Public Transport

Cherry Allan's picture

Government boost for sustainable door-to-door travel

CTC has today welcomed the Government's new strategy for sustainable door-to-door trips by public transport, walking and cycling.
Leeds Cycle Point - a good example of cycle-rail integration

Public transport, walking and cycling make ideal travelling companions, so the launch today of the Government's vision for door-to-door journeys by sustainable transport is a welcome step forward.

Cycling is one of the best ways of linking up stages of longer journeys - e.g. by riding from home to the rail station or bus stop - and it's healthy, low carbon and conveniently 'door-to-door'.

Years of feedback from cyclists tell us that the combination of cycling with public transport has huge potential and helps save travellers time and money.

Cherry Allan's picture

Taxis and private hire vehicles

If your cycle breaks down, or it's late at night - or you're just too tired to complete your journey - knowing that you can take your bike the rest of the way by taxi can be a very reassuring thought...
London taxi and cyclist
Headline Messages: 
  • Taxis and private hire vehicles will often transport a cycle, provided that space is available.
  • The regulations under the Disability Discrimination Act require all taxis (but not private hire vehicles) to be capable of accommodating people with disabilities - including people who use wheelchairs. This provision means that the vehicles approved by the licensing authority (the local council) can normally accommodate 1-2 standard solo cycles. Current users generally hold on to the cycle inside the taxi to address the issue of safety and security.
  • Cycles can in practice be carried in many of the vehicles operated by private hire companies - i.e. in 'people movers' or 'estate' cars. In a local situation, taxis and private hire vehicles may provide a convenient late-night service to young people/students, or serve major transport interchanges acting as a link in the cyclists’ journey.
  • In Denmark, the law requires that there is provision for cycle carriage by taxis, and cycle racks are carried by every cab.

Current developments

CTC and LCC (London Cycling Campaign) are endorsing work currently in progress to develop a reliable and consistent system that secures a cycle in a taxi and protects both it and the taxi from damage. We expect to see this rolling out in 2013 in larger cities and towns.  CTC welcomes feedback on any taxi service already offering a formal, guaranteed facility to carry cycles.

From privately funded research carried out to assess a London-wide potential, it was noted that  20% of London cyclists are already using taxis to deal with breakdowns and other unforeseen events, with variable rates of success.  In the same survey, over 30% of the female cyclists said they would use a taxi if it provided a safer and more convenient way to get home late at night.

Many non-cyclists also said that being able to take their bike on a taxi would encourage them to make use of a cycle.  Based on the survey results, estimates of the additional revenue potential have been discussed with the taxi trade, and prospects are encouraging. 
 

CTC View (formal statement of CTC's policy): 
  • Where taxi and private hire vehicles are adapted to accommodate wheelchairs, a policy should be adopted that allows for the carriage of cycles.
  • Where no special adaptations have been made, but there is space to accommodate a cycle, private hire vehicles should have a policy of carrying bikes if there is a perceived demand.
  • The fitting of cycle racks to taxis and private hire vehicles, or means to carry cycles inside the cab (i.e .covers and securing straps) should be investigated as a solution to carrying cycles.

 

Publication Date: 
November 2012
Chris Peck's picture

Gong for Brompton Dock at the National Cycle Rail Awards

A revolutionary automated bike hire scheme and the addition of 2,000 cycle spaces across one operator’s network were some of the achievements celebrated at this year’s National Cycle Rail Awards, sponsored in part by CTC.
Brompton Dock won the award for innovation at this year's awards

The Awards, which are run by the Association of Train Operating Companies (ATOC), recognise the work being done by train companies, associated industry groups and individuals across the country to encourage the combined use of cycle and rail travel. The rail industry is always looking for ways to work with local individuals and groups to improve access, security and information for passengers who want to get in the saddle.

CTC's Chief Executive Gordon Seabright, was one of the judges on the panel. The winners were:

Ross Adams's picture

Southport Park and Ride CTC style

Visitors to Southport ditched the bus for a journey to remember, traveling into the town centre in style aboard a state of the art pedal-powered Rickshaw.
Rickshaw arriving into Southport as part of the Visit Project

The Sefton and West Lancs Visit Project working in partnership with the CTC are looking at ways to support the visitor economy through sustainable travel.

The latest event, Rickshaw rides, was designed to raise awareness of the project as a whole, whilst also providing visitors to Southport a fun and unusual way to make their way into the town or just enjoy the sights and sounds of the seaside town.

Cycletopia

Cycletopia includes 15 real life examples of good schemes to promote cycling
CTC's Cycletopia is made up of real life examples of what can be done to make Britain's towns and cities more cycle friendly, combined in a single image.
Victoria Hazael's picture

Cycletopia – turning cycling dreams into reality

CTC, the national cycling charity has created ‘Cycletopia’ – an imaginary town made up of 15 real life examples in the UK of the best ways to promote, protect and inspire cycling.
Cycletopia includes 15 real life examples of good schemes to promote cycling

CTC Chief Executive Gordon Seabright said: “Great Britain proved this summer we have the best cyclists in the world. Now, we need to create towns and cities that are world class for cycling. There are already great things being done right here in the UK to improve cycling; they just need to happen across all our towns and cities. Cycletopia aims to help every local authority learn from what other places are doing to increase the numbers of cyclists and reduce traffic congestion.”

Contact Information: 

CTC Press Office
Email: publicity@ctc.org.uk
Telephone: 0844-736-8453

Notes to Editors: 

An interactive map of Cycletopia can be found on CTC’s website: http://beta.ctc.org.uk/cycletopia.

High resolution and detailed images of Cycletopia are also available from CTC Press Office.

Cycletopia is drawn by the cartoonist and cyclist Peter Welleman.

CTC, the national cycling charity, inspires and helps people to cycle and keep cycling.

We work to protect and promote cycling to create a healthier, cleaner world, now and for the future. We want the UK to be a place where it’s easy and safe for people of all ages to cycle, whatever their ability, background or income. We believe that cycling is more than just transport; it makes you feel good, gives you a sense of freedom and creates a better environment for everyone.

We encourage all types of cycling, on the road or off it.  We support you if you already ride, or would like to ride, to work or school, for health, touring, sport and leisure – or just because it’s fun.

We’ve been working for cycling for over a century. Nationally and locally, we use our knowledge to influence decision makers and help people discover how cycling can change lives.

• We provide expert, practical help and advice.
• We support individuals and communities.
• We protect cyclists’ interests.
• We campaign to make cycling mainstream and to remove the things that stop people cycling.
• We help people develop the confidence and skills to cycle.
• We promote the benefits of cycling to individuals, to society and to the economy.

CTC is an independent charity, and relies on 69,000 members, volunteers, grant funders and partners for support. Without them, we would not be able to do our vital work in communities inspiring hundreds of thousands of people across the UK to cycle.

 

Cherry Allan's picture

Latest issue of CTC's CycleDigest now online!

CycleDigest is CTC's round-up of campaign news, comment, diary dates, publications and much more. The latest issue is just out!
CycleDigest 71

If you want to know what's been happening in the campaigning world lately - and what's coming up - CTC's CycleDigest is an excellent source of information.

In this issue:

Chris Peck's picture

New rolling stock to replace High Speed Train fleet announced - with potential for good cycle carriage

26 July 2012
New trains - at a cost of £4.5bn - to work longer distance routes have been approved by the Department for Transport. These will replace trains which have reasonable space for cycles. Ensuring that the replacement trains have equivalent space is vital.
Screenshot from Hitachi's mock up of the internal design of the new trains

The current fleet of 'High Speed Trains' operate on the East Coast main line between London and the north of Scotland, the longer distance London-East Anglia routes and the Great Western routes. They came into service almost 40 years ago and work on developing a replacement started several years ago.

Chris Peck's picture

South West Trains reverses bike ban after only 36 hours

10 July 2012
CTC is relieved to hear that South West Trains has reversed a proposed ban on all non-folding bikes, just 36 hours after implementing it. However, Southern and Southeastern still have widespread restrictions in place.
Brompton on a railway platform

On 10 July a statement appeared on the South West Trains website suggesting that all non-folding bikes would be banned throughout the Olympics and Paralympics. CTC understood that operational staff had no idea that the ban was coming until that morning. 

After enquiries to South West Trains press office on 11 July CTC received the following statement:

Chris Peck's picture

Train companies ban cycles during Olympics

Train operating companies banned cycles from many trains during the Olympic Games period, with the worst closures affecting the cycling road races on the 28/29 July. After few observed problems the bans were lifted in time for the Paralympics.
Bans on bikes were proposed for much of the network

The news was confirmed in changes to the Association of Train Operating Companies leaflet on cycling and rail, which was circulated to cycling organisations just two months before the Games began. Southern and Southeastern imposed the worst restrictions, bicycles were not permitted on any trains going to or from London beyond a certain point.

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  • Patron: Her Majesty The Queen
  • President: Jon Snow
  • Chief Executive: Gordon Seabright
  • Cyclists' Touring Club (CTC): A company limited by guarantee, registered in England no.25185. Registered as a charity in England and Wales No 1147607 and in Scotland No SC042541
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