Earlier blog posts have provided details of the GMITA committee meeting on 15th January that voted to continue with the ban on cycle carriage on Metrolink despite the full report from the consultants, Mott Macdonald, not being made available until several hours after the vote. See Integrated Transport Authority? You're having a laugh! and Metrolink (not) the way to an integrated sustainable transport system.
Following some robust lobbying from the cycling community across Greater Manchester the full Greater Manchester Integrated Transport Authority (GMITA) meeting on 12th February agreed to the two additional resolutions shown below.
Firstly, that the "Authority, mindful of the Capital Projects report relating to the carriage of cycles on trams, wishes to set up a small working group of two Conservative Members, two Liberal Democrat Members and two Labour Memebers which will also call on advice from Greater Manchester Cycle Campaign and the Love Your Bike campaign and the ten district councils and local transport user groups to discuss the contents of the Mott Macdonald report and examine any safe ways in which cycles can be carried on trams and to report back to the Policy and Resources Committee of the Authority in due course." This was agreed unanimously.
Secondly that "Officers to be instructed to report to Policy and Resources Committee:
1) an evaluation of the experience of European Light Rail Systems with similar vehicles operating in similar circumstances to those found in Greater Manchester Metrolink and which permit the carriage of bicycles,
2) the estimated cost of providing facilities to enable the M5000 trams to carry bicycles,
3) costed options for modifying the T68 and T68A trams as part of their mid life refurbishment to provide facilities to enable them to carry bicycles,
4) a plan for the experimental introduction of off peak bicycle carriage and
5) undertake full consultation with representatives of the Cycling Organisations and the 10 District Councils." This was also agreed unanimously.
On one level this only takes us back to where we were! But it is an important turnaround from the decision of the Capital Projects committee on 15th January and a strong reminder to GMPTE that they have to involve/consult with cycling and other communities of interest.
As always the devil will be in the detail. There are rumours that the working party will hold its first meeting on the 19th March to agree terms of reference and set timetables for the work that has been requested.
Following some robust lobbying from the cycling community across Greater Manchester the full Greater Manchester Integrated Transport Authority (GMITA) meeting on 12th February agreed to the two additional resolutions shown below.
Firstly, that the "Authority, mindful of the Capital Projects report relating to the carriage of cycles on trams, wishes to set up a small working group of two Conservative Members, two Liberal Democrat Members and two Labour Memebers which will also call on advice from Greater Manchester Cycle Campaign and the Love Your Bike campaign and the ten district councils and local transport user groups to discuss the contents of the Mott Macdonald report and examine any safe ways in which cycles can be carried on trams and to report back to the Policy and Resources Committee of the Authority in due course." This was agreed unanimously.
Secondly that "Officers to be instructed to report to Policy and Resources Committee:
1) an evaluation of the experience of European Light Rail Systems with similar vehicles operating in similar circumstances to those found in Greater Manchester Metrolink and which permit the carriage of bicycles,
2) the estimated cost of providing facilities to enable the M5000 trams to carry bicycles,
3) costed options for modifying the T68 and T68A trams as part of their mid life refurbishment to provide facilities to enable them to carry bicycles,
4) a plan for the experimental introduction of off peak bicycle carriage and
5) undertake full consultation with representatives of the Cycling Organisations and the 10 District Councils." This was also agreed unanimously.
On one level this only takes us back to where we were! But it is an important turnaround from the decision of the Capital Projects committee on 15th January and a strong reminder to GMPTE that they have to involve/consult with cycling and other communities of interest.
As always the devil will be in the detail. There are rumours that the working party will hold its first meeting on the 19th March to agree terms of reference and set timetables for the work that has been requested.
Watch this space..... and lets hope that in terms of helping to create an integrated and sustainable transport system for Greater Manchester that "A better Metrolink is coming"
Thanks greaat blog post
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