Bicycles (nearly, maybe, possibly) on trams !

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.  

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"

Integrated Transport Authority ? You're having a laugh!

On Friday 15th January, the Greater Manchester Integrated Transport Authority (GMITA) Capital Projects committee voted to continue the ban on any bicycles travelling on off-peak Metrolink tram services.

The recommendation for the ban was included in the "Implications of the Carriage of Bicycles on Trams" report submitted by Metrolink Director, Philip Purdy. This was supposedly a summation of the similarily entitled report by consultants Mott MacDonald, submitted to GMPTE in April 2009. GMPTE failed to respond to two seperate Freedom of Information Act requests made by local campaigners in September/October 2009 and a copy of the consultants report was not made publicly available until 3 hours after the GMITA committee had voted! Which seems a very strange way of upholding the claim GMPTE "consults the public and other stakeholders to improve public transport in Greater Manchester."  Even stranger was that even the Committee members did not seem to have been given a copy of the consultants report prior to the meeting.

The committee voted 7~5 to endorse the following recommendation:

"a) Members are asked to endorse the decision to continue with the current policy to forbid the carriage of bicycles on trams with the exception of folding cycles which should be fully encased."

Now, the Greater Manchester Integrated Transport Strategy claims it wants to encourage more trips to be made by bicycle and it considers that 2 to 5 miles is an ideal cycling distance. The GMPTE website states that: “we will continue to adopt a fully integrated approach to influencing travel behaviour with a range of measures to encourage more of the large number of shorter trips to be undertaken by bike or on foot rather than by the private car.”

Manchester's Love Your Bike campaigners have estimated that approximately 90% of the Greater Manchester population will be within a 2.5 mile cycle ride of a tram station when the new Metrolink services are completed. An ideal distance to encourage people to "integrate" a cycle and tram journey and yet the current Metrolink cycle carriage policy even bans the carriage of a folded Brompton bicycle (dimensions are only 58.5cm high x 54.5cm long x 27cm wide) unless it is fully encased.

Compare this with the dimensions of a typical double buggy pram which even when folded are much bigger at 104cm high x 39.5cm long x 74cm wide (See this example).  People can travel on all tram services with an unfolded double pram buggy. It would also appear to be permissible to attempt to travel on all tram services with golf caddys, a double bass (cased), skis and a wide range of other bulky and heavy items.

One group of cyclists that are inconvenienced by the GMPTE's continuing hostile attitude to integrating tram and cycle journeys are the St John's Ambulance - bicycle ambulance volunteers.  Based in Altrincham they regularly have to travel to Heaton Park to provide volunteer first aid services for a range of events. If they were allowed to take their bicycle ambulances on tram services then it would be a good example of an "integrated" transport system: Cycle to Altrincham tram stop, travel to Heaton Park tram stop and then cycle into and around the park.  Because of the current bike ban they need to hire a truck to transport their bicycle ambulances to Heaton Park!

Perhaps the full GMITA committee meeting on 12th February may wish to ponder the meaning of the word "integrated".

The non-magnificent 7 councillors included 3 Conservatives and 4 Liberal Democrats. If you think people should be able to combine a tram journey with a folded Brompton (not fully encased!) at any time or maybe even take their bike on a tram (off peak) for example on a Sunday morning to get easier access to the countryside then please do send a (polite) message to one (or more) of them.

Conservative
Dylan Butt (Trafford - Hale Barns)     (dylan.butt@trafford.gov.uk)
Ian Macdonald (Salford - Worsley)   (councillor.macdonald@salford.gov.uk)
Michael Winstanley (Wigan - Orrell) (M.Winstanley@wigan.gov.uk)

Liberal Democrats
Richard Knowles  - Chair (Oldham - Saddleworth South)  (richard.knowles@oldham.gov.uk)
David Sandiford (Manchester - Didsbury East)   (cllr.d.sandiford@manchester.gov.uk)
David White (Stockport - Davenport & Cale Green) (cllr.david.white@stockport.gov.uk)
Craig Wright (Stockport - Marple North)   (cllr.craig.wright@stockport.gov.uk)

The 5 Labour group committee members argued against the ban and voted for a deferment. They then voted against the ban. These were:
Jim Dawson (Salford - Swinton North)  (Councillor.Dawson@salford.gov.uk)
Andrew Fender (Manchester - Old Moat) (cllr.a.fender@manchester.gov.uk)
Peter Scott  (Stockport - Reddish North)  (scottsclp@aol.com)
Eunice Smethurst (Wigan - Abram)    (E.Smethurst@wigan.gov.uk)
Alan Whitehead (Tameside)                (c/o victoria.fletcher@tameside.gov.uk)


See also this MEN article GMPTE's 'dirty tricks' over bike ban on trams. 


and also David Ottewell's blog:  Metrolink bike ban ‘disgraceful’

Metrolink - (not) leading the way to an integrated sustainable transport system

Cyclists on the Way. Bike & Ride is no empty promise, but a comprehensive offer for all friends of cycling. For example you'll get a detailed map which shows you which stations are equipped with bicycle parking space. You'll also find information about how to best transport your bicycle in our vehicles."

Considering all the discussion about the need to develop a sustainable transport system in Greater Manchester to help reduce congestion, C02 emissions, improve air quality and encourage people to make Smarter Choices - make more journeys by public transport, cycling or walking -  you would hope that the Bike & Ride quote above was the new Greater Manchester Integrated Transport Authority's policy on allowing bicycles to travel on Metrolink trams . Unfortunately, you may be very dissapointed.

On Friday 15th January the GMITA Capital Projects committee members are being asked to vote on two recommendations contained in Agenda Item 8. The Implications of the Carriage of Bicycles on Trams.

1) Members are asked to endorse the decision to continue with the current policy to forbid the carriage of bicycles on trams with the exception of folding cycles which should be fully encased.

2) Members are also asked to endorse that GMPTE should continue to provide investment for cycle facilities on the Metrolink network, rail stations and in any future proposals, such as the anticipated Park and Ride facilities

Recommendation 2 is great and would hopefully be supported by all apart from the most ardent cyclist-hating petrol head.

Unfortunately if the Committee votes for recommendation 1 as well breaking a pledge made way back in 2002 when the GMPTA (the previous name for GMITA) agreed in principle to allow off-peak cycle carriage on Metrolink Phase 3 trams - they will also continue to prevent the Greater Manchester system from integrating two sustainable modes of transport - the bicycle and tram.

It woud also continue a regretable policy that puts Manchester at odds with many progressive cities in Europe and across the world including Australia,Austria, Belgium, Canada, Czech Republic, Denmark, France, Germany, Netherlands and the United States of America -all of which are very happy to allow bicycles to travel on their networks. Even the London Underground allows passengers to take bikes onto most sections of the system, even in the heart of the city such as on the Circle, District and Hammersmith and City lines, during off-peak hours.

Allowing bicycles to travel on off-peak trams would encourage more people to combine tram and cycle journeys for commuting, shopping and leisure, and be an effective way to reduce carbon emissions. This argument is given greater power when considering Greater Manchester's own transport strategy which suggests that between 2 and 5 miles is a perfect cycling distance, and that around 90% of the Greater Manchester population will soon be within a 2.5 mile cycle ride of a tram (when the hugely welcome new Metrolink services are completed).

The vote on this takes place tomorrow and Love Your Bike and the Greater Manchester Cycling Campaign are calling on anyone who can to contact the GMITA and urge committee members to honour the pledge made in 2002 and vote to allow cycle carriage on off-peak cycle trams. If you fancy adding your voice, please send your message to gmita@manchester.gov.uk

Unfortunately, at the moment the attitude of Metrolink and GMITA appears to be more along the lines of Cyclists in the Way!

PS The lovely Bike & Ride policy in from Nurnberg in Germany.....