[Pil-pc-oceania] Folding bikes on public transport in Victoria

[Kerry Dawborn]

hi Friends, just letting you know that if you live in Victoria, you 
should now be allowed to carry folding bicycles on all public transport 
including trams and buses, as long as your bike fits within the 
prescribed dimensions (I have not been able to find these so you will 
need to check - probably with DoI) when folded, and is in a suitable bag 
to prevent injury/inconvenience to other passengers. Can you believe 
I've just been on the phone to the relevant guy at the Department of 
Infrastructure, and poor guy he had not been told of this change - a 
press release had gone out from another DoI section without it going to 
him. He needed to let the transport operators know of the change, but 
was apparently only alerted to it when I called to enquire, which I was 
doing because my local bus company drivers had not been told....

I've been taking my brompton folding bike on buses for some time now, as 
the drivers didn't see it as a 'bike' when folded. I have been able to 
put it in the luggage holder over the bus's wheel arch without putting 
it in a bag and where it can't really do any harm to anyone, so am 
disappointed that I am now required to carry a cover at all times. But, 
it's better than not being sure if i'd  be allowed on with the bike or 
not...

So, if you think you can make more of your trips by public transport by 
combining a folding bike with bus and tram use as well as trains, with 
the convenience of being able to have your bike with you at all times 
and not having to leave it anywhere, then have a look at some of the 
great folding bikes available! I love my brompton, but there are others 
out there that are also good - bike friday, dahon, airnimal, birdy, 
giant, cell, and other makes have some great folders on offer. Don't 
forget to be mindful of the allowable dimmensions when folded, and be 
aware that if you want to use the bike as a commuter and will be folding 
and unfolding a lot, ease and speed of folding, portability (my brompton 
can be towed when folded, like a suitcase), weight (lifting on and off 
trams and buses, and putting into low luggage storage areas) as well as 
rideability, are all important considerations. My experience is with the 
brompton which I fold and unfold several times each trip with no hassle 
(and often just to show curious people), and I have tried a bike friday 
Tikit  - also good. Be aware also that not all folders are intended to 
be used as commuters and folded and unfolded frequently.  Many folders 
are built for other cycling purposes such as distance touring, and are 
made to fold less often, mostly for transportation to cycling 
destinations, rather than specifically to get on and off public 
transport, or store as my brompton and the tikit (and others) can - 
under a restaurant table or under your desk at work....

anyway, just wanted to let you know about another sustainable transport 
option...

FYI here are some folding bike sites....

www.greenspeed.com.au <http://www.greenspeed.com.au>  - these are the 
guys in Knoxfield, near melbourne who make wonderful recumbents, but 
they are also the only distributors for bromptons in Australia. There is 
a shop in St Kilda that sells bromptons - check out the greenspeed site 
to find out more or ask your local bike shop to look at stocking them....

www.brompton.co.uk <http://www.brompton.co.uk>
www.bikefriday.com
www.dahon.com <http://www.dahon.com>
www.charlespurtonimports.com.au <http://www.charlespurtonimports.com.au>
www.birdy.com.au
www.flyingfurniture.com.au/ - dealers in folding bikes...

have fun looking....

Kerry


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