Bicycle Network is reminding everyone to avoid the front carriage when taking their bikes on the train.
While bikes can be carried for free on metropolitan trains in Victoria, transport regulations make it an offence for bike riders to board the trains through the front carriage door or have their bikes inside the carriage near it.
The reminder comes after The Age reported that Lachlan Jones has lodged a complaint to the Victorian Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission to force Metro Trains to improve its signage and alert bike riders to this regulation.
While most people who ride bikes are respectful of the rule, it’s clear that some aren’t aware of the transport regulation that keeps the wheelchair-accessible part of the train free from bikes.
Whenever you do take your bike on public on transport, please make sure you are following the relevant rules and be courteous to other passengers.
PTV’s website also asks that people with bikes also avoid travelling during peak hour and on busy carriages.
To help give some clarity about the rules for bikes on public transport across the country, we’ve pulled together a quick summary:
Public transport rules - state by state
Many bus services come with racks for bikes that are available on a first in, best dressed basis.
Visit Transport Canberra for more information.
Bikes can be taken on Intercity trains and regional trains and coaches at any times, however you will need to make a booking for regional services.
Bike can be taken on ferries and light rail services, however they may not be allowed if there is not enough room.
Bikes cannot be taken on buses.
Visit Transport for NSW for more information.
Only folding bikes are available on buses in the Northern Territory.
Visit nt.gov.au for more information.
Bikes are allowed on trains in non-peak times. Peak times are considered to be between 7:00am and 9:30am and 3:00pm and 6:30pm.
Bikes can be taken on ferries, depending on capacity.
Bikes cannot be taken on buses, however buses replacing trains do have spaces available for bikes.
Visit TransLink for more information.
Bikes are allowed on trains in non-peak times between 9:00am and 3:00pm. Only fold up bikes are allowed on buses and trams.
Visit Adelaide Metro for more information.
Bikes can be taken on buses operated in Tasmania by Metro – as long as they can be folded and stored in luggage racks. This rules out taking most bikes on buses.
More information is available here from Metro under mobility aids.
You can take your bike on a train, except in the following situations:You can take your bike on a train, except in the following situations:
- An inbound metropolitan train in the morning peak
- An outbound metropolitan train in the afternoon peak
- At any of the three City of Perth stations during morning and afternoon peaks
Peak times are between 7:00am and 9:00am, and 4:30pm and 6:30pm.
If you are catching a ferry you can take your bike on if there is an available parking space. There are four bike parking spaces on each ferry.
Bikes cannot be taken on buses in Western Australia.
Ebikes are regarded as regular bicycles, however folding bikes and chainless unicycles are excepted – these can be taken on any train, ferry or bus.
Visit Transperth for more information.
Bikes can be carried on metropolitan trains, you just can’t board the first door of a carriage which are reserved for mobility impaired passengers.
Only folding bikes can be taken on trams and buses, including buses replacing trains. The one exception is a handful of bus services that have bike racks.
Bikes can be taken on regional V/Line trains, but only if there is enough room in the storage section of the train and it is at the discretion of conductors.
Victorian bike riders can keep their bikes secure at train stations and public transport hubs with Bicycle Network's free Parkiteer service. Register now and start riding to the station.
Visit PTV for more information.