Carrying a bicycle on a train: cost, rules. How to transport a bicycle on a bus Traveling on public transport with a bicycle
Fans of the bicycle as a means of transport may face the problem of transporting it both within the city and outside it. It is impossible to avoid traveling by bus or train; sometimes you have to fly. IN different countries There are rules for transporting bicycles, and if you are going abroad, it is advisable to familiarize yourself with them.
It is ideal if you have a car in which you can freely transport a bicycle without disturbing anyone. Many people mount it on the roof of the car for this purpose; perhaps it will fit in the passenger compartment or trunk. The greatest difficulty is transporting a bicycle to public transport.
Quite often you have to travel around the city using a bus, trolleybus or tram. Turning to the “Rules for the use of ground passenger transport”, we will see a paragraph that states that hand luggage should not exceed the size of the sum of three dimensions, which is 180 cm. A bicycle does not fit these parameters, and even if you disassemble it and pack it in a case , then you may face a refusal to transport you and your luggage in this type of transport. If the need does arise, do not forget that much depends on the human factor. Try to negotiate with the driver or conductor in person and explain the situation. Most likely, they will make concessions to you, but they may ask you to pay for the transportation of your luggage.
IN major cities Russia's metro is the main and most in a convenient way movement. As for transporting a bicycle, everything is categorical here - it is prohibited to transport a bicycle in an underground form of transport. There are no ways to circumvent this law, except for transportation in a disassembled state. Well, or use a folding bike in a case. It takes up little space, and you don’t need to disassemble it, just fold it up and put it in a case!
When planning an airplane flight with a bicycle, keep in mind that general rules, which stipulate its transportation, do not exist. Therefore, it is necessary to contact the airline you will be using and find out how this is possible according to their internal rules and recommendations. Some companies consider a bicycle to be oversized luggage, for which you will have to pay in accordance with the tariffs, while another part of the airlines classifies it as sports equipment and does not require separate payment, you will need to pay for the total weight of the luggage. Please remember that luggage dimensions may have certain size and weight restrictions. Before boarding, be sure to pack your bike in a case or bag. At the airport they usually offer additional packaging for a certain amount - a wooden box, which you can refuse if you wish. Those who regularly fly with a bicycle on an airplane know that it is classified as “excess baggage,” for which slightly different acceptance conditions apply. It will undergo control separately in places specially provided for this purpose. When traveling by plane with a bicycle, study the operating conditions of several airlines in advance and choose the one that suits you best.
For many, transporting a bicycle by rail may be of particular interest. If you do not want to disassemble the vehicle, then you can transport it in this form in the vestibule for a fee at commuter train. In case you are traveling to reserved seat carriage, the bicycle can be placed on the 3rd luggage rack, to ensure the safety and security of other passengers, by tying it with a rope. You can transport a disassembled and packed bicycle easily and free of charge by train if its dimensions correspond to the concept “ oversized cargo" You need to pack it in a case; if you don’t have one, large garbage bags are suitable in which you can put the bicycle when disassembled. When none of the options are suitable, ask the train conductor for help. There may be room for your bike for an additional fee.
If you haven't experienced train travel yet international traffic, please note that the rules for transporting a bicycle depend on the specific country you are traveling to. Basically, the 2 most common options are practiced. A packed, unassembled bicycle is transported free of charge if it does not exceed the size of a standard luggage rack. The second option is the most convenient. Some trains are equipped with special bicycle carriages. It can be identified by the presence of a bicycle icon in the train description. You will have to pay for the transportation of your bike by purchasing a ticket, one part of which you keep and the other part is stuck to the bike. For a small fee, you can comfortably transport your bike without inconveniencing other passengers.
Shouldn't be ignored aquatic species transport. Using a ferry involves placing a bicycle in the hold with other transported vehicles. Do not forget to secure it so that when moving it does not fall and cause damage. When traveling by ferry, you can leave your bike near the exit or take it to the salon. For the conditions provided, an additional payment may be charged, not exceeding the cost of the ticket.
The listed rules for transporting a bicycle also apply to trips in Russia. To understand how the rules differ in different countries, let's look at the main ways to transport a bicycle on public transport in the UK. Interestingly, you can transport a bicycle on the London Underground without any problems. For this purpose, there is a special map of stations where travel with a bicycle is not prohibited by law. In addition, if the flow of passengers is small, which is due certain time day, then the bicycle will not be a reason for refusing to transport you on the metro. As in our country, movement on water transport There are no restrictions with a bicycle in England. But on buses it must be folded into a cover and adhere to the same rules that are created for transporting baby strollers or other large luggage. It is worth noting that here the laws regarding the transportation of bicycles are more relaxed and the attitude towards cyclists is very good and friendly.
It is useless to talk about the severity of our laws and the fact that this issue is not given due attention. It is better to try to follow them or find alternative methods of transportation to avoid conflict situations or a disrupted trip. And also don’t forget about the bike cover, which will also help you eliminate any disputes and disagreements that may arise. You can purchase it, just like buying a bicycle in our online store, or sew it yourself. When transporting a bicycle, keep in mind that other people are traveling with you. You must not disturb them, expose them to danger, eliminate any possibility of soiling their clothing, and you must not impede entry or exit from any vehicle. When moving with a bicycle, remember that only you are responsible for it.
Foxtime on the eve of the season talks about how to properly transport bicycles in transport
Carrying a bicycle on a tram, trolleybus and bus
Bicycles can be carried free of charge on all types of transport. They should be brought inside only through the second door, when passengers leave the cabin. You need to park your bike either on the storage area (the one opposite the second door) or at the end of the salon. In most trains, the validator is located right next to the second door, so you don’t have to move around the bus to pay. Do not forget to hold your personal vehicle while driving.
One passenger can carry only one bicycle, provided that it does not interfere with others. So avoid peak hours.
Carrying a bicycle on the metro
You can take your bicycle with you to the subway only if it is disassembled and packaged. The exception is children's and folding bicycles.
Disassembling and packing means the following: remove the front wheel, turn the steering wheel 90 degrees, put the parts in a bag or case so as not to stain other passengers.
If the length, width and height of the disassembled and packed bicycle do not exceed 150 cm in total, such luggage can be carried free of charge. If you do not fit into the 150 cm distance, you will have to buy a separate ticket in accordance with metro tariffs.
It is best to place the bicycle directly in the carriage on the platform opposite the doors. Let us remind you that in the metro and on the monorail it is prohibited to travel on wheels (bicycles, motorcycles, scooters, roller skates), except for wheelchairs.
Transporting a bicycle to the MCC
An MCC passenger can take one bicycle with him free of charge. There is no need to disassemble it. The main thing is that it does not interfere with anyone - it is recommended to secure it using special bicycle racks, which are equipped with almost all trains.
By the way, if you have not yet acquired your own bicycle, from May to October you can rent one right at the MCC station near the Business Center, Luzhniki, Gagarin Square, Botanical Garden and Vladykina.
Carrying a bicycle on the train
Bicycles can be freely transported in the vestibule or in the cabin (the most space is in the first and last carriages of the train).
During hours when there are not very many passengers on trains (from 11:00 to 16:00 and from 21:00 to 06:00), personal transport is allowed to be carried free of charge. At the same time, you still need to issue a special ticket at the suburban ticket office in order to freely pass through the turnstiles.
At other times, a ticket for transporting a bicycle costs from 60 rubles. A bicycle, folded or disassembled, can be transported free of charge at any time of the day.
Carrying a bicycle on Aeroexpress
To transport a bicycle unassembled, you will have to buy a ticket for 50 rubles. You can save money if you fold your personal vehicle so that the sum of its three dimensions does not exceed 180 cm, and it weighs no more than 36 kg.
Each Aeroexpress carriage has luggage racks with enough space to secure a bicycle.
Carrying a bicycle on the water bus
Bicycles on water buses can be transported free of charge. The ship's crew will tell you where it is best to place it.
Photo preview / Jonny Kennaugh / unsplash.com
The realities of large Russian cities are such that it is not always possible to start your own business directly from home. Therefore, for lovers cycling You regularly have to perform an absurd procedure: transport your favorite vehicle on public transport.
On this moment The most common means of transportation around the city are buses and minibuses. But at the same time, these vehicles are also one of the most inconvenient if you need to transport your own bicycle.
Transporting bicycles on city buses
If you decide on such a somewhat crazy idea as transporting a bicycle on a bus, then first of all you should pay attention to its internal space. For this purpose, you need to choose a spacious bus that has a large distance between the rows of passenger seats and a large storage area in the rear of the cabin. If you try to squeeze into a cramped minibus or regular bus with a narrow aisle, then with a high degree of probability your trip will end before it even begins, since a passenger with such a large load will be perceived more than coolly by the driver and passengers.
If you like to understand the legal intricacies of various life situations, then you will have to be disappointed: the regulatory documents governing the rules of behavior of passengers in public transport contain practically no mention of whether it is possible to transport a bicycle on a bus and what is needed for this.
The only mention in the rules for using municipal transport in various cities says that for a fee the passenger has the right to transport hand luggage, the dimensions of which in three dimensions do not exceed a certain established norm. Depending on the specific city, this norm can vary from 100 to 180 cm.
And the strange wording about three dimensions means the following: the length, width and height of the cargo transported in the cabin must not exceed the established limit. In the case of a bicycle, if it does not have a folding frame, achieve this condition impossible. Therefore, if you encounter a picky inspector, you risk, at a minimum, being kicked off the bus. At most, you will have to pay a fine.
A cover, which is often neglected by many bicycle owners, will also come in handy. This means of protection will not only keep your favorite equipment safe and sound, but also will not allow you to accidentally stain passengers, which will save the nerves of both you and the surrounding passengers.
Transporting a bicycle on intercity buses
Riding regular buses with a bicycle is both easier and more difficult. On the one hand, such transport has a large luggage compartment, in which you can easily place your bicycle even in an upright position (if you remove the wheels from it). On the other hand, the fate of your trip depends entirely on the driver, with whom in any case you will have to find a common language.
And the experience of some cyclists suggests that many drivers regular buses They don’t like such a specific load. Therefore, if you decide to go to another locality on this type of vehicle, while taking your two-wheeled friend, then inquire in advance about the possibility of placing it in the luggage compartment and how much you need to pay for it. Otherwise, the trip may be disrupted by a refusal to guide the two of you, even in different departments.
Summarizing the above, we can draw the following conclusion: a bus is far from the best way to transport your bicycle. In principle, this is possible, but in this case you will have to rely on luck and your own social skills. At the same time, the process itself will not be the most pleasant, so it is better to ride a bicycle using some other type of transport.
There is a document that regulates the transportation of bicycles and other things in the subway - “Rules for using the subway.” These rules are almost the same in all Russian cities that have a metro system.
They usually don’t say a word directly about transporting bicycles. It doesn’t say that riding with a bicycle is allowed, but there is no direct ban on it either. It is for this reason that some cyclists enter the subway with a bicycle, and no one stops them. Others are stopped. The fact is that the “Rules” state that it is forbidden to transport cargo whose size in height and two bases in total exceeds 220 cm, and it is also prohibited to transport objects that can injure or stain other passengers. Theoretically, a bicycle can dirty other passengers, this is one of the reasons for prohibiting its transportation. It can also injure someone on an escalator if you don't hold it back.
In addition, there is a postal message “On the procedure for transporting bicycles in the subway,” written in 2008, which states that transporting a bicycle in the subway is prohibited. According to this document, a bicycle can only be transported unassembled and packed in a case. In 2002, a previous version of this postal message was created, it stated that you can transport a bicycle with one of the wheels removed. Not all cyclists are aware of the tightening of these requirements.
Bicycle cover
If the inspector or responsible employee of the metro does not allow you to carry a bicycle on the subway, then there is no point in arguing or arguing with him: he is just abiding by the law. Therefore, you should prepare in advance for transporting your two-wheeled friend by purchasing or making your own bicycle cover. By the way, a bicycle can be transported in a case not only in the subway, but also on a train or.
The easiest option is to buy a case in a store. The cheapest models of covers cost about 600 rubles, and if you often transport your bicycle on the subway or other types of transport, this will be a profitable purchase.
You can also sew the cover yourself, there is nothing complicated about it. The main thing is to make a pattern according to the dimensions of your own bicycle, after first removing the front wheel and folding it together with the rear one. If you are sewing a cover only for transporting a bicycle in the subway, then you don’t have to worry about packing the steering wheel: it’s okay if it sticks out.
Our reader Yana unwittingly became a participant in the conflict on the bus. She said that a bus driver wanted to throw her family out because they were transporting a child’s bicycle. How did this story end and, most importantly, is it possible to transport bicycles on public transport?
Children bicycle
On April 8, the family bought their 4-year-old daughter a new bicycle. At the Avtozavodskaya bus station we boarded bus route No. 70 and went towards Chizhovka. We had to go through several stops.
- My father parked his bicycle on the site where mothers with strollers usually ride. He stayed there himself, holding the bike. The child and I sat down. There were few people on the bus - no one was even standing - Yana said. “But for some reason the driver pulled my father back and said that bicycles cannot be transported, so get out.”
The girl said that the whole family paid for the travel, in addition, they were ready to buy additional coupons for carrying luggage. But the driver refused, demanding that the bicycle not be in the cabin.
- Dad tried to persuade the driver, the child burst into tears. Passengers were left speechless. Some woman began to tell the driver that the bicycle was not bothering anyone. Another passenger, a man, demanded that the driver show him the Baggage Regulations. The driver actually showed them, but personally we were in a state of shock and did not read what was written there.
In the end, the passengers' persuasion worked: the driver returned to the wheel and the bus continued moving.
- I am not a supporter of any scandals, but I am concerned about the health of my child and simply cannot understand how to react to this situation. A new, clean bicycle did not bother anyone, it did not take up more space than a baby stroller. I don’t understand where the driver gets such integrity, - Yana said.
Baggage rules
Questions about transporting bicycles on public transport arise quite often. Explanations on this matter are published on the Minsktrans website. In particular, it says the following: “In accordance with clause 216 of the Rules for the Carriage of Passengers by Road, the passenger is obliged not to carry medium-sized and large-sized pieces of hand luggage in the cabin.”
In particular:
- small pieces of baggage or hand luggage - items with dimensions no more than 60×40×20 cm or the sum of three dimensions no more than 120 cm and a weight no more than 20 kg;
- pieces of baggage or hand luggage are medium-sized - items with dimensions no more than 100×50×30 cm or the sum of three dimensions no more than 180 cm and a weight no more than 40 kg;
- Large pieces of baggage or hand luggage - items with dimensions of more than 100×50×30 cm or the sum of three dimensions of more than 180 cm or a weight of more than 40 kg.
It is obvious that passengers with a children's bicycle did not make preliminary measurements of their luggage.
How in practice
As experience shows, most often everything depends not on the prescribed rules, but on the decision of the driver of the vehicle. Surely our readers have more than once witnessed someone riding a bicycle on buses or trolleybuses: not a child’s, but an adult’s. And no one reprimanded such a passenger or kicked him out of the cabin.
Is transporting such a bicycle a violation? Again, in order not to be unfounded, you need to take measurements. But with a high degree of probability, we note that they will exceed the permitted standards.
Sometimes the driver or conductor allows you to carry a bicycle in the cabin, provided that the vehicle is not loaded to capacity. True, in this case the owner is asked to pay for the carriage of luggage - that is, to punch an additional coupon.
Abroad, for example, on public transport there are often signs indicating whether a bicycle can be transported. No such signs have been seen in Minsk. Accordingly, in order to avoid possible conflicts, it is better to check the dimensions of your luggage in advance. Or, before boarding, talk about this topic with the driver.