Bikes on Buses
Bikes on the front of Buses is the ideal solution for truly integrated transport
There are still none in Europe, but are already popular on almost half of all US buses!
See www.sportworks.com or see individual US cities websites (below) for details
Integrates bikes and public transport
Shown to promote cycling across the US
- encourages longer commutes
- provides reassurance for less confident groups
- provides a reliable option in case of emergency or bad weather
Increases bus usage - increases the catchment area of the bus
Provides secure bike transportation for dirty bikes, outside the crowded bus - especially important in peak times.
Advantages of the rack
Quick and easy to use
(Approximately 20 -30 seconds - see our videos and statements from operators to support this)
Safe and secure method of holding the bikes in place
Does not reduce drivers vision, even when loaded with 2 or 3 bikes (as below)
Installing on the Back of Buses.
The racks have been designed for the front of buses.
It is possible to install them on the back, but this is clearly not the ideal place.
On the back they will be:
Out of site of the driver, and user (cyclists usually stay next to the driver)
Much more liable to theft
Loading and unloading will be much slower
Probably more dangerous - the driver cannot see if the user is still taking a bike off
Once taken off, the user is in the middle of the road, so in a very vulnerable position. They are much more vulnerable if the bus reverses.
Also, on the front, the bike and bus combination is also much more visible, bringing great PR benefits.
Progress to date
We have been working closely with many cities and other partners across Europe to implement the racks. Cities in Spain, Poland, the UK, Italy, the Netherlands, Denmark and Ireland have all seen and tested the racks, and want to go ahead. However, they have not been allowed to. Permission has been refused by the various national regulating bodies.
The view that these are 'bull-bars' (which were fitted to cars driven by 17/18 year old irresponsible drivers) means that the racks still have a perception of 'danger', and so traffic authorities have always refused them, and demanded yet more studies.....
This is despite widepread use in the US, with no reported pedestrian accidents.
If the same logic was used, with extensive idealistic tests needed, we would have no cars or even bicycles on the roads....
Next steps:
- Pilot Sites
We are looking for even more European cities and partners to help us to promote the concept. We have several demonstration racks available on request for pilot schemes - we can provide and install these at no cost for smaller projects.
- Politicians, cycling and environmental groups
More discussion and pressure by (and to) politicians may allow some pilot schemes to go ahead.
- Cost-benefit studies
An alternative to installing the racks is to get involved in a study of the wider costs and benefits of installing the racks. Despite the huge success of these racks in the US, this has never been done (to our knowledge). As a result, we are looking for academic departments wishing to research this area in more detail.
There may be the opportunity to pool funding for a suitable study. Please contact us if you would like to be a part of this study.
Types of Buses: The racks can be installed on almost all buses
- Minibuses
- Optare
- Seattle express bus
Examples of cities that have installed the racks, and related and helpful websites
USA
Seattle/Pierce County http://www.piercetransit.org/info.htm
Alaska
Canada
British Columbia
Edmonton http
New Zealand - new routes under a major tunnel, in November 2007!
Christchurch, New Zealand (unfortunately not the Dorset, UK one!)
It is a solution that can be copied wherever there is a tunnel or bridge that needs to be crossed by bike. See the news story for more details...
Please contact us if you want to promote intregrated transport across Europel!
www.BikesOnBuses.com
info@BikesOnBuses.com
Portsmouth, UK
Tel 0044 (0) 2392 815555
info@BikesOnBuses.com
Portsmouth, UK
Tel 0044 (0) 2392 815555