'Practically since the Metrolink started people have been campaigning for this'
The Monday morning Metrolink service from East Didsbury into Manchester city centre at 11.45am isn't particularly busy, but there are two very different passengers on board. Two cyclists with their bikes; one a multiple Paralympic gold medallist.
Under the current rules Metrolink allows folded bikes in bags on board trams, but standard bikes are not permitted. Consideration is being given to the space required to transport bikes alongside passengers, as well as the existing challenges of accommodating bikes both on trams and the wider network, including stops and transport interchanges.
The pilot scheme aims to recreate the exact conditions cyclists and non-cyclists would face on a tram and at tram platforms and stops. Trials are taking place during off-peak times only, but at different times and along different routes. "For such a long time it's been 'no, you can't do bikes on trams'. I am hoping that this will be a start and now at least there's a willingness to at least research it and try. If you do not research it you will never know whether it is possible or not. The fundamental thing is that we need a fully integrated public transport system here in Greater Manchester. In London, everything links together in one system - and that's so good.
"I use the tram quite a lot and really like it," she tells the M.E.N. "I find it is so user-friendly. I would support the idea of bikes on trams but they do get absolutely rammed at times and I would say there is absolutely no way of doing it during peak times. But it could be something as simple as removing a row of seats, or changing fixed seats for folding seats.
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