Deckchair demo wins bike ban review

Volunteers from Manchester Friends of the Earth and the Greater Manchester Cycle Campaign incuding Katy Carlisle who is also a MERCi staff member joined together last week to highlight the gaps in Metrolink’s policy which does not allow folding bicycles to be carried on the trams unless they are in a case.

The campaigners took on board a variety of larger and more obtrusive folding items that are permitted, such as ironing boards and deck chairs, to try and emphasise that folding bicycles are no more dangerous than luggage that is permitted.

Later that day a meeting with the Greater Manchester Integrated Transport Authority (GMITA) yielded some success, with a decision to review the policy regarding carrying bikes on trams. Importantly, it was also agreed that cycling organisations and local transport user groups in Greater Manchester would be consulted during the review process.

Here's a video of the mornings events:

Additional coverage can be found at: http://news.bbc.co.uk/local/manchester/low/people_and_places/newsid_8513... and http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2010/feb/15/folding-bicycles-manch....

If you want to get more involved with cycle campaigning or similar activities then visit the Love Your Bike section of the Manchester Friends of the Earth website at http://www.manchesterfoe.org.uk/lyb/ or the Greater Manchester Cycle Campaign site at http://www.gmcc.org.uk/main/.