York cyclist ‘flabbergasted’ at not being allowed to take bike on bus

I live in a rural area and don't run a car. Consequently, when I can't bike, I have to use the bus. And when something needs doing on the bike that I can't do myself, that means taking the bike. Alternatively, when I want to Rail-and-sail home to Ireland with the bike, I'm usually taking more luggage than I can bike with.

It's not 100% reliable, but always, always, always pop the wheel off before the bus approaches. The rear one is even better; non-cyclists see a dangling chain, and simply take your word for it that the bike is unrideable.

Mine's a very quiet bus service, though; as the various tales of buckled wheels show, this won't work everywhere.

I used to regularly take my mountain bike on buses. I carried it in an anonymous bike bag with a shoulder strap and on the occasions when the bag's contents were questioned I would explain that it was a delicate piece of modern sculpture.

Even where it's allowed, the worst thing is the unpredictability of whether you can get your bike on a bus. Also applies to trains. A friend has been to the train station twice now with her bike only to be told it's full of bikes and she can't get on, meaning her schedule is wrecked. Following the second incident she's given up the bike/train combo and gone back to driving. It would be/is the same with buses, they can't guarantee a place so you can't depend on it.

I know someone that commutes between Dundee and Fife and they were stuck on the Fife side due to the bridge walkway being shut to pedestrians and cyclists due to high winds. He'd already tried to phone a taxi, but they were inundated with calls, and no 5-man taxis available. His only other option was to hop on a bus for the 1.5 mile journey across the bridge, as buses were still being allowed across. However, all the bus drivers refused to take him across despite this meaning a 60mile detour by bike in 60mph+ winds. I think he ended up cycling back to work and kipping on the floor that night.

In Poland they have racks on the back of buses and one can take them off / put them on on some bus services on the first and last stop.

Would work better if the bike rack was on front.

I think upgrading buses to carry bikes would only encourage the replacement of bike journeys by bus journeys. As it is, how often does anyone want or need to take a bike on a bus? There simply isn't the need on urban buses – as opposed to tourist routes and intercity coaches – so I'm afraid it would be better to spend that money on improving cycling conditions on roads (not that we're particularly good at that, but that's another matter).

Maybe "flabbergasted" is a bit hyperbolic, but she is right that there should be reasonable multi-modal provision.

Instead of wasting money on "bike infrastructure" upgrading the bus fleets to allow the carriage of bicycles would be useful.

You've never been allowed bikes on buses, back in the 70s, when few people had cars, it wasn't uncommon to see middle aged men riding tiny kids bikes home from Halfords on Xmas eve.

We recall Mr Boyce, who was 6'4'' and got a great deal on his boys 18inch 10 speed racer....from a shop 35 miles away. He hadn't rode a bike for 25 years.....

I was once refused to be allowed on bus in London with my bike. I had just been knocked off my bike by a car and my front wheel was completely buckled and unable to ride my bike home. i was miles away from home yet the bus driver still refused me on the bus even though it was barely occupied.

Although I completely understand not being able to take bikes on buses due to the danger it can cause and the amount of space they take, it can be quite annoying.

One year ago I was hit by a car during my commute to work, luckily I was ok, but the frame and front wheel got bent so there was no way I could cycle the last half of my commute or walk it, since I couldn't even push the bike. Due to shear luck, my team had rented a car that morning, so I had to wait for 30-45 minutes for someone to get into work so I could call them and they could give me (and my bike) a lift, during that time, 5 buses that would've drop me less than 5 minutes walk from work went past me.

Living in London (and away from home) most of the people I know, including myself, do not own cars.

I've taken a knackered bike on a bus before, but you're totally relying on the driver and/or their mood.

If you just bowl on to the bus with the bike giving it the big 'I AM' you're probably going to get sent packing*, but if you have a quick chat with the driver and explain your predicament you might stand a chance.

As pointed out you can work your way round it, a couple of bin bags wrapped round the bike can be your saviour in this sort of situation.

*I'm not suggesting this lady was, by the way, just to make that clear.

She had nothing worse than a dodgy exhaust. She could have taken the bike in on the way to Kwik Fit

Another one of life's weirdos who expects the world to revolve around them. She should learn to mend and maintain her own bike. I can say that in 40 years of cycling I have never ever wanted or needed to take a bike on a public bus. I bet she would be the first to complain if she got oil on her clothing from some one's bike on a bus. Cheapskate is what she is.

Couldn't she get a friend with a car, to take her to the bike shop, or possibly a taxi? I have a feeling, it might be possible to have someone come to you home to carry out repairs. I believe there are people out there offering this service.

Couldn't she get a friend with a car, to take her to the bike shop, or possibly a taxi? I have a feeling, it might be possible to have someone come to you home to carry out repairs. I believe there are people out there offering this service.

Civilised society relies on lots of tiresome rules. There are some obvious reasons for not allowing bikes on buses not least is the fact that bikes are quite large awkward shaped objects with nasty projections such as pedals. Some people have no common sense.

I'm much more surprised to hear that some buses _will_ let you take a bike on board.

That said, where I've been caught out is when I was planning on taking the bike on a train service that takes them, only to find its been swapped for a 'replacement bus service' which course won't take the bike (which means it isn't much of a 'replacement' really!).

I've been thinking about this one, and can say I would have been more flabbergasted if the driver had said "sure, no problem, bring it on"

I wonder how she is planning to get her car to a garage, phone a taxi for a tow?

Why are there so many 'flabbergasted' people in the world who go around with their head in the clouds confused that everyone else does not live their life like car crash, the same as them?

One would think that an erudite self employed professional would keep at least one of their modes of transport functional at all times, no? Perhaps a bit of planning involving the internet or telephone might have prevented their day from being flushed down the bog.

I fell foul of this one in Edinburgh.
Something wrong with the tyre and after my 4th puncture on my commute (City Centre - > Dalkeith) I decided to do the return leg on the bus.

Nope.

7 mile walk.

She's 45 and is flabbergasted by this discovery?
I hope her fridge doesn't break down...

As Duncann says. Rural services will allow you on if the bus is quiet. usually you get sent down to the back of the bus to 'park' your bike. This only demonstrates how far behind the UK is in allowing you to transport your bike by public transport. Though some cities are making inroads but have restrictions on time of day etc. I did on one occasion managed to persuade a driver to let me on my local service.

UK cyclists flabbergasted that someone with a bike assumed it was their god given right to be able to take it on public transport.