Eurostar bike restrictions will see cyclists using other forms of travel says London Cycling Campaign

London Cycling Campaign has written an open letter to Eurostar urging it to rethink its new bike policy. The group has conducted a survey in which 98 per cent of respondents said that new rules demanding bikes be dismantled and boxed for transportation would encourage them to use other forms of travel if they were going cycling in France or elsewhere in Europe.

London Cycling Campaign surveyed 1,241 people. Of those, 98 per cent said they had considered cycling in France or elsewhere in Europe, with 99 per cent saying that if they were to do so, they would consider taking the Eurostar.

However, when asked whether a new Eurostar cycle carriage rule which demands all bikes be dismantled and packed into a box would discourage them from using the service in favour of a more convenient way to travel with a bike, 98 per cent said that it would.

Ashok Sinha, Chief Executive of the London Cycling Campaign said:

“As our survey clearly shows, the new Eurostar Cycle Carriage policy means many of those who want to travel with a bike to Europe will be forced to find alternative arrangements. This will not only mean a loss of income but also undermine Eurostar’s role in providing integrated, sustainable transport.

“Eurostar must be commended for providing a valued cycle carriage service to date. But we’re urging them to reconsider the changes to regain the confidence of the many Londoners who would like to continue to use their service with their cycles.”

Many of those questioned in the survey were already Eurostar customers – 35 per cent said they had travelled on Eurostar with their bike in the past and of those the majority had said the experience was easy and convenient under the old rules.

When asked if they felt confident to disassemble and reassemble their bike safely at either end of their journey, 81 per cent of respondents said they didn’t. London Cycling Campaign also argue that the policy is discriminatory as people with disabilities; those who use adapted cycles; and those who use their cycle as a walking aid, will be particularly disadvantaged by the new rules.

Eurostar’s new cycle carriage restrictions have drawn a number of high profile objections. CTC urged cyclists to contact Eurostar about the policy, and there has also been criticism from the Mayor of Paris and a number of UK politicians, including Boris Johnson. Eurostar has agreed to a meeting to discuss the issue, yet the rule has already come into effect.