Is it possible to transport a bike on a bus? Is it possible to take a bicycle on the train?
While driving around the city, circumstances may arise such that you will need to get somewhere by public transport. This could be due to a breakdown of your iron horse, because of rain, due to lack of time, or simply because of laziness. However, it is not clear whether a bicycle can be transported in one form or another of transport. Let's start with the metro.
Why are they not allowed to take a bicycle on the metro?
On many cycling forums you can read words of indignation from cyclists towards metro workers who did not let them through the turnstiles “without showing a single piece of paper”. On the other hand, many write that they were able to ride a bicycle on the subway without any problems. Well, let's try to figure out what documents the subway inspectors use when they allow or do not allow cyclists.
For passengers, the main document is the “Rules for Using the St. Petersburg Metro,” which can be read in station lobbies, on platforms, in cars, as well as on the official website of the St. Petersburg Metro (http://www.metro.spb.ru/9.html). These rules do not say about the prohibition of transporting a bicycle, but some points can be applied if desired:
| 9.
All persons present on the territory of the metro are prohibited from: 9.3. Enter the station with ice cream, as well as luggage and clothing that may stain passengers, carriages, structures and station equipment. Items that can contaminate or damage citizens' clothing, car interiors, station structures and equipment include food products without packaging or in open packaging, and drinks in open packaging. 9.6. Carry bulky luggage, the sum of the dimensions of which in length, width and height, and for a roll - in height and its two diameters or axes at the base exceeds 200 cm, or whose length exceeds 220 cm, as well as any luggage that could cause injury to passengers when transported on an escalator(linoleum, roofing felt, metal mesh in rolls, heavy metal profile, etc.) 9.25. Ride motorcycles, bicycles, scooters and other similar vehicles. |
Most often, inspectors refer to the above points of the rules: they offer to remove the wheel, supposedly to reduce the likelihood that the bicycle will move down the escalator on its own, they ask to wrap the bicycle with a bag or film to avoid contaminating the clothes of surrounding passengers, or they agree to let it go only after performing both of the above actions. If the controller behaved according to the scenario described above, you are lucky and will most likely let you through.
However, there are metro employees who flatly refuse to let you and your bicycle through, and all attempts to reach an agreement end in nothing. You begin to reasonably hint for the first time that the rules of use have not been violated, and that there is no reason not to let you in, but there is a special postal message “On the procedure for transporting bicycles in the subway,” which prohibits the transport of bicycles. Its text is given below:
|
St. Petersburg metro About the procedure for transporting bicycles in the subway Instruct all involved employees that the effect of Post Office No. 388 dated July 3, 2002 is cancelled. Deputy Head of the Revenue Collection Service S.Yu. Klyuchenko |
The above postal message cancels the previous one, which stated that a bicycle can be transported with the wheel removed. Thus, the actions of the controllers are completely legal and motivated. You can debate whether this is good or bad for a very long time, but at the moment the situation is like this. The solution is to pack the bike in a bike case, try to carry it disassembled, or travel by ground transport.
Carrying a bicycle in ground public transport (bus, tram, trolleybus)
Regarding travel on public transport, the question also still remains open: sometimes conductors kick the cyclist out of the cabin, and sometimes they don’t even charge money for carrying luggage. Let's look at the "Rules for using ground passenger transport" and try to understand them. They don’t say a word about the bicycle at all, however, even in this case there are points that the conductor can interpret in his favor:
| 17. The passenger has the right: 17.1. Carry with you free of charge: children under eight years of age; one piece of hand luggage, the size of which (according to the sum of the dimensions of length, height, width) does not exceed 120 cm; small animals and birds in cages; a guide dog (muzzled, on a leash and with a special identification mark) accompanying a disabled blind person if he has a document authorizing the use of a guide dog; indoor and decorative dogs if the passenger has the appropriate certificate from a veterinary institution; one pair of skis (in covers), children's sleds, baby stroller on the rear storage area; portable gas cylinder with a capacity of up to ten liters. 17.2 Carry according to the tariff: one piece of hand luggage, the size of which (according to the sum of the measurements of length, height, width) does not exceed 180 cm; hunting and service dogs in muzzles with a leash and an appropriate certificate from a veterinary institution on the rear storage area. 18. The passenger is not allowed: |
That's all that is said about baggage transportation. It is clear that you can transport a stroller and a dog, but nothing clear is written about a bicycle. Don’t rush to run for a tape measure - your bike (if you don’t have a BMX) exceeds 180 cm in the sum of three dimensions (only the length is approximately 160 cm). As a result, we come to the conclusion that there is nothing to do with a bicycle (even in a bike case) on a bus, a tram, or a trolleybus, although you can always try to talk to the conductor (the main thing is politeness and reasonableness, remember, they have a very difficult and stressful job ).
Bottom line
From all of the above, only one conclusion can be drawn: unlike developed European countries, we have not yet created any conditions for cyclists, and in any case it is impossible to carry a bicycle in public transport, regardless of the circumstances. Well, you will have to follow the rules - another great reason to ride around our wonderful, unfortunately not entirely bicycle-friendly city.
How to transport a bicycle on a train is a question. which long-distance bike travelers ask themselves. A race is coming soon in Feodosia. And so I also wondered how we could get my pedal horse there by train. Of course, it’s not difficult... And even less. We need to come up with something in the case of a train.
According to the rules of Russian Railways and most carriers in the countries of the former USSR,
In accordance with the established allowance for carry-on baggage on long-distance and local trains, passengers are allowed to carry unassembled and packed baby strollers, kayaks, bicycles without a motor, if their size can be placed in places intended for carry-on baggage.
That is, for trouble-free transportation of a bicycle on a long-distance train, three conditions must be met. Namely, the bicycle must be:
- disassembled;
- packed;
- neatly placed on the luggage rack.
Before leaving, be sure to check all the connections of the bicycle for looseness, and the bolts for ease of unscrewing and unbroken threads.
Even in a situation where you are not going to remove the trunk - check. Everything may change, and instead of a comfortable reserved seat you will have to stuff two bicycles into the luggage vacuole of a compartment car.
Ideally, especially for the first time, of course, it’s a good idea to practice all the procedures for disassembling, packing, unpacking and assembling a bicycle while still at home.
If you have any doubts about the reliability of your tires, replace them with new ones. The old ones will not be lost, they can always be rolled out later. A tire blowout somewhere in a sparsely populated mountainous area is an extremely unpleasant event, and the newness of the tires almost guarantees that this will not happen to you.
Disassembling and packing a bicycle for transportation on a train
It is necessary to take into account that during winter cycling trips, bicycles are usually covered with a layer of snow and ice at the time of loading, which is very difficult to pick out. In the carriage, all this will melt and begin to drip onto the heads of passengers and onto the floor. Theoretically, bike covers are made of waterproof fabric, but in fact, worn covers get wet very well. If it is not possible to “thaw” and dry the bike before loading, then you should ensure that the bicycle packaging is sealed at the bottom and ask the conductor for a rag in advance so that the puddle on the floor does not spread throughout the entire compartment.
The following can be used to transport bicycles:
- Soft cases;
- Hard boxes;
- Packaging from scrap materials.
Soft bike cover is considered the optimal way to transport a bicycle by train. It is relatively inexpensive, compact, lightweight, and provides close to optimal levels of comfort and protection. Produced by Pik-99, Equipment and others. This cover involves removing the front wheel and left pedal.
Here are the instructions for packing a bicycle in a Pik-99 case:
The back of the TRACK cover has a curve where the rear wheel fits. The cover does not open completely, but in an “L” shape; the zipper has two locks. This is to make the bike easier to pack. In the nose part of the cover there is a pocket for the front fork, lined with polyethylene foam.
When inserted, the cover is fixed relative to the bicycle - at the back it rests on the rear wheel (due to the rounding), at the front it is in the pocket. The removed front wheel is placed on the right side of the bicycle with the emphasis on the UN-removed right pedal. Why is that? Removing the right pedal does not particularly reduce the size of the folded bicycle: on the right is the system, switches, and again, we install the wheel. RIGHT PEDAL NOT REMOVED Partially protects the switches and system from damage.
The case has a small pocket, closed with a zipper, into which you can put the removed pedal and key, so that they are at hand when later assembling the bicycle. The bicycle is placed on the luggage racks with the left (smooth) side. The empty cover folds into itself into a pocket under the pedal.
Packing requires removing the front wheel, front fender and left pedal from the bike, lowering the saddle, and standing the bike upright. It stands on its own, supported by the front fork. Place the cover at the back and place the rear wheel in a curved position. Next, turn the steering wheel and insert the fork into the front pocket. After this, close the zipper, throwing the cover over the top of the bicycle. In some cases, it is additionally necessary to turn the steering wheel down or remove the horns.
When properly packaged, a bicycle in a case turns into a flat, rigid structure that is strong enough in all directions without any protruding parts. Bicycles in covers are convenient to carry by the handle and stack on top of each other.
It is also possible packing two bikes in one case. Bicycles are placed in the case jack-side up; the handlebars of one of the bikes can be removed. This method has advantages and disadvantages.
Advantages:
- Save a kilogram of weight with a bike cover.
- Saving overall dimensions, bicycles look more compact in the eyes of conductors and passengers.
Flaws:
- The luggage turns out to be quite heavy, it is more difficult to lift it onto the shelf and remove it from the shelf. Often wheels, pedals and saddles should be placed in a separate bag
- You need to make sure that the bicycles do not scratch each other.
- A hard box is more relevant when transporting a particularly expensive bicycle on an airplane. For a train it is excessively expensive, bulky and heavy.
Packaging from scrap materials It usually looks like this: a cyclist arrives at the station with a large piece of plastic film and a roll of tape; before boarding the train, the front wheel is removed from the bike, the film is wrapped around the bike and secured with tape, the wheel is carried separately. After exiting the train, the film is thrown away. This method of transportation has one advantage - there is no need to carry an already unnecessary cover along the route. But there are many disadvantages:
- Poor protection of the bicycle from damage; the bicycle itself can damage others with protruding parts;
- The bike is inconvenient to carry in your hands, there are too many separate parts;
- There is a risk of losing/forgetting the removed parts of the bicycle - for example, the parts of the eccentric clamp may be lost on a removed wheel;
- A dirty bicycle in such a package is almost guaranteed to leak on the heads of passengers;
- Packaging is a creative process that requires a certain amount of time, which may not exist;
- On the way back you will again have to look for a large piece of polyethylene.
It is not surprising that many tourist groups do not like to pack bikes in plastic, and an appropriate bike cover is a mandatory item of equipment.
And this thing doesn’t look very good, to be honest:
Cars
The following types of railway cars are found in the countries of the former USSR:
- Sedentary;
- Reserved seat:
- "old" reserved seat,
- “new” reserved seat;
- Coupe;
- Luxury
WITH seated carriages Bikers usually collide on long rides and on highways. Such cars, in quantities from 1 to 6, are usually equipped with diesel engines - diesel-powered commuter trains running on non-electrified roads. Tickets for such trains are purchased at regular suburban ticket offices. Placing a bicycle in a seated carriage is no different from placing it in an electric train, except that bikers usually have a non-working vestibule at their disposal, in which it is very convenient to place bicycles and cargo.
"Old" reserved seat- the best car for transporting bicycles, it is also the cheapest and most widespread so far. Each compartment of the reserved seat carriage can comfortably accommodate 4 packed bicycles. The bikes are placed on third luggage racks along the train. At the same time, they block the lighting of the car, but passengers and conductors usually do not have any questions. No additional bicycle mount is required, absolute reliability. Please note that it is not recommended to buy tickets for the first and last compartments of the car - in the first, the luggage racks can be used as a linen warehouse, and in the last, one of the shelves is closed by a partition.
"New" reserved seat- this is an old carriage after a major overhaul, found on the St. Petersburg - Moscow route and/or on branded trains. It differs in that the luggage racks are now closed by a partition on the aisle side, which does not allow bicycles to be quickly and conveniently thrown up from the corridor. Instead, each bicycle must be brought into the compartment (being careful not to hit the other occupants), placed on the rack across the direction of travel and then turned 90°. In such a compartment it is possible to place not 4-6, but only 2-3 bicycles.
Coupe and luxury car extremely inconvenient for transporting bicycles - the biker has at his disposal a short luggage niche above the corridor, into which a maximum of one bicycle will fit, and even for this it will have to be disassembled almost completely. Such carriages should be avoided; if possible, arrange a bicycle with your friends in the next reserved seat.
High speed trains(Sapsan, Allegro) do not have designated places for luggage. It may be possible to fit 1-2 bicycles into some nook in the carriage, which cannot be compared with 20 or more bicycles that fit into a regular reserved seat.
Other countries
There are about 200 countries in the world, and most of them have railways. Each railway has its own rules for transporting bicycles. Or it doesn’t have any, which, I note, is even worse. Complicating the situation is the fact that there are many different types of trains. These are commuter trains, intercity trains, fast trains, and high-speed trains. There are different carriages on the trains: First class, second, completely “declassed”, suites.
In the vastness of third world countries, you can still find a natural “teambox” - a carriage with wooden benches that can accommodate as many passengers as it is simply impossible to imagine for a resident of Europe.
As an example, here is a list of types (ONLY TYPES) of trains that travel on German Railways:
Intercity-Express (ICE)- express trains that fly (despite the fact that they are trains) between major cities at speeds of up to 300 km per hour. Such express trains fly with a minimum of stops and are suitable for tasks that are not close to us, cyclists. For example, for a trip from Berlin to Cologne. There is every reason to immediately fly to Cologne by plane.
Intercity/Eurocity (IC/EC)- “passenger trains” that run with stops, serve cities and towns, and are aimed at tourists. In meaning, they are more similar to Russian trains, although in appearance and in terms of speed they are little similar to their Russian counterparts.
Interregio (IR), Interregio-Express (IRE), Regional-Express (RE), Regionalbahn (RB)- Trains of this type can be called electric trains. By the way, it is quite possible to see passengers riding in them while standing. Although the train route can be quite long, it is not inferior to, for example, IC/EC trains. Only they will take longer, stop at all stations, or at large ones if the name of the train contains the word “Express”.
Night trains (NZ, EN, D-Zug, UEX, CNL)- night trains
International trains: Thalys, Eurostar- international trains.
So, each railway has its own rules for transporting bicycles (some are indeed unified), and many rules apply for each type of train (for fast trains - some, for commuter trains - others), the rules may be different for cars of different classes, and there are also rules , which limit the possibility of traveling by train at one time or another. For example, commuter trains may have restrictions on bicycles during peak hours.
What should a poor tourist do? If you are armed with the knowledge that the rules for transporting bicycles are so different, then when ordering tickets you must definitely clarify which rules apply to this type of train, this type of carriage, at this particular time. It is convenient to read the rules for transporting bicycles on the carriers' websites in advance.
The greatest problems are presented by trains crossing the borders of different countries. If in Europe, as a rule, there are some prescribed rules, then on the train that goes from Uzbekistan to Kazakhstan, the very concept of “rules” is rather vague. By the way, as of the winter of 2009-2010, the rules for transporting bicycles on Temir Zholy - Kazakh Railways - were simply not spelled out. Had to bribe the conductors.
Subtleties of railway-bicycle rules
It is difficult to say whether the ambiguity of the railway rules is an oversight of their authors, or malicious intent, but they, in fact, provide too much scope for corruption. See for yourself:
“In accordance with the established allowance for carry-on luggage on long-distance and local trains, a passenger is allowed to carry unassembled and packed baby strollers, kayaks, bicycles without a motor, if their size can be placed in places intended for hand luggage. »
So, we have a place, for example, the third shelf of a reserved seat carriage, on which you place your luggage in the form of a bicycle disassembled and folded into a cover. Everything is fine? Not all. If the guide has the necessary knowledge (very rare) and a lot of unresolved financial problems (quite often), then he may ask you a question: these bicycles hanging from the shelves, are they “in their size able to be placed in places intended for placement hand luggage"? But they DO extend beyond the dimensions of the shelves. Incident, however. It is known that for safety reasons, it is more convenient to place bicycles in such a way that one part lies on one shelf and the other on another. To tell the truth, the question of whether or not a bicycle fits on the third shelf is asked extremely rarely.
Iftravel has a good description of accommodation in the carriage itself.
About placing bicycles in the carriage
Once again, I’ll make a reservation that it is highly advisable to take tickets for a reserved seat carriage, because... placing bicycles in it is much easier than in a compartment one and allows you not to remove the rear wheels and luggage racks.
In a reserved seat carriage old style, where the third shelves are not separated from the aisle by a partition, 4 bicycles with the front wheels and saddles removed can be laid across the compartment.
Arrangement of bicycles across the compartment of a reserved seat carriage
One bicycle can also be placed across the aisle (don’t forget to secure it with rubber bands and/or slings).
Placing a bicycle across the aisle
Bicycles laid across the compartment can, in principle, not be secured in any way, except perhaps for the peace of mind of other passengers.
The new-style reserved seat carriage can accommodate 2 bicycles in one compartment. If you have a rank in Tetris, you can try to cram 3, but this is already problematic.
If the reserved seat doesn’t work out, you’ll have to somehow fit into the compartment. The ideal option here is to buy it all. Then you can stack several bikes on one rack, placing some members of the group in twos. And, in general, having the entire compartment at your disposal, you can experiment.
However, as a rule, there are also other passengers in the compartment with whom you have to take into account.
Placing bicycles in a compartment carriage
The luggage compartment above the door of the compartment car can accommodate two bicycles with the wheels (rear and front), luggage racks and saddles removed.
The main thing is to get on this very train :)
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Do you want to take a bus to a park or forest and then transfer to a bike there? Or were you briskly driving to work, and then your bike got a flat tire? People are allowed on public transport with suitcases without any problems, but not always with such metal structures. When do you have to pay extra, and when do you even call a freight taxi?
Metro
According to the “underground” rules, you can transport a children’s bicycle unassembled or a folding one (folded). The remaining models should ideally be disassembled and packed in a clean case (and should not exceed 150 cm in length, width and height).
Typically, passengers are content to simply remove the front wheel (you can't do this with the rear because of the chain) and carry the bike as luggage. If it doesn’t happen during rush hour, the attendants and inspectors don’t find fault with the lack of a cover. But they also have the right to wrap (they guard the interests of other passengers so that they do not receive a scratch or injury due to protruding parts).
MCC
At the MCC, the requirements are not so stringent.
According to Art. 2.7.5. The travel rules allow the passage of “no more than one bicycle in an unassembled form, subject to conditions that exclude inconvenience for the passage of other passengers. The bicycle must be placed on the platform provided for this purpose and secured to bicycle racks, preventing its spontaneous movement around the cabin.”
Ground transportation
According to the rules of Mosgortrans, a bike can be transported on a bus, on a trolleybus, and on a tram (free of charge and in full form). But don't go through the turnstile with him. Feel free to enter through the second door (and only then pay for your fare). However, keep in mind: you are only allowed to park your bike on the storage area near the second door (if there are a lot of people, you simply won’t have anywhere to place it). And be sure to hold the bike firmly the entire way so that it does not roll away and crash into other passengers. Bikes are great at “running away” from their owners; it’s worth looking away even for a second.
Electric trains
You can only put one unassembled bicycle in the vestibule (better not even get into the carriage, other passengers will knock you down before the controllers come and put you in the vestibule). There should only be one bicycle per passenger.
You can travel in this suburban transport with such luggage either for a fee or for free.
A folded or disassembled bike can be transported for free at any time of the day. But in a “finished” form, a bicycle is allowed according to different rules.
If you want to save money and not pay anything for it, go from 11.00 to 16.00 and from 21.00 to 6.00. But you still need to take a free ticket (so that you and your bike will be allowed through the turnstile).
If you need to go at another time, be prepared to pay from 60 to 120 rubles. (The exact tariffs can be found here www.central-ppk.ru/tariffs, the terms of the “Bike Option” are also written there, which is useful for those who constantly take a bicycle with them on the road and do not want to buy a ticket for it at the ticket office every time).
And most importantly, don’t forget one more rule! A dirty bicycle (not hidden in a cover) will not be allowed through. Neither in urban nor in suburban transport. Even if there is no rush hour and you have a paid baggage ticket in your hands. In any public transport it is prohibited to carry luggage that could stain the cabin, carriage or other passengers. This applies mainly to fans of “rides” in green areas, who try to get on a bus or go to a metro station with bicycles on which there are kilograms of dirt, and it smoothly falls off, leaving behind the “athletes” a signature trail. Such comrades will have to either use their own transport to get home, or call a cargo taxi (a regular one will refuse to take you, because no one wants to dirty the trunk, and few trunks will fit an adult bike).
Foxtime on the eve of the season talks about how to properly transport bicycles in transport
Carrying a bicycle on a tram, trolleybus and bus
Bicycles can be carried free of charge on all types of transport. They should be brought inside only through the second door, when passengers leave the cabin. You need to park your bike either on the storage area (the one opposite the second door) or at the end of the salon. In most trains, the validator is located right next to the second door, so you don’t have to move around the bus to pay. Do not forget to hold your personal vehicle while driving.
One passenger can carry only one bicycle, provided that it does not interfere with others. So avoid peak hours.
Carrying a bicycle on the metro
You can take your bicycle with you to the subway only if it is disassembled and packaged. The exception is children's and folding bicycles.
Disassembling and packing means the following: remove the front wheel, turn the steering wheel 90 degrees, put the parts in a bag or case so as not to stain other passengers.
If the length, width and height of the disassembled and packed bicycle do not exceed 150 cm in total, such luggage can be carried free of charge. If you do not fit into the 150 cm distance, you will have to buy a separate ticket in accordance with metro tariffs.
It is best to place the bicycle directly in the carriage on the platform opposite the doors. Let us remind you that in the metro and on the monorail it is prohibited to travel on wheels (bicycles, motorcycles, scooters, roller skates), except for wheelchairs.
Transporting a bicycle to the MCC
An MCC passenger can take one bicycle with him free of charge. There is no need to disassemble it. The main thing is that it does not interfere with anyone - it is recommended to secure it using special bicycle racks, which are equipped with almost all trains.
By the way, if you have not yet acquired your own bicycle, from May to October you can rent one right at the MCC station near the Business Center, Luzhniki, Gagarin Square, Botanical Garden and Vladykin.
Carrying a bicycle on the train
Bicycles can be freely transported in the vestibule or in the cabin (the most space is in the first and last carriages of the train).
During hours when there are not very many passengers on trains (from 11:00 to 16:00 and from 21:00 to 06:00), personal transport is allowed to be carried free of charge. At the same time, you still need to issue a special ticket at the suburban ticket office in order to freely pass through the turnstiles.
At other times, a ticket for transporting a bicycle costs from 60 rubles. A bicycle, folded or disassembled, can be transported free of charge at any time of the day.
Carrying a bicycle on Aeroexpress
To transport a bicycle unassembled, you will have to buy a ticket for 50 rubles. You can save money if you fold your personal vehicle so that the sum of its three dimensions does not exceed 180 cm, and it weighs no more than 36 kg.
Each Aeroexpress carriage has luggage racks with enough space to secure a bicycle.
Carrying a bicycle on the water bus
Bicycles can be transported free of charge on water buses. The ship's crew will tell you where it is best to place it.
Photo preview / Jonny Kennaugh / unsplash.com
Today, a healthy lifestyle is becoming increasingly popular: good nutrition, walks in the fresh air and sports. Many people combine the last two points through the purchase of bicycles. This is a great way to lift your spirits, chat with friends and family in an informal setting and get a boost of energy.
But a problem that residents of large cities may face is the remoteness of good ski areas. And here a number of difficulties arise, the main one of which is delivering the two-wheeled friend to the right place. Questions arise like: is it possible to take a bicycle on the subway or on a bus, how to secure it to a car, what are the rules for transportation on a train or commuter train? Today we will learn more about this.
Personal transport
Naturally, if you have a car, transporting a bicycle becomes much easier. If two people go on a trip, then the most convenient way is to use the salon. By folding the rear seats and removing the front wheels from the bikes, you can fit one to four bikes in the back, depending on the type of car.
This method has both advantages, for example, fuel economy, and disadvantages - dirt in the cabin, danger in the event of a traffic accident.
Another method is external mounting. It can be installed on the roof, towbar or tailgate. The advantages of this type of transportation are obvious - free space and cleanliness in the cabin. However, the outside of the bike can be damaged, get pretty dirty, and even get lost if it is not fastened well.
Buses
The situation is more complicated if there is a need to use public transport. Here you need to first clarify: is it possible to transport a bicycle on the subway, bus, trolleybus or tram?
Looking at the rules for using ground public transport, we often do not find a separate clause that concerns bicycles. However, there is a clause regulating its transportation; its total length should not exceed 180 cm. Consequently, a bicycle, even in a case, will not fit, because one indicator of the length of a bike for adults is 170 cm.
The only method that can be used is an agreement with the conductor. If you manage to convince him, then you will be allowed into the salon along with the bicycle.
When it comes to long-distance buses, the person in charge is the driver. All questions regarding luggage should be discussed with him. You may be offered to transport the vehicle disassembled in the trunk. But there is also a possibility that you will be allowed into the salon with your bike; it all depends on the person. And it is the driver who decides the issue of payment.
Railway
For some, the pressing issue remains the delivery of a bicycle by train or train. In the first case, no special problems arise; most often, the rules allow transportation in assembled form in a place specially designated for luggage. Please note that additional fees will still apply.
Another question is if it is necessary to carry out transportation on a long-distance train. Here it is best to use a special case. To do this, it is worth dismantling one, or better yet, two wheels. They can be packed in another case or left with the bike. Following the advice of experts, you can separately pack the frame and parts in soft film or mat. This will protect against damage, chips and scratches that may occur along the way.
When traveling, it is best to put your bike on a special third shelf. Do not forget to secure the cargo properly so that it does not accidentally fall on passengers.
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Below we will find out what rules exist for luggage and bicycles in the metro. What experienced passengers advise and how to avoid conflict situations.
Baggage transportation on the metro
For some people, traveling on underground transport is something ordinary and quite understandable. Many visitors from small cities, encountering the metro system for the first time, may be puzzled by a number of rules. You need to first familiarize yourself with the permits and prohibitions so as not to get caught. For example, what are the rules for transporting a bicycle on the subway or luggage.
Bags, suitcases whose total length, width and height do not exceed 150 cm, long items up to 220 cm are paid at the cost of one piece. A maximum of two such bags are allowed per passenger.
However, it is prohibited to transport wheeled vehicles whose size is more than 150 cm in the sum of length, width and height. That is, ordinary trolleys and suitcases on wheels are not included in the list of prohibited items.
Please remember that tickets or other documents that provide travel rights do not qualify for free baggage transportation.
These rules apply to the Russian metro. When going on a trip to European countries, we advise you to first familiarize yourself with their system. For example, is it possible to carry a bicycle on the subway? The rules are sometimes quite similar, but there are a number of details that differ.
On the subway with a bicycle
It would seem, why do you need to use public transport when you have your own wheels? However, residents of large cities repeatedly encounter a similar problem and wonder whether it is possible to carry a bicycle on the subway? "Why is this necessary?" - you ask. Example: if a person lives in the city center, and a bike ride with friends is planned in green surroundings, in a park or square, which is located quite far away. If you have the strength to get there by pedaling, the way back can be difficult.
According to metro rules, only children's bicycles are allowed to be carried free of charge. Adult vehicles are prohibited unless they are foldable.
The reason is that the length of a regular bicycle exceeds the dimensions allowed by baggage rules. This often becomes a problem for those who like to ride an “iron horse”.
So, as can be seen from the above, it is almost impossible to transport your two-wheeled friend on the subway, unless, of course, you are a child. However, experienced cyclists still find ways to solve the problem.
First, try to travel during quiet times. When there are not many passengers, avoid rush hour. Secondly, before you find out whether you can take a bicycle on the subway, make sure that this is absolutely necessary.
If you really need to pull off a trip like this, here are a few tricks. For example, a bike cover. Packed transport ceases to be wheeled and fits perfectly into the dimensions of regular luggage. One problem: such a case costs a lot of money and not everyone can afford it. Plus a waste of time on packaging.
What to do if there is no cover? Another idea comes to the rescue - reducing the size. Don't worry, you won't need a magic wand. Modern bicycles are designed in such a way that the front wheel can be removed quickly and easily. Thus, they become shorter and fall into the list of allowed sizes.
As you can see, the rules for transporting bicycles in the metro prohibit such transportation, but with a little manipulation and polite communication with employees, everything is possible.
Conflicts and ways to resolve them
Difficult situations can arise both in urban transport and when traveling long distances. If you have fulfilled all the conditions described above, but still doubt whether you can take a bicycle on the subway, just be patient and smile. Polite communication sometimes works wonders. As practice shows, sometimes even with an unassembled and unpacked bicycle you can get to the station. It is enough to simply ask the person to put themselves in your position.
But even if you were able to go down to the station, remember that carrying a bicycle on the metro may not be liked by other passengers. And they have the right to complain about you. Therefore, follow not only your own needs, but also consider the inconvenience that you may cause to others.
Bicycle on an airplane
Now you know how you can transport luggage on the subway, bus, or train. But what if you need to do it by plane? There is no exact answer here. It all depends on the rules of a particular airline, especially with regards to bikes.
Please check them before purchasing a ticket. Some offer quite favorable conditions, and there are cases when they ask to pay an additional up to $300 for transporting a bicycle. Agree, this is quite a high price.
Results
Any trip requires careful preparation, even if it is an ordinary trip around the city. It doesn't matter if it's a bus, car or metro (Moscow), the rules exist everywhere. And in order to feel confident and comfortable, you need to know them.
In case of emergency, you can always use your human charm and ask politely, explaining the situation.
Remember that when going abroad, it is advisable to first familiarize yourself with their rules: what are the permissible dimensions of luggage, is it possible to take a bicycle on the subway, what are the transportation fees.
