EU dilutes bikes on trains requirement

News from the European Twowheel Retailers' Association:

TUESDAY NOVEMBER 6, 2007

The European Parliament and the Council have reached an agreement on the 3rd Railway Package, which includes the Regulation on Railway Passengers Rights and Obligations. Much to ETRA and ECF's surprise, in the Common Position, the provision relating to the transport of bicycles, which was adopted by a very large majority in the Parliament, has been completely eroded. Parliament voted an obligation to have space available on all trains for the transport of bicycles.

That obligation is now replaced by Article 5 stating: "Railway undertakings shall enable passengers to bring bicycles on to the train, where appropriate for a fee, if they are easy to handle, if this does not adversely affect the specific rail service, and if the rolling-stock so permits."

This article gives railway companies plenty of opportunities to refuse the carriage of bicycles. Whats more, as a result of Article 2.4 and 2.5, the member states may exempt railway companies from carrying bicycles on domestic trains for up to 15 years and on urban, suburban and regional trains for an indefinite period of time.

As a result of Article 2.7, the member states must inform the Commission of such exemptions. The Commission is allowed to take action should the exemption not be in accordance with the Regulation. No later than 7 years after the publication of the Regulation in the Official Journal, the Commission must submit to Parliament and Council a report on these exemptions. Finally, the railway companies have an obligation to provide information on accessibility and access conditions for bicycles.

We were informed that this complete change from imposing the transport of bicycles to allowing the transport of bicycles was forced through at the very end of the negotiations under pressure of the Council and the Commission.
It is now up to our members, the national organisation, to monitor and lobby their national railway companies. They will have to make sure that they do not abuse of the possibility not to carry bicycles. At the same time, they will have to convince them to carry bicycles.

In the meantime, ETRA and ECF will continue our efforts for the establishment of European legislation that stimulates the combination of bike and train. We will also continue to raise awareness in the European institutions of the need for facilitating that combination.

We find the reluctance of the member states and of the Commission to seriously develop bike transport by train regrettable and all the more peculiar in the light of the ongoing debate on sustainability.