More power in pedals

Press, 2 August 1977, Page 17

More power in pedals

Bicycling is booming. British Rail has abolished tickets for bicycles for an experimental period until September 30. Since June 1, cyclists have been able to take their bikes free on trains, but only by applying on a special form in advance. Now, they can put their bikes, and even their tandems and tricycles, on almost any train if there is room in the guard’s van. Large musical instruments, however, still need a ticket. Forty thousand or more free tickets have been issued in the last six weeks, compared with 10,000 in the whole of last year, when bicycles were charged at half the full passenger fare. Many of the new applicants said they had not been on a train for years, and plenty booked for long, expensive journeys, such as Surbiton to Abergavenny and Guildford to Thurso. Many were old age pensioners, who can travel half price themselves.

British Rail has been speculating about the motives of its new travellers; it thinks some were re-enacting biking honeymoons. When all the 11,000 applicants have been analysed, it will decide whether to continue the experiment after September 30. If it does, it will be a victory for the British bicycle makers, who paid for the promotional literature. Cycle clubs have been lobbying against bicycle charges for just a century. The fad for two-wheeled transport extends to the House of Commons, where a new bicycle pool for underexercised legislators has been opened. For £5 ($8.79) a year, the first 48 M.P.s who apply can borrow a cycle any time they like. Demand for membership has been hot. But the fact that the bicycle has to be returned within 24 hours will prevent M.P.s taking it free by train to Thurso.