Re: Isle of Wight Railways and Bicycles

[Jack Taylor]

"Farmer Alfalfa" > wrote in message
...
> Does anyone have any readily-available information about the ability to
take
> bicycles on the Railways of the Isle of Wight (electric and steam)?
>

From the Island Line website (www.island-line.co.uk) under the Passenger's
Charter section:

Bicycles are carried on Island Line trains free of charge. We reserve the
right to refuse carriage of bicycles when trains are full and when to do so
would inconvenience other customers. Passengers making through journeys to
the mainland should enquire in advance regarding restrictions on ferries and
other train operators' policies on the carriage of cycles.

[Roger H. Bennett]

"Jan" > wrote in message
...
> Don't know about the steam train, would doubt it though as its primarily
a
> tourist attraction.

I can't speak for the IoW, but normally heritage line trains include an
old-fashioned brake van with lots of room for bikes or the like.

Roger

[Farmer Alfalfa]

"Roger H. Bennett" > wrote in message
...
> "Jan" > wrote in message
> ...
> > Don't know about the steam train, would doubt it though as its primarily
> a
> > tourist attraction.
>
> I can't speak for the IoW, but normally heritage line trains include an
> old-fashioned brake van with lots of room for bikes or the like.
>

Thanks for both your responses.

F A

[David Hansen]

On Tue, 15 Jul 2003 21:56:56 +0100 someone who may be "Farmer
Alfalfa" > wrote this:-

>Does anyone have any readily-available information about the ability to take
>bicycles on the Railways of the Isle of Wight (electric and steam)?

Others have answered about the trains. It is worth adding that the
roads are relatively quiet on the island and there are a number of
paths and the like that can be used instead of the roads. It is also
possible to cycle round the island more quickly than the bus makes
the same journey.


--
David Hansen, Edinburgh | PGP email preferred-key number F566DA0E
I will always explain revoked keys, unless the UK government
prevents me using the RIP Act 2000.

[Andrew]

"Farmer Alfalfa" > wrote in message
...
> Does anyone have any readily-available information about the ability to
take
> bicycles on the Railways of the Isle of Wight (electric and steam)?
>
> TIA
>
> F A
>
> PS I've tried Googling but far too much irrelevant junk comes up and very
> little of it looks reliably up-to-date.
>
>
Official line is that up to 4 cycles will be carried at the Shanklin end of
trains. However this is not strictly enforced- last Sunday there were 5 on
board- and there is no specific cycle area.

The steam railway doesn't take bikes afaik but since only one end of the
line actually has vehicle access (Smallbrook Junction being only accessible
by train) this is not normally a problem.

Apart from Ryde St Johns Road, all stations have flat access to the platform
so no steps to climb.

[Simon Geller]

"Ian Johnston" > wrote in message
news:cCUlhtvFIYkV-pn2-ouCqOo1IY6Re@localhost...
> On Tue, 15 Jul 2003 20:56:56 UTC, "Farmer Alfalfa"
> > wrote:
>
> : Does anyone have any readily-available information about the ability to
take
> : bicycles on the Railways of the Isle of Wight (electric and steam)?
>
> Why would you want to? It's not a very big island and it's well
> equipped with "roads" ...

One very good reason is that Ryde pier is a nightmare to cycle on - wooden
planks
in direction of travel. I'd take the train to Ryde town anyday.

Lots of Bikerail info at http://www.atob.org.uk/Bike_Rail.html

Simon

[Andrew]

"Simon Geller" > wrote in message
...
>
> "Ian Johnston" > wrote in message
> news:cCUlhtvFIYkV-pn2-ouCqOo1IY6Re@localhost...
> > On Tue, 15 Jul 2003 20:56:56 UTC, "Farmer Alfalfa"
> > > wrote:
> >
> > : Does anyone have any readily-available information about the ability
to
> take
> > : bicycles on the Railways of the Isle of Wight (electric and steam)?
> >
> > Why would you want to? It's not a very big island and it's well
> > equipped with "roads" ...
>
> One very good reason is that Ryde pier is a nightmare to cycle on - wooden
> planks
> in direction of travel. I'd take the train to Ryde town anyday.
>
<snip>

You think its a nightmare to ride on- try walking down it! And if you think
that is bad, it is a VERY mild preparation for cycling on the roads on the
Island where 40 degree cambers on the outer 2 feet of road are not unusual
and speed bumps pale into insignificance compared to the potholes on many of
our roads.

Going a bit off topic, the Island has a number of very good cycle routes and
is building many more. Which is handy as we are probably the only bit of the
UK whose rail infrastructure is better than its roads.

The train is usually a good bet, like you say.

[Christopher Mahon]

In article >,
"Andrew" > wrote:

> You think its a nightmare to ride on- try walking down it! And if you think
> that is bad, it is a VERY mild preparation for cycling on the roads on the
> Island where 40 degree cambers on the outer 2 feet of road are not unusual
> and speed bumps pale into insignificance compared to the potholes on many of
> our roads.

Nevermind the pot holes, when we cycled around it a few weeks ago it was
the hills that nearly did for us. Unremitting, steep, big and
punishing! Good thing they go downhill the other side for a bit of a
thrill.

[Just zis Guy, you know?]

in article , Christopher
Mahon at wrote on 20/7/2003 7:27 am:

> Nevermind the pot holes, when we cycled around it a few weeks ago it was
> the hills that nearly did for us.

My abiding memory of the Isle of Wight is turning up at Ryde Pierhead and
seeing a sign with "Welcome to the Isle of Wight - Bicycle Island" - which
sounded promising until we noticed that the planking on the pier ran up and
down, to trap the unwary wheel, and at the end of the pier was a humungous
great hill :-/

Guy

[David Hansen]

On Sun, 20 Jul 2003 07:27:54 +0100 someone who may be Christopher
Mahon > wrote this:-

>Nevermind the pot holes, when we cycled around it a few weeks ago it was
>the hills that nearly did for us. Unremitting, steep, big and
>punishing!

The train bypasses many of the hills. The former railway line gets
cyclists most of the way from Shanklin to Ventnor on a gentle slope.
If they opened up the tunnel then cyclists could avoid a bit of hill
into the town. However, the railway (from that direction) could not
get to sea level and stopped half way up the hills, so there will
always be a bit of up and down.

The hills on the Isle of Wight are steep and long, but the same can
be said of many other places.


--
David Hansen, Edinburgh | PGP email preferred-key number F566DA0E
I will always explain revoked keys, unless the UK government
prevents me using the RIP Act 2000.

[Wainwright]

My wife and I have cycled it in recent years on our trips over from
Australia (I was born and brought up there so go back quite often).
The hills are no worse than anywhere else but many of the roads are very
narrow and some "mainlanders" drive on them like they are on a motorway.
The round the Island route is well signposted, there are free maps from the
tourist info centres and new cycleways opening up all the time.
It is 100km right round and can be done in a day comfortably if you set off
early.
Its better to take a few days and stay at the excellent YHAs at Totland and
Shanklin.
You meet other riders that way.


--
Drop Dead if you want to reply personally
David Hansen wrote in message ...
>On Sun, 20 Jul 2003 07:27:54 +0100 someone who may be Christopher
>Mahon > wrote this:-
>
>>Nevermind the pot holes, when we cycled around it a few weeks ago it was
>>the hills that nearly did for us. Unremitting, steep, big and
>>punishing!
>
>The train bypasses many of the hills. The former railway line gets
>cyclists most of the way from Shanklin to Ventnor on a gentle slope.
>If they opened up the tunnel then cyclists could avoid a bit of hill
>into the town. However, the railway (from that direction) could not
>get to sea level and stopped half way up the hills, so there will
>always be a bit of up and down.
>
>The hills on the Isle of Wight are steep and long, but the same can
>be said of many other places.
>
>
>--
> David Hansen, Edinburgh | PGP email preferred-key number F566DA0E
> I will always explain revoked keys, unless the UK government
> prevents me using the RIP Act 2000.

[Wainwright]

Ooops, Sandown it is!!
Thanks Jan.
Aa good friend of mine (from school 30+ years ago) emailed me yesterday to
say she had just ridden the new cycleway.
I am also embroiled in a "discussion" on the IW site at the moment over
cars-v-bikes subject "Opinions". Guess I should know better!!



--
Drop Dead if you want to reply personally
Jan wrote in message ...
>Wainwright wrote:
>> My wife and I have cycled it in recent years on our trips over from
>> Australia (I was born and brought up there so go back quite often).
>> The hills are no worse than anywhere else but many of the roads are
>> very narrow and some "mainlanders" drive on them like they are on a
>> motorway. The round the Island route is well signposted, there are
>> free maps from the tourist info centres and new cycleways opening up
>> all the time. It is 100km right round and can be done in a day
>> comfortably if you set off early.
>> Its better to take a few days and stay at the excellent YHAs at
>> Totland and Shanklin.
>> You meet other riders that way.
>>
>
>
>The cycleway from Sandown- Newport is now finished... and actually starts
>about ½ mile from the train station.
>YHA is at Totland and Sandown
>HTH
>Jan
>
>
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[Jan]

Wainwright wrote:
> Ooops, Sandown it is!!
> Thanks Jan.
> Aa good friend of mine (from school 30+ years ago) emailed me
> yesterday to say she had just ridden the new cycleway.
> I am also embroiled in a "discussion" on the IW site at the moment
> over cars-v-bikes subject "Opinions". Guess I should know better!!
>

I decided not to get involved with that discussion. I did though at one
point think about cross posting it to this group ;-))

Jan


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[Wainwright]

Now that's a thought... the poor fools on the other newsgroup (most of them)
wouldn't know what hit them!!
I have just put another message up there but will leave it now as I am away
cycling for the next few days... lots more fun that getting all screwed up
in the head like some of them in front of a computer.
We stayed at Totland YHA on our way back to Cowes from Burley in the New
Forest via Lymington and Yarmouth.. weather was terrible that night so we
decided not ride the extra few miles that night, we then spent the next day
riding the West Wight area but heading back to my sisters.
It's great riding there and in the New Forest areas.
Cheers
Paul

--
Drop Dead if you want to reply personally
Jan wrote in message ...
>Wainwright wrote:
>> Ooops, Sandown it is!!
>> Thanks Jan.
>> Aa good friend of mine (from school 30+ years ago) emailed me
>> yesterday to say she had just ridden the new cycleway.
>> I am also embroiled in a "discussion" on the IW site at the moment
>> over cars-v-bikes subject "Opinions". Guess I should know better!!
>>
>
>I decided not to get involved with that discussion. I did though at one
>point think about cross posting it to this group ;-))
>
>Jan
>
>
>---
>Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free.
>Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com).
>Version: 6.0.502 / Virus Database: 300 - Release Date: 18/07/03
>
>