Isle of Wight Railways and Bicycles

"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.

"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

"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

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.

"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.

"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

"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.

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.

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

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.