Bikes on Buses

Bikes on the front of Buses is the ideal solution for truly integrated transport
They are already popular on most North American buses, and are now also widely used in Australia and New Zealand.

Integrates bikes and public transport
Shown to promote cycling
- encourages longer commutes
- provides reassurance for less confident groups
- provides a reliable option in case of emergency or bad weather
Increases bus usage - increases the catchment area of the bus
Provides secure bike transportation for dirty bikes, outside the crowded bus - especially important in peak times

Progress to date - Europe

We have been working closely with many cities and other partners across Europe to implement the racks. Cities in Spain, Poland, the UK, Italy, the Netherlands, Denmark and Ireland have all seen and tested the racks, and want to go ahead. However, they have not been allowed to do this, as permission has been refused by the various national regulating bodies.

These bus racks still have a perception of 'danger', and so traffic authorities have always refused them, and demanded yet more studies.
This is despite widepread use around the world with no reported pedestrian accidents.

If the same logic was used, with extensive tests needed of proven products we would have no cars or even bicycles on the roads, and very few new developments.

- Pilot Sites
We are looking for even more European cities and partners to help us to promote the concept. We have several demonstration racks available on request for pilot schemes - we can provide and install these at no cost for smaller projects.

- Politicians, cycling and environmental groups
More discussion and pressure by politicians may allow some pilot schemes to go ahead.

- Cost-benefit studies
An alternative to installing the racks is to get involved in a study of the wider costs and benefits of installing the racks. Despite the obvious success of these racks in the US, this has never been done (to our knowledge). As a result, we are looking for academic departments wishing to research this area in more detail.

There may be the opportunity to pool funding for a suitable study. Please contact us if you would like to be a part of this study.

Installing on the front 

These bus racks are designed to be installed on the front of busy service buses, and so the driver does not need to get our to help or assist. 

Features

Quick and easy to use
(Approximately 20 -30 seconds - see the videos and statements from operators to support this)

Safe and secure method of holding the bikes in place

Does not reduce drivers vision, even when loaded with 2 or 3 bikes (as photo below)

Installing on the Back of Buses.
The racks have been designed for the front of buses.
It is possible to install them on the back, but this is not the ideal place.
On the front the driver can see that the bikes are loaded safely.

On theback they will be:
Out of site of the driver, and user (cyclists usually stay next to the driver)
Much more liable to theft
Loading and unloading will be much slower
Probably more dangerous - the driver cannot see if the user is still taking a bike off
Once taken off, the user is in the middle of the road, so in a very vulnerable position. They are much more vulnerable if the bus reverses.

Also, on the front, the bike and bus combination is also much more visible, bringing great PR benefits.



Types of Buses:

The racks can be installed on almost all buses

- Minibuses

- Optare

- Seattle express bus

Please contact us if you want to promote intregrated transport across Europe

www.BikesOnBuses.com
info@BikesOnBuses.com
Portsmouth, UK
Tel 0044 (0) 2392 815555