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Cyclist upset by bus bike ban
7:00am Sunday 10th June 2007
Comments (13)CHARTERED Tim Nicholson is doing his bit to save the planet - by riding a folding bike to work.
So he was astonished when an Oxford Bus Company driver told him he couldn't take his grey Brompton bike on the X13 bus from Abingdon to Oxford - because it wasn't in a bag.
Mr Nicholson, 39, of Rogers Street, Summertown, ran into trouble when he tried to board the bus with his folding bike at 5.40pm on Monday on his way to a work meeting at Milton Park, near Didcot.
He said: "I have never experienced a problem before but this particular driver was being difficult.
"He got pretty stroppy and said 'I am not taking you', so I got off the bus and phoned the company and was reassured that I could take the bike on the bus provided it was in a bag.
"I put the bike in a bag, pressed the emergency button because the driver had shut the door and got back on the bus, but he refused to let me travel.
"What happened really upset me because we should all be doing our utmost to use sustainable forms of transport and I thought it was out of order that this driver was being so difficult."
Two years ago, Mr Nicholson and fianceé Joanne Bowlt completed a charity journey from Oxford to Oxford in New Zealand in a 50-year-old Morris Oxford. Mr Nicholson said: "We encountered quite a few jobsworths along the way but in the end you could get where you wanted to go - this guy refused to see sense.
OBC general manager Louisa Weeks said: "We welcome folding bikes on our buses as long as they are in a bag. This is to stop oil and grease from the bike coming into contact with other passengers.
"When Mr Nicholson boarded the bus the driver politely informed him that he was unable to take the bike in that condition.
"While the driver was dealing with another passenger Mr Nicholson got off and the driver, who was at least ten minutes late as a result of Mr Nicholson's action, shut the door and prepared to set off.
"Mr Nicholson then operated the emergency-only button in an attempt to open the door. This is very dangerous and if the bus had already started to pull out into the traffic it could have caused a serious accident.
"It was for that reason that the driver refused to allow Mr Nicholson to travel."
Your Say YourThe Oxford Times
Bob, says...
5:26pm Mon 11 Jun 07
reg vardy, oxford says...
8:32am Tue 12 Jun 07
Colm O'Brien, Walton St. Oxford says...
2:14pm Tue 12 Jun 07
There is one other question that I touched on in my earlier comment (above); why must cycles be bagged when prams and wheelchairs arent? Now Im not suggesting that they should be, but as I said earlier, I have had my clothes soiled by the muddy wheels of these items when travelling by public transport in the past, so why is it that only cyclists are singled out for special treatment (requirements)?
Could it be that this sort of treatment is the result of some sort of resentment on the part of (some) officials of bus, train and airline companies? Is there an anti-cyclist bias operating behind the scenes? Travelling with outsize luggage, prams, skis, golf bags etc. doesnt seem to cause any problems, but just you turn up with a bicycle and youll see what I mean!
Mike, Abingdon says...
9:04pm Tue 12 Jun 07
When I lived in Summertown and worked in Milton Park I cycled to Oxford Station, took the train to Didcot and then cycled to Milton Park. Somehow, and I really don't know how I managed it, I also did this for 3 whole years without once having to discuss my nightmare journey with a journalist. What luck that one happened to be passing on this occasion to cover the story. Oh, there wasn't one? You mean you had to contact the paper about this outrage of truly epic proportions.
You could of course also try taking the 35 bus (sorry, Oxford Bus Company again) directly from Oxford to Milton Park, cutting out all problems with that oh so dreadful X13 driver. Following such a traumatic experience though I doubt that you will ever use the Oxford Bus Company again. Go Ahead Group plc must be literally quaking in fear.
Never mind eh. All self publicity is good publicity - apparently.
Nice picture by the way - I trust that the reporter and photographer travelled by bike, bus or walked to cover the story. If not then shame on you. Go and plant a tree somewhere at once to put things right at once.
I am off to swiftly get a life and a firm grip on reality.
reg vardy, oxford says...
11:25pm Tue 12 Jun 07
Colm O'Brien, Walton St. Oxford says...
9:07am Wed 13 Jun 07
Id add that Im speaking from experience here; I was left stranded at a major ferry port some years ago because a train guard would only let me board the train with a bicycle (I was riding a tricycle at the time). It was too late in the evening to find accommodation, and with over a hundred miles to my destination, it was going to be cardboard city on a cold and wet station platform for me as I hadnt come prepared with maps, rain-gear and extra food for what would be an overnight cycle. I approached the guard of the next (stopping) train an hour later and he let me bring the tricycle into the train carriage (!); the mainline express from which I was debarred had pulled away with an otherwise empty luggage van!
Alas, I could relate many more similar stories from my travels with bicycle (folding and non-folding), tandem and tricycle, by land sea and air on every continent, but I hope you get my point!
P.S. Public transport IS greener than private motor use; one driver, one engine and dozens (or hundreds) of passengers . The combination of folding bicycle and bus/train is an ideal pairing as it combines local speed and efficiency without parking problems (bicycle) with the longer distance capabilities of the bus or train. Personally I cycle everywhere, including long distance, but I wouldnt expect everybody to do so.
Andrew Jones, Oxford says...
11:36pm Wed 13 Jun 07
Richard Griffin, London says...
9:46am Sat 16 Jun 07
With my "cyclist" hat on, I've never been asked to bag my folding bike on a bus but would cheerfully do so if requested.
As a bus driver I wouldn't have felt the need to make an issue out of this, but once the guy operated the emergency-open valve I would refuse travel.
Some twit did this to me as I was reversing off the bay at Heathrow Central once. I got shirty with him, but how I allowed him to travel I don't know -- however it did avoid making a scene and causing a delay.
OKAY, says...
9:14am Sun 22 Jul 07
OKAY, says...
9:14am Sun 22 Jul 07
mcflurryco, says...
6:37pm Mon 7 Jan 08
Why would he catch the X13 if he was on his way to Milton Park when the bus is the 35A?
He may have been catching the bus to Stratton Way then catching the 35A
McFlurryco, says...
7:53pm Thu 6 Mar 08
Colm O\'Brien wrote:But he pressed the emergency button
The core question that the bus company still needs to answer is why Tim was not let board the bus after he had complied with the requirement to have his cycle bagged? Whilst I dont excuse any potentially dangerous actions such as activating the emergency door button, we mustnt loose sight of the fact that this action occurred AFTER he had complied with the company requirement and was the result of understandable frustration. We can only be left with the impression that Tim was being personally victimised and that really is not acceptable treatment. There is one other question that I touched on in my earlier comment (above); why must cycles be bagged when prams and wheelchairs arent? Now Im not suggesting that they should be, but as I said earlier, I have had my clothes soiled by the muddy wheels of these items when travelling by public transport in the past, so why is it that only cyclists are singled out for special treatment (requirements)? Could it be that this sort of treatment is the result of some sort of resentment on the part of (some) officials of bus, train and airline companies? Is there an anti-cyclist bias operating behind the scenes? Travelling with outsize luggage, prams, skis, golf bags etc. doesnt seem to cause any problems, but just you turn up with a bicycle and youll see what I mean!
Dispute: Tim Nicholson
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Colm O'Brien, Walton St. Oxford says...
12:57pm Mon 11 Jun 07
Perhaps the bus company should extend their ban to un-bagged prams and wheelchairs; Ive had my clothes soiled by the wheels of both of these items when travelling on public transport!
Pity though that Tim operated the emergency door handle, although I can understand his frustration; it gives the bus company an out from their (drivers) totally unreasonable stance.