Launching a new guide for taking bicycles on trains
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@cycling_on_rails | RSS
Over the past years, I have brought my bicycle on many trains across Europe, and friends have started asking me for advice: whether a reservation is needed, how much it costs, etc. So I thought: why not create a website to document my experience? Indeed, although trains and cycling make an excellent combination for sustainable travel, practical information to bring bicycles on board is often hard to find.
Lost navigating this? Read on to learn more!
The official policies published by operators often focus on rules, without showing how the experience actually looks like. A few operators publish a virtual tour of their trains on their website, but these pictures generally show rows of seats rather than important details like bicycle space (if there is any) or luggage racks.
Today, I’m launching the first iteration of my practical guide to help you bring your bicycle on trains. As a starting point, you’ll find a comparison of the common options: taking the bicycle as is (assembled) or packed in a bag (with one or both wheels removed). For the second option, I’ll review common practical questions: How to choose a transport bag? How does the packing/unpacking process work? How much space does the packed bicycle take? etc.
Additionally, I’m planning to provide country-specific guides covering Europe, starting today with Switzerland. You’ll find detailed information about the various types of trains, when (and how) you need to purchase bicycle tickets and/or reservations, and how to best plan your cycling route. The list of covered countries will grow over time, I already have some more in the making.
The goals of this guide will be multiple:
- helping fellow cyclists plan trips by train,
- promoting the train + bicycle option as a viable alternative to taking a bicycle by car or plane,
- reviewing what kind of experience various train operators offer for cyclists, what are the best practices and pitfalls,
- give some tips about the cycling experience itself in various places.
In the long term, I also envision a crowdsourced approach, as it’s hard for one person to cover all trains in Europe (and beyond). So if you have any tips or pictures of your experience that you want to share with the community, don’t hesitate to contact me!
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