15 May 2007

MEDIA RELEASEFor immediate use

Cyclists upset at poor facilities on new Wairarapa trains

Regional cycling group Cycle Aware Wellington is unhappy that new rolling stock for the Wairarapa service stock unveiled yesterday does not provide proper facilities for carrying bicycles, despite earlier representations to Greater Wellington Regional Council.

Cycle Aware member, Paul Bruce, said that he was one of a number of people to discover that storage space on the new Wairarapa train carriages arriving in the Capital yesterday did not contain any special facilities for bicycles, in spite of a special mention in a Greater Wellington Regional Council flier. A space is available for cycle storage, but there are no restraining straps, or ceiling hooks that would lead to more efficient and safe use of the space.

Today's carriages will be followed by 14 more in the coming months, to make up a total of three new trains. According to the flier, each new train can can carry ten standard bikes stacked against each other. However, this depends on luggage loading on the day, and the stacking of bikes in this manner could result in some damage. The simple provision of ceiling bicycle hooks would enable the loading of more bikes and in a safer manner.

Cycle Aware says that Greater Wellington Regional Council, should ensure that alterations in the specifications are made immediately to ensure that cycles can be safely stored. Cyclists are the most environmentally friendly mode of transport, and Cycle Aware believes that the Council must live up to its promise to provide an integrated service, that encourages all types of commuters to utilise the train services to the full.

ENDS

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