Europe's cities are some of the most bike-friendly places on earth, but a major cycling federation says it's still too hard to get your bike on a train to another city, and they're calling for the EU to step in.
EU leaders are scheduled to meet Thursday to discuss improvements in standards for railways across the continent, and bicycle infrastructure, as well as environmental issues are on the agenda as more people turn to trains rather than short-distance flights.
The European Cycle Federation is asking that the new rules include requiring at least eight bicycle spots per train on all new and refurbished trains, allowing fully-assembled bikes to be put aboard, and for standard markings on cars and platforms showing where those spaces will be when the train stops.
ECF points to Germany and Switzerland as coming closest to those standards. For the federation, an important aspect of adding more spaces is that cyclists often pay a big penalty in time when they travel, having to wait for trains that have spaces, and often having to take several trains rather than one through route. One example given: Paris to Luxembourg on the fastest trains takes a little over two hours, but with a bike, it can be eleven hours and three trains.
An ECF spokesperson told The Brussels Times “If these changes are made, it shouldn’t take any longer for someone to take a bike on board than it does for passengers bringing one or two big suitcases.”
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