It is a fairly common way to move this type of transport. However, problems and misunderstandings often arise between employees railway and by the cyclists themselves on issues of proper transportation of bikes. Often the controllers themselves cannot say whether it is necessary to pay for a bicycle on the train, and how much it costs. Some even argue that transporting a two-wheeled riding device in commuter trains prohibited in any form.
Planning a trip
Before you get ready to go, you need to determine the main points for yourself. First of all, you should study the rules for traveling on trains (more on this below) and take care of a cover for your bike (this may come in handy). If you don't have one, you can take it with you cling film or a long piece of fabric. According to the rules, you cannot transport dirty things, so special attention will be paid to the bike in this regard.
When wondering how much it costs to transport a bicycle on a train, determine the final station and prepare the amount in advance so as not to run around the platform paying for the missing ticket.
It is also better to have luggage rubber bands with you. These are fabric-braided cords. They have powerful metal hooks at the ends. If you need to fix the bike close to the wall of the carriage, with such devices you can attach your vehicle to the seat handles. Rubber bands can also act as a parking brake.
Remember that the rules for transporting bicycles on trains indicate the need to purchase another ticket, which will confirm payment for the transportation of such luggage. By the way, for several years now, during the daytime hours in and around Moscow, there has been a free fare for traveling with a bike. These innovations did not affect the cost of transporting a bicycle on the St. Petersburg train.
You shouldn’t cram into one carriage, especially if the stop lasts only a few minutes. If you are traveling in a group, spread out across the platform, boarding several cars. If it’s important, you can get together on the train. And putting a group of cyclists into one carriage is the right way create a queue and turn all passengers against you.
If you don’t have a bike repair kit, you should think about purchasing one before traveling by train with your bike. It may be needed to disassemble and assemble the vehicle and strengthen some of its parts.
We pay for travel
When planning to transport a bicycle on a train, you need to learn some rules. And this is very important. There is a special document that contains information about proper transportation of a bicycle.
A passenger is a person who travels with a valid travel document. Accordingly, having made a certain payment, the passenger receives the right to carry with him on the train a weight of up to 36 kg and dimensions no higher than 180 cm. In this case, all three dimensions are summed up.
The cost of transporting a bicycle on a train depends on many parameters. The main thing is the terrain. Each region of the Russian Federation has its own transportation costs. It is also necessary to note the distance: the further you need to travel, the more expensive the trip will cost.
Remember the rules for transporting bicycles on trains
Here are the main things to remember when traveling by train with a bicycle:
- You have the right to carry hand luggage up to 36 kg per purchased ticket, the dimensions of which do not exceed 180 cm in the sum of three dimensions.
- By paying additionally, you can transport up to 50 kg. This already includes large items, for example, a baby stroller. Naturally, it must be packed and have the same dimensions as the carry-on luggage described above.
- In addition, you can transport small pets, sports equipment, bicycles. But the cost of transporting such large items is set by the road management.
In this case, passengers are prohibited from:
- travel without purchasing a boarding ticket;
- carry hand luggage, which may damage railway property or stain other passengers and their belongings.
Let's go to the station
In general, problems can arise even before entering an electric train - at the turnstiles. This is where controllers show their dissatisfaction the most. If you are reprimanded and try to offer to buy a ticket for a bike, you can safely disconnect front wheel and turn your bike into carry-on luggage. After entering the train, if necessary, you can put the wheel back in place.
Let's get on the train
Russian suburban rolling stock does not have places for bikes and their placement. Therefore, cyclists are forced to improvise.
If there are no things in the trunk, the best option is to hang the bike by the seat to the top luggage rack. To avoid falling, make sure that the eccentric is tightened. This method is to the liking of the controllers, since they practically do not notice the bikes.
Another method of transporting a bicycle on a train is to install it in places where there are no seats. If a group of several people is riding, it is better to place the bikes in a “checkerboard” order: if one is standing with the rear wheel towards the exit, then the second should be placed with the front wheel.
You can simply turn the bike over and place it between the seats. This option is worth considering if the first two methods cannot be implemented.
In a carriage where there are seats in a row and a group of you is riding, you can place three bikes at the bottom - this will be a support. On top, if necessary, you can install two or three more bicycles, which, of course, is undesirable. In a vertical position, the bike can be placed with its rear wheels on the seats.
Choose optimal time for travel. It is better not to travel with a bike on electric trains during rush hours, when it is difficult to get into the vestibule, not to mention the impossibility of getting into the carriage, especially with a bicycle. It is better to choose daytime hours, when the salon will not be so crowded. Then you will reach your destination without much difficulty and distrustful glances. If you still can't avoid the crowds, a bike cover will come in handy when transporting your bike. Pack your vehicle in it and line it up along the aisle as close to the seats as possible.
If you're lucky, you can get on a train where there is a special carriage for transporting bicycles. This is a very convenient option, but in Russian conditions it is practically unrealistic.
How else can you transport a bicycle?
You can transport the bike in the vestibule, and in assembled form. The law allows this. It is important to fulfill only one condition - there should be only one bicycle per carriage. But we strongly do not recommend transporting the bike this way. Here you will constantly interfere with passengers entering and leaving. In addition, the controllers tracking stowaways constantly walk between cars, and because of this, you will be forced to constantly change your seat yourself.
A big problem here will also be those who want to smoke, who regularly go out into the vestibule and can hit the bike. Then the price of transporting a bicycle on the train will be too high for you. And a constantly slamming door can cause injury not only to you, but also to your two-wheeled companion.
If it is not possible to “park”, remember that the first and last cars of the train are “non-passable”; there is practically no constant flow of people in them.
We insure risks
If you manage to place the bike in the carriage, you need to put it on the brake. For this purpose, you can use a specially prepared wide elastic band. The brake handle must be pulled to the steering wheel with its help, which eliminates the possibility of the bicycle moving during transportation.
Let's sum it up
Passenger is a person making a trip who has purchased a travel document either at the station shortly before the train departs or in advance. Carrying a bicycle on a train is not an impossible mission. For everything to go well, it is only important to follow simple rules:
- pay for travel;
- understand that not everyone likes your hand luggage (bike) in the carriage;
- be correct and polite.
A separate ticket has been introduced for the bike. That is, in order to transport a bicycle on the St. Petersburg train, you will have to buy a travel document both for yourself (passenger) and for your bike (luggage). The ticket price is for 100 km.
If you follow these simple tips, traveling by commuter train will become a simple and enjoyable journey for you.
Bicycles can be transported in public transport - buses, electric buses, trolleybuses, trams, metro and MCC, commuter trains. Transportation can be either paid or free, and in some cases they will not be allowed into transport if the bicycle is not disassembled.
2. How to transport a bicycle in ground transport?
One person can carry only 1 bicycle for free on all routes and on all types of ground urban passenger transport - buses, electric buses, trolleybuses and trams. You need to bring the bike inside through the second door after the passengers leave the cabin, and it should be placed on the storage area.
Carrying a bicycle on buses and other types of ground transport should not cause discomfort to other passengers, so keep it securely throughout your trip.
3. How to transport a bicycle in the metro and MCC?
To transport a bicycle on the subway, it must be disassembled and packaged (except for children's and folding bicycles, as well as children's and wheelchairs). To disassemble your bike, remove the front wheel and turn the handlebars 90 degrees. Place the parts in a bag or case so as not to stain other passengers.
The total length, width and height of a disassembled bicycle should not exceed 150 centimeters, then it can be carried free of charge. Otherwise, you will have to buy a separate ticket. In the carriage, place the bicycle on a wide platform opposite the doors. The rules for transporting bicycles in the metro also apply to the monorail. You can carry one bicycle free of charge in an MCC carriage. To do this, you do not need to disassemble it, but fix it using special fasteners.
4. How to transport a bicycle on a train?
In the vestibule or in the salon. The most space is in the first and last carriages. From 11:00 to 16:00 and from 21:00 to 06:00 there are few passengers on trains, so you can carry a bicycle for free. Before your trip, you need to get a free ticket for transporting a bicycle from a commuter ticket office or from a ticket printing machine.
There is a document that regulates the transportation of bicycles and other things in the subway - “Rules for using the subway.” These rules are almost the same in all Russian cities that have a metro system.
They usually don’t say a word directly about transporting bicycles. It doesn’t say that riding with a bicycle is allowed, but there is no direct ban on it either. It is for this reason that some cyclists enter the subway with a bicycle, and no one stops them. Others are stopped. The fact is that the “Rules” state that it is forbidden to transport cargo whose size in height and two bases in total exceeds 220 cm, and it is also prohibited to transport objects that can injure or stain other passengers. Theoretically, a bicycle can dirty other passengers, this is one of the reasons for prohibiting its transportation. It can also injure someone on an escalator if you don't hold it back.
In addition, there is a postal message “On the procedure for transporting bicycles in the subway,” written in 2008, which states that transporting a bicycle in the subway is prohibited. According to this document, a bicycle can only be transported unassembled and packed in a case. In 2002, a previous version of this postal message was created, it stated that you can transport a bicycle with one of the wheels removed. Not all cyclists are aware of the tightening of these requirements.
Bicycle cover
If the inspector or responsible employee of the metro does not allow you to carry a bicycle on the subway, then there is no point in arguing or arguing with him: he is just observing the law. Therefore, you should prepare in advance for transporting your two-wheeled friend by purchasing or making your own bicycle cover. By the way, a bicycle can be transported in a case not only in the subway, but also on a train or.
The easiest option is to buy a case in a store. The cheapest models of covers cost about 600 rubles, and if you often transport your bicycle on the subway or other types of transport, this will be a profitable purchase.
You can also sew the cover yourself, there is nothing complicated about it. The main thing is to make a pattern according to the dimensions of your own bicycle, after first removing the front wheel and folding it together with the rear one. If you are sewing a cover only for transporting a bicycle in the subway, then you don’t have to worry about packing the steering wheel: it’s okay if it sticks out.
Sometimes you go somewhere far from the city on a bike and feel that you can’t go back. Or you need to go to the suburbs on business. This is where electric trains help us! Is it possible to carry a bicycle on a train and how can this be done?
Rules
Take care of what you will transport the bike in. Russian Railways prohibit carrying dirty luggage, so you will attract a lot of attention to yourself. Prepare some kind of bag or large package.
Prepare luggage elastic bands: you will need them to compactly attach your bike to the wall or handles.
If you are traveling with friends, it is better to go into different carriages. Many bikes in one carriage will create a queue.
Travel rules state that the hand luggage of a train passenger can weigh less than 36 kg and take up no more than 180 cm, if the lengths in all dimensions are summed up. This is if you transport a folding bicycle folded.
It is convenient to hang the bike on the shelf for hand luggage, and it does not interfere with any of the passengers
As for an unassembled bike, the rules say that you can transport bicycles without a motor on an electric train. The transportation fee in this case is set by the railway.
That is, we have a choice: to carry a disassembled or folded bike as hand luggage or a whole bike for a fee.
In principle, the bike can be carried as hand luggage in any case: just remove the front wheel. After you go through the turnstiles, you can put the wheel back. Just take it off again when you leave.
Price
On the trains of JSC Central PPK and JSC Moskovsko-Tverskaya PPK you can carry an assembled bike for free. This is possible every day from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. and at night from 9 p.m. to 6 a.m.
The only condition is that the beginning and end of the journey be in Moscow or Moscow Region. In the carriages of JSC Moskovsko-Tverskaya PPK, you can transport a bike for free only within the Moscow Region. Bringing a bicycle is only allowed if you have taken a free ticket. It is prohibited to enter the train with a bike without a ticket. You cannot buy a ticket in advance: it is issued only at the time indicated above.
To transport a bike on a train, remove at least one wheel and put the entire bike in a bag
You can issue a free ticket at the terminal. To do this, click “Carry-on baggage” or “Luggage” in the menu. If there are no such items, then click “Show other types of tickets” or scroll further. You must pay for the ticket either before the trip, or in the carriage itself to the controller.
When mass cycling events are held in Moscow, for example, “Bike to Work” or “Bike Parade”, transportation is free at any time of the day. Check the promotions at the information stands.
Outside the time of free transportation, payment is made according to tariffs. The cost in this case ranges from 40 to 120 rubles. It depends on the direction of travel and the distance traveled.
In general, the controllers themselves do not know how much to pay for traveling with a bicycle on the train. On this basis, conflicts constantly arise between Russian Railways employees and cyclists. Try not to conflict, but solve problems calmly and with a smile, then you will definitely be allowed into the carriage with the bike.
Where to put it?
To prevent your bike from disturbing anyone, you can hang it by the saddle from the top luggage rack. Be sure to check if it hangs there securely. must be securely tightened! You can also secure the bike to the rack with a bike lock if you're worried about ruining the seat. Passengers and inspectors don’t complain about suspended bikes: it’s very convenient and you won’t disturb anyone.
Special places for bicycles on the Slovak Electric Train
Some trains have special places for oversized cargo. If there are any in your carriage, feel free to put the bike there. He won't bother anyone there. Look for such places in other carriages if yours does not have them, because this is the most best option transportation
The first two methods are the most convenient, but there is one more: you can put the Bike between the seats for passengers. You can even turn it over so it doesn't fall. This method can only be used in an empty carriage: when large quantities passengers, the bicycle will cause inconvenience to people.
It is better not to park a bike in the vestibule: you will disturb other passengers and make enemies for yourself. The only thing is that you can park the bike in the vestibule of the first or last car, because they are always less crowded.
Prohibited
- Of course, you can't ride the train without a ticket. Even if this ticket is free. You always need a ticket.
- You cannot transport a dirty bike; always wrap it in film, put it in a bag, and so on.
Another way to mount the bike on a shelf
On a long distance train
There is no way you can hang your bike on the rack on these trains. It turns out that the bike can only be transported disassembled. The shelves in the compartment and reserved seat are large, so even several disassembled bicycles can fit there. Conflicts with neighbors on the train should not arise, since there is plenty of space. You just need to secure the bike with luggage rubber bands so that under no circumstances does it fall off the shelf.
There is no need to buy a separate ticket to transport your bike on the train. Simply take it apart, put it in your bag, and place it in your carry-on rack. The most convenient way is to put the bike in a special one.
How to pack
Remove the front wheel, saddle (the pin can be pushed into the frame or removed along with the seat) and handlebars from the bike. To make it even more compact, sometimes the pedals are removed and rear wheel. Don't forget that the two pedals have different threads!
To avoid getting your bag dirty, it is better to pack a clean bike in it.
Arrive at the platform early to avoid any disputes with the conductors. If suddenly you are not allowed into the carriage with a packed bicycle, make sure that:
- The weight of the bag does not exceed 35 kg.
- The cover must be soft so that the bicycle in it does not injure other passengers or damage their belongings.
- The bike must fit on the carry-on luggage rack; the dimensions of the bag with the bike (the sum of three dimensions) must not exceed 180 cm.
If these rules are followed, you have every right to transport your bicycle on the train.
Some people prefer to put the bike in a case in the luggage compartment. It must be submitted 12 hours before the departure of your train. The bicycle will not necessarily travel on your train, so you may have to wait for it upon arrival. The bike may arrive faulty and damaged in the luggage compartment, so this method is rarely used.
And most importantly: be extremely careful on the railway tracks! Not long ago, a train hit a cyclist crossing the tracks. This is very dangerous! You need to cross railway tracks only in places specially designated for this purpose. Make sure there is no train coming either to the left or to the right. Otherwise, wait until it passes, even if the train is still very far away. Walking or cycling along railroad tracks is prohibited. Take care of yourself!
How to transport a bicycle to public transport.
How to transport a bicycle on public transport.
Many residents major cities Sometimes you have to transport your bike on public transport. Some people want to ride away from the city, others need to bring their bike home from the store.
Metropolitan.
Let's say right away: carrying a bicycle on the subway is not the most pleasant experience. The rules for using the metro clearly state that the transportation of bicycles is prohibited (except for children's and folding bicycles). Because the overall dimensions of a regular bicycle are slightly larger than the maximum allowable dimensions for carry-on luggage.
There is a way out - you need to remove the front wheel before going to the station. Of course, you will have to pay for a disassembled bicycle, just like luggage. With the front wheel removed, the bicycle turns into carry-on luggage, quite allowed by the rules for transportation in the subway.
Apparently, the person who drew up these rules (more precisely, the clause concerning bicycles) had never seen a bicycle in his life. Otherwise, he would have known that rolling a bicycle on two wheels is much more convenient and safer for others than carrying a bicycle in one hand and a wheel in the other.
Front wheel modern bicycles it can be removed quickly and easily, and installed just as quickly, so no one tries to carry a disassembled bicycle around stations.
After passing the turnstiles, the wheel must be immediately returned to its place and the bicycle can be safely rolled on. Many (but not all!) people on duty at the turnstiles understand the essence of the problem and do not force you to remove the wheel. But sometimes you can find an attendant who does not allow a passenger with a bicycle into the station at all, under any conditions, even with the wheel removed. You should also be prepared for such a meeting.
Everyone understands that you should not take a bicycle on the subway during rush hours. And ride around the stations too.
In general, you can only carry a bicycle on the subway if absolutely necessary, early in the morning or late in the evening. And it is often safer to ride a bicycle ten kilometers around the city under your own power than to conflict with the guards on duty at the turnstiles and with passengers in the carriage.
City ground transport.
Carrying a bicycle in urban ground transport is completely inconvenient. Yes, usually there is no need. The length of a city bus-trolleybus route rarely exceeds 5-10 km, and you can cover such a distance on a bicycle much faster than on the same bus.
Suburban electric train.
Unlike the metro, transporting bicycles on electric trains is not prohibited by the rules. You need to purchase a separate ticket for a bicycle, and feel free to go with it into the carriage.
How to place a bicycle in a carriage so that it does not disturb anyone?
In some carriages, the first row of seats has been removed, and it is quite possible to put not one, but several bicycles in this place.
In carriages of other designs there are no places for bicycles, and they have to be placed between the seats. This is no longer so convenient: it is not very pleasant for other passengers to sit with their knees resting on your horse, especially if it is not very clean, and if there are a lot of people in the carriage, conflicts are possible.
Another option: leave the bike in the vestibule, but then you will have to stand in the vestibule the whole way. You can, of course, lock your bike to the handrails in the vestibule and go into the carriage yourself, but you still need to keep the bike in sight.
In general, it is quite recommended that cyclists, summer residents, and fishermen transport their bicycles on electric trains.
We will leave the issue of paying for travel on an electric train with a bicycle outside the scope of this article. Let me just note that the payment amount can be, to put it mildly, “optimized”, and everyone chooses the methods of this optimization for themselves, coordinating the requirements of Russian Railways, with their conscience and financial capabilities.
Long distance train.
Long-distance trains are often used by tourists planning a long trip.
It turns out that carrying a bicycle on a long-distance train is quite convenient, but for this you need to prepare it in advance.
According to the baggage transportation rules, any passenger has the right to carry hand luggage weighing up to 36 kg free of charge. That is, any bicycle, even with a backpack, easily fits into this limitation. And an ordinary bicycle slightly does not fit into the permissible overall dimensions. The bike will have to be disassembled a bit to become regular carry-on luggage.
To carry a bicycle on a train, you need to purchase (or sew yourself) a bicycle cover in advance, and prepare several ropes about a meter long.
To load the bike onto the train, you will also need to remove the pedals, and you may have to loosen the steering wheel. This requires some tools. When preparing for your trip, select the keys and screwdrivers that will be useful for loading your bike onto the train and keep them nearby.
Please also note that removing the pedal may require considerable effort. And if you don't want to engage exercise two minutes before the train departs, don’t be too lazy, at home, unscrew the pedals from the connecting rods in advance. Then apply a little grease to the threads and screw them back on. Just don't wrap it too tightly.
Immediately before loading onto the train you need to:
- Remove the bike backpack and everything that can be easily removed from the bike (fenders, lights, bike computer). It is better to put small items in the pocket of a bicycle backpack, and large ones in a bicycle cover.
- Remove the front wheel from the bicycle and tie it to the frame with ropes right side(there it will protect the rear derailleur a little).
- Turn the steering wheel 90°. It's easier to do this if front fender already filmed. And if you can’t remove it without tools, then you first need to loosen the steering wheel mounting screw.
- Lower the saddle until it touches the seat tube.
- Unscrew the pedals from the connecting rods and screw them on the other side.
- Pack the disassembled bike in a case.
Now your bicycle is quite suitable for loading into the carriage, and the conductors will not have any complaints about your luggage.
If you are going on a cycling trip, it is better to purchase tickets for a reserved seat carriage. A bicycle packed in a cover fits very well on the third shelf of an ordinary reserved seat carriage. If your fellow travelers start to worry that your bike will fall on their head at night, you can secure the cover with one or two more ropes to the ceiling of the car. It’s best when cyclists like you ride in the compartment with you. Therefore, if you are going on a hike not alone, but in a group, then try to purchase tickets in the same compartment or nearby.
It is quite possible to load four bicycles into one compartment of a reserved seat carriage if you place them on the third shelf not along, but across the compartment. Each bike lies on two shelves at the same time, everything is secure and safe.
True, recently new-style reserved seat carriages have begun to appear, the creators of which, it seems, did not suspect the existence of cyclists (as well as kayakers and skiers). There is a partition along the entire carriage, which turns the problem of placing bicycles on the third shelf into a puzzle (however, solvable, albeit with some difficulty). But no one promised that it would be easy....
Intercity bus.
Preparing a bicycle for a ride on an intercity bus is not much different from preparing for a long-distance train. Modern intercity buses have large luggage compartments where you can put a bicycle packed in a cover.
Aviation transport.
If you are going on a bike trip in an area where trains do not go, or it takes a very long time to go there by train, then you will have to use an airplane. You need to pack your bike in a case, just like before loading it on the train. You just need to take into account that you will load your bicycle on the train yourself, but on the plane it will travel in the luggage compartment, and how carefully the loaders will handle it there is unknown. It is possible that they will walk on it and break something. Therefore, it doesn’t hurt to put sheets of cardboard from a large box in the bike case in advance.
The rules for transporting baggage may vary from airline to airline, so it would be a good idea to consult with an airline representative about transporting your bicycle before travelling. So that there are no unpleasant surprises at the airport.
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