Cycling in Europe? Travelling via Eurostar?

esuhl

News from the "You Couldn't Make It Up" department:

Eurostar have decided that from next month, any bicycles taken aboard their trains must be dismantled, stored in a box that is paradoxically too small to accommodate a bike, and re-assembled at your destination.

Fortunately they relented. They are now intending to provide a box that IS large enough to contain a dismantled bike.

http://www.theguardian.com/business/2015/oct/14/eurostar-called-on-to-ditch-new-bicycle-policy-dismantled-boxed-up

http://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2015/oct/14/anger-at-eurostar-plan-to-make-cyclists-dismantle-their-bikes

Just... Wow.

Johnmcl7

I'm almost tempted to turn up with my bike and see them try and fit that in their box:

martindow

Johnmcl7 wrote: »

I'm almost tempted to turn up with my bike and see them try and fit that in their box:

Hopefully they will see sense, but as it stands, if you can't dismantle it so it fits in the box it won't travel with you. If you had a tandem you would have to saw it into pieces at St Pancras and get it brazed back together in Paris.

Marco_Panettone

It's discriminatory - how would you get a hand-cycle or a trike in their box?

MacMickster

Marco_Panettone wrote: »

It's discriminatory - how would you get a hand-cycle or a trike in their box?

Not vaguely discriminatory. If it doesn't fit inside the box to qualify for cheap transport then simply pay for the extra for it to travel as a car.

esuhl

MacMickster wrote: »

Not vaguely discriminatory. If it doesn't fit inside the box to qualify for cheap transport then simply pay for the extra for it to travel as a car.

I don't think they'll let you do that. It wouldn't be considered safe.

Boris is on the case, though! "Hbrrr! This trans-migratory shenanegan is backward step for velocipedal perambulers everywhere! Who's up for a game of wiff-waff? Cameron's banned me from rugger for the time being."

http://www.theguardian.com/business/2015/oct/17/boris-johnson-criticism-eurostar-bicycle-regulations

Mids_Costcutter

I think that Eurostar are missing a trick here. Their web site lists six reasons to take the train rather than fly, now they are giving passengers a reason to fly or drive with their bike. Why don't Eurostar see cycle tourism as a market that they could benefit from?