Opinion: Time to life the tram bike ban

The Gold Coast tram system is being held back by a little-known rule – but there may be light at the end of the tunnel, writes Ann Wason Moore.

Gold Coast Light Rail, we need to talk.

For years I have stood in staunch defence of this amazing piece of infrastructure, but I have to admit there is one aspect where it is inarguably off-track.

It’s not the cost of construction. Whether it’s the budget blowout for the current stage 3 extension or future stage 4 extension to the Gold Coast Airport, I believe it’s worth it. Give me a robust transport network over an arena any day.

Nor is it the impact of said construction. Maybe I’m lucky or maybe I’m just going deaf, but I live very close to the current construction site and I have not heard a thing.

Nope, my problem is the bike ban.

Under the G:link’s list of prohibited items, it states: “Bicycles are prohibited unless your bike can be folded and carried in a bag no bigger than 90cm x 70cm x 36cm.”

This size of folding bike is characterised by tiny wheels, meaning it’s extremely pedal-intensive. And if it’s electric, well, good luck carrying it. I own a folding e-bike and have never folded it because a) I can’t figure it out and b) it would physically break me.

So, for all intents and purposes, if you want to use the light rail and don’t live as close as I do (or will do, sometime next year) you either need a useless clown bike to commute, or you need to drive to the station (but there is no parking, by design, as the idea is to keep cars off the road), or you must catch a taxi or ride-share service.

Surfboards are all good, but bicycles are not allowed on Gold Coast trams.

Essentially, this bike ban hamstrings the capability of the light rail.

When we talk about building a public transportation network for this city, it means using all modes – light rail, heavy rail, buses, bike paths, walking paths – to create true connectivity.

You would think that means being able to ride your bike to the closest tram station and then hopping off and pedalling to your place of work or pleasure, or even for a ride down the Oceanway.

Why are we investing in green bridges and public transportation services if we’re not using these links to their full capabilities?

Back in 2022, after bikes were allowed on suburban Brisbane trains, then-Transport Minister Mark Bailey’s office stated that, because trams were smaller than trains, there was no room for bikes.

However, they are already allowed on Sydney trams … so I’m calling bull on this excuse.

If we can put a man on the moon, we can get a bike on a tram. Bikes take up far less room than bulky suitcases or even prams, and we would never ban those essential items.

Bike riders Shirley Scott, Keith Bazley and Jan Chatman at Helensvale tram station in 2022. Ms Chatman was advocating for cyclists to be allowed to bring their bikes on trams. Picture: Glenn Hampson.

Fortunately, there is hope on the horizon.

Bicycle Queensland CEO Alton Twine, the former transport director for the City of Gold Coast, said he had already met with new State Transport Minister Brent Mickelberg and raised the issue.

“We met with him in just his second week in office but he gave us a really good hearing and was very positive towards inter-modality in general,” said Mr Twine.

“We will be visiting with Goldlinq and TMR soon to say, ‘come on, guys’, let’s at least do a six-month trial of bikes on trams and see how it goes.”

Bicycle Queensland CEO Alton Twine. Picture: Steven Grevis

Transport Minister Brent Mickelberg. Picture: Supplied

However, Mr Twine said he still could not understand why bikes were even an issue.

He said it was a regular conversation during his time in council with many expressing disbelief that surfboards were allowed and not bikes.

“There are so many bike riders on the Gold Coast who, if they could use the tram and bike combination, would use that form of transportation – which is what every level of government tries to advocate to ease traffic,” he said.

“I recall at council we asked both the state and G:link for the reason for the prohibition but there didn’t seem to really be one. It was just in the too hard basket.

“We absolutely can make it work, we don’t even need any modifications. It’s time we came of age on this because it’s just a no-brainer.”

Personally, I’d like to see the city embrace bus bike-racks as well, such as those used in Canberra and being trialled in Victoria.

If we really want our city to embrace the future of transportation and become less reliant on costly cars, we need to make this network as inclusive as possible.

Given the G:Link’s excellent record of inclusivity in so many other ways, I’m sure we can get on the right track.