Why bikes are not allowed on Gold Coast trams

Transport Minister Mark Bailey has revealed the hair-raising reason bikes cannot be taken on Gold Coast trams. FULL DETAILS

He’s a bicycle enthusiast who regularly posts selfies of himself wearing cycling gear – but Transport Minister Mark Bailey says bikes could kill Gold Coast tram users.

In a letter to Bonney MP Sam O’Connor, Mr Bailey warned that elderly people and small children would be at risk of “potential injury or worse” if bicycles were allowed onto tram carriages.

“GoldlinQ and its operations delivery partner Keolis Downer has investigated the possibility of permitting full-sized bicycles on trams several times over the past eight years,” Mr Bailey said.

“On each occasion it was determined that carrying full-sized bicycles on trams posed an undue safety risk to passengers, particularly the elderly and parents with small children and prams.

“... A bicycle on board could become a projectile, causing potential injury or worse to the owner and other passengers.”

Transport Minister Mark Bailey dressed in cycling attire in a selfie posted on his Twitter account.

Bonney MP Sam O’Connor.

Mr Bailey also said it was found the “loading and unloading of bicycles” would have negative impacts on overall passenger comfort and satisfaction, while “the operational performance of Gold Coast Light Rail services may also be impacted.”

The Transport Minister added, “if I could Sam I would”, but said there were “no current plans” to allow bicycles on trams.

Bicycles have been allowed on trams on Sydney since services began in 1997. The Bulletin understands there have been no major incidents involving bikes in the 25 years since.

Mr O’Connor said Minister Bailey needed to examine the issue “a bit harder”.

“There’s an example not too far south of us where carrying bikes on trams does work,” Mr O’Connor said.

“They do it on Sydney trams.

“The fact Gold Coast trams can accommodate surfboards means that they definitely should be able to look into this at the very least.

“I think some of these problems can be overcome.”

A tram approaching the Broadwater Parklands station in Southport. Picture: iStock.

A Bulletin poll of readers in July saw 72 per cent of respondents in favour of allowing bikes on trams.

Mr O’Connor said the extension of the light rail to Burleigh presented an ideal opportunity to examine whether carriages could be modified to safely accommodate bicycles.

“They’ve got new trams coming for the new stages so they could be looking at whether that’s an inclusion, whether it’s possible,” Mr O’Connor said.

“We’re not looking at peak hour when it’s chockers, it could just be off peak.

“And it could just be a particular carriage. There’s got to be some aftermarket way of having some kind of secure strap or rack.”

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