New month, new rules. The Alicante TRAM will impose new entrance requirements for foldable bicycles. The Valencian Railways (FGV) now enables non-electric folding bicycles to travel across the network with no limit on the number of units, provided certain conditions are met.
Previously, only two folded bikes were permitted on the TRAM. The new regulations remove the restriction, although they must still be folded at all times when entering and departing facilities, according to FGV sources.
The corporation compares them to carry-on bags: they must be transported in the train’s last car, and their bearers must stand next to them in whatever available area. They are also responsible for avoiding disruption to other passengers and creating no damage on trains or in stations.
Limits and prohibitions
Non-folding, non-electric bicycles are still not permitted on the TRAM network, which also applies to electric vehicles like scooters. The sole exception remains gadgets designed for people with limited mobility (PRM).
Furthermore, the regulations provide that these vehicles may not impede entrance and exit doors, or access to driver’s cabs. FGV informs us that the circumstances for transporting non-electric folding bicycles can change depending on demand. TRAM personnel will have the authority to limit bicycle access if occupancy warrants it. In addition, their admission may be forbidden during large-scale events such as the Hogueras.
A project under study
FGV insiders said that they are open to expanding conditions in the future. One of the ideas on the table is to allow non-folding bicycles on specific intercity routes or during off-peak hours. However, this suggestion is currently being reviewed.
Despite the adjustments, Alacant en Bici criticises the ongoing ban on bicycle entry to the Alicante TRAM. “We are still unable to take bikes on the TRAM, which is a direct attack on sustainable mobility. Many people used to mix trams and bicycles for their everyday trips, but are now obliged to abandon that choice. “Those implementing these measures do not know or understand sustainable mobility,” said the platform’s representative, Pedro Raigal. Raigal further pointed out that bicycle associations in Valencia have already declared legal action, claiming that the ban violates European regulations: “We cannot take steps backward in sustainable mobility,” he told me.
Author: Derek Appleton
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