Bike commuting and Gautrain

[Just Keep Pedaling]

Can you take your horse on the train?

 

Do you need a horse bag?

[I FLY]

Can you take your horse on the train?

 

Do you need a horse bag?

 

As long as you can carry the bag with horse in it , I can't see a problem

[SwissVan]

After 4 days of bicycle commuting I have a few observations:-

 

1. The Gautrain security and taxi drivers are highly amused at my bike bagging efforts.

 

2. The pavement curbstones are not bike friendly. Only in Sandton CBD do they have sloped approaches. I lost my pavement hopping mojo after my rubena tyre splitting fall.

 

3. Plenty of travellers go by train to airport.

 

4. Very few train commuters go East but hordes come to Sandton.

 

5. Many East Randers are using train to go shopping in Sandton. For some of the men the walk from the station to Sandton City is the most exercise they have had all year. It is unbelieveable how exhausted some of them are when they get back to the station.

 

6. Most car commuters seem to be women.

 

7. Only had one car block me.

 

8. It is going to be very cold in winter on the Sandton platform.

 

9. I spent 2 hours on Sunday trimming overhanging branches on my route. Only 30 minutes should be enough to finish the job.

 

10. My legs have not yet accepted the twice a day effort. They are complaining.

 

11. Had my 1st wet commute on Tuesday afternoon. I have good rain gear so experience was fine. Motorists became much more agressive in general.

 

 

Good stuff Flymango, maybe you will start a revolution in JNB

[I FLY]

Good stuff Flymango, maybe you will start a revolution in JNB

 

Can you imagine a railway carriage full of sweaty cyclists?

[chris_w_65]

Can you imagine a railway carriage full of sweaty cyclists?

 

Cyclists can't be as sweaty as runners. You should try standing in the crowd at the start line of a running race. Strange how some people can stink so bad at the start

[I FLY]

A quick update:-

 

This morning a gautrain official told me that I was not allowed to take my bike ( in a bag) on the train. When I told him that I have written confirmation that I can, he changed his tune and said that it had to be a foldable bike. My letter makes no reference to foldable bikes so he had to go away. I carry a copy of this letter to prevent this type of arguement

 

If anyone else is doing the bike/train commute and wants a copy of my letter send me a PM with your email address.

[chris_w_65]

Does anybody actually use the Gautrain apart from once off curious people going for a test ride? (and you I FLY)

I have never seen a single passenger in a Gautrain bus, they are always empty

[kosmonooit]

The Gautrain bus passes us here in Rosebank, yet to see Pax on that now in 6+ months. Part of the problem is that you have to go to Melrose Arch to buy a ticket to get on the bus! Just goes to show what bad operational planning is happening

 

That cyclists are not accommodated to use the train as part of commuting is a travesty of our public rights. Its one thing mouthing off on a forum like this, but what are we going to do about it? This is supposed to be 'public' transport.

[Guest agteros]

Cyclists can't be as sweaty as runners. You should try standing in the crowd at the start line of a running race. Strange how some people can stink so bad at the start

 

That is bad, but kinda acceptable... what gets me are the people who discovered Cologne the morning of a run.... Heavy sweet stench wafting all over the road while you are trying to breathe deeply and regularly

[I FLY]

Does anybody actually use the Gautrain apart from once off curious people going for a test ride? (and you I FLY)

I have never seen a single passenger in a Gautrain bus, they are always empty

 

The airport carriages always have lots of passengers. The commuter carriages coming into Sandton in the morning are full - the parking lot at Rhodesfield always has about 500 cars when I arrive at 7h40.

 

The Gautrain buses are not well used as you either have to live/work on their route or you have to get a lift to them. There are no parking facilities on the bus routes.

 

One commuter that goes in my direction has a 5 stage commute each way. Lift to bus, bus to train, train, bus to mall, lift from mall to work.

[Guest Big H]

In the early days of gautrain Planning I attended a few meetings. At tha stage they were talking Bicycle friendly. So it did not happen? I wonder if enough write to them if they will respond? Maybe worth a try.

[The Guy in Pink]

When the Gautrain park lot looks like this , it will be a success.

 

(Brugge Belguim)

[Danger Dassie]

I wonder if any of our cycling bodies broached this topic with the powers that or were approached themselves, CSA/CGC?

[GLuvsMtb]

Cyclists can't be as sweaty as runners. You should try standing in the crowd at the start line of a running race. Strange how some people can stink so bad at the start

Still beats getting onto the train and the tosser next to you smells like old cigarette smoke.

[dirtrider]

That is just wrong . WTF smokes old sigarettes ? Luckly I smell like fresh smoke .

[GLuvsMtb]

What I'd like to see is a better awareness for cyclists commuting by public transport authorities in general. I've often thought that a possible solution would be lockers where you can lock away your bike at the train station or bus terminus. Simply take the front wheel off and store the bike in your locker. A 400mm (w) x 1600mm (l) x 1200mm (h) locker would work for most bikes. This would eliminate the need to have your bike on the train with you, if you assume that most people would walk to the office after getting off the bus or train. Good security for the lockers would be paramount to ensure that high-end bikes are not stolen. A nice bonus would be changing and shower facilities where you can clean up and get dressed before getting onto public transport.