Examination of Witnesses (Questions 1514
- 1519)
Ordered: that Counsel and Parties be called in.
1514. CHAIRMAN: I wish I had had a bicycle
this morning rather than wait for the bus! Ms Lieven, you are
going to make a short introduction?
The Petition of the Cyclists' Touring
Club
1515. MS LIEVEN: Yes, my Lord. This is
the Petition of the Cyclists' Touring Club and they are represented
by Mr Peck. My Lord, the Promoters' position on cycles is set
out in our Information Paper E2 for the Committee's reference.
I think there are four issues to touch on very quickly. First
of all, in terms of the trains, all of the Crossrail trains will
be designed with space for bicycles, so that is entirely dealt
with.
1516. CHAIRMAN: Some bicycles.
1517. MS LIEVEN: Some bicycles, yes,
not an infinite number obviously, but a fair balance and your
Lordships can ask Mr Berryman about how the fair balance is struck
between the space for the bicyclists, the space for disabled people
and the space for everybody else, but each train will have provision,
physical provision, so that bicycles can be brought onto them.
1518. Then the second issue and what is probably
the main issue in the Petition is the question of carriage of
bicycles on trains. Now, as is set out in the IP, that is actually
an issue for the franchising authority and the train operating
company at the time when it is appropriate to settle those matters,
so it is not a matter which is settled at this stage or, in our
view, one which should be settled at this stage. It is likely
that the policy of carriage of bicycles on trains will follow,
for obvious reasons, the policy of other rail operators, train
operators in the UK, so it is appropriate to look at what that
policy is and in general terms there is very strong policy support
both nationally and in London for the carriage of bicycles, and
the general approach is not to allow the carriage of bicycles
at peak times, I think, for very obvious reasons, and anybody
who has travelled on the rail network can see the problem with
that. I think the contentious issue is the carriage of bicycles
off-peak within the central tunnels because the strong likelihood
is that, outside the central tunnels on what I call `the limbs',
cycles will be able to be carried off-peak. We are not guaranteeing
that at this stage because it is a matter for the franchising
authority and the TOC, the train operating company, but the likelihood
is that that will not be a problem. Probably the critical issue
is the carriage of bicycles through those central tunnels off-peak,
and Mr Berryman will explain to you the London Underground policy
on that which is not to allow bicycles on the deep Tube at any
time. Now, we are not saying that will not be the Crossrail policy,
but it is obviously going to be relevant to those who ultimately
settle the Crossrail policy.
1519. The next issue, just to give your Lordships
some comfort, is folding cycles which will be able to be carried
on the network at all times; there is no issue there.
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