Agenda item

It was moved by Councillor Peter Price, seconded by Councillor Ben Curran, that this Council: recognises the fact that many European cities allow bicycles on their trams and also local trains using the rail network, all without any reported problems, and therefore supports 'The Sheffield Cycle Forum' campaign to call upon the partners on the Tram Train pilot project which is to be trialed on the new proposed link between Sheffield and Rotherham, to allow the carrying of bicycles as part of that pilot and requests that the South Yorkshire Integrated Transport Authority make representations to Stagecoach indicating support for this campaign.

Whereupon, it was moved by Councillor Jillian Creasy, seconded by Councillor Robert Murphy, as an amendment, that the Motion now submitted be amended by:-

1.         the insertion of the “(a)” after the words "That this Council" and the deletion of all the words after the words "to allow the carrying of bicycles as part of that pilot" at the end of that paragraph; and

2.         the addition of new paragraphs (b) to (i) as follows:-

(b)       recalls that in a motion passed unanimously in June 2012, which welcomed investment in a tram/train pilot for Sheffield and Rotherham, the Council also resolved to make efforts to ensure that bicycles would be carried on the new tram/trains;

(c)        is disappointed to learn that, due to Stagecoach’s conditions of carriage, it is now anticipated that bicycles will not be carried;

(d)       notes that heavy rail franchises are expected, as a general principle, to carry bicycles;

(e)       believes that, as this is a national pilot, it is vital that the feasibility of carrying bicycles on tram/trains is tested and that Sheffield leads the way in terms of integrated transport;

(f)         notes that chairs and buggies needed by vulnerable travellers such as disabled people and young children would have priority over bicycles in the same way as they do on trains;

(g)       calls on Stagecoach to amend the conditions of carriage to accommodate the carriage of bicycles on the trial tram-trains;

(h)        calls on the Department for Transport, which is promoting the pilot, South Yorkshire Passenger Transport Executive which is leading on delivery, and the other partners, namely Network Rail and Northern Rail, to also bring pressure to bear on Stagecoach to resolve this issue; and

(i)         requests that copies of this motion be sent to the Chief Executives of Stagecoach, all the bodies named in paragraph (g) above, the Leader of Rotherham Metropolitan Borough Council and all MPs representing Rotherham and Sheffield.

On being put to the vote, the amendment was carried.

The original Motion, as amended, was then put as a Substantive Motion in the following form and carried:-