Jonathan O'Brien (Cork North Central, Sinn Fein)
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18. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his plans to work with LUAS to allow for passengers to bring their bikes on board at off-peak times and to generally encourage accommodation of cyclists on public transport. [31038/13]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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This question related to the accommodation of cyclists on public transport. The Programme for Government commits my Department to invest in the National Cycling Policy Framework.  Objective 8 of this policy framework is to ensure proper integration between cycling and public transport, with a specific action to provide for the carriage of bicycles on LUAS when services are of a frequency and at a capacity that allows for it, that is when they do not interfere with the capacity for passengers.

The Railway Procurement Authority considered the carriage of bicycles in 2012 as part of a review of all Luas operations. They concluded that bicycles could not be carried on Luas trams, because, for the most part, bicycles would interfere with the capacity for passengers, particularly those who are mobility impaired. 

Folded bicycles may be carried on the trams at all times.

My Department is currently reviewing the National Cycling Policy Framework and as part of this exercise has re-opened the issue of the carriage of bicycles on LUAS with the RPA.  Consultation with the RPA on this matter is on-going.

It should be noted that while the RPA has not permitted the carriage of bicycles on trams they have provided over 750 secure bike parking places along the LUAS routes to enable LUAS passengers to ‘bike and ride’.

With regard to carriage of bicycles on other public transport modes, Irish Rail allows bicycles to be carried on intercity trains at all times and on DART and other commuter services during the off-peak period.