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In hundreds of emails, cyclists are defending themselves against SBB’s plans to expand the bike reservation requirement. It remains to be seen whether the protest will be successful.
Especially during Corona, there are more people on the bike train. That pushes the infrastructure to the limit.
Photo: Yvain Genevay (Le Matin Dimanche)
This anger was directed towards SBB with an announcement: Starting next year, the railway plans to introduce a reservation requirement for self-loading bicycles on IC connections.. It will run from March 21 to the end of October to tame the boom of bicycles on trains. This has now sparked a storm of protests, fueled by the appeal of cycling activists.
Since Monday morning, the SBB contact center has been covered with virtually identical emails. The origin is a website from which a pre-formulated email can be sent in no time. The activists of the Vélorution association in Zurich are responsible for this. The content of the emails: Even up to now, cycling on the train has been difficult. With the new regulation it will be even more difficult and expensive, it is said in the emails.
And besides: many would use the train every day by bicycle, also because they depend on their bicycle at the destination. “Many would switch to the car with the reservation requirement, especially if each trip, in addition to the bicycle ticket, costs an additional five francs.” Also, one would like SBB to sit at the same table with the riders.
The call to send emails to SBB is widespread in the cycling community, for example on the Critical Mass Zurich Facebook page, St. Gallen or in telegram chats. As of Tuesday afternoon, at least 600 messages of this type had been sent. Among the senders are cycling activists and general supporters of the cause. Even SBB employees sent the email to their employer.
Upon request, SBB will not comment specifically on protest emails. A spokesperson said generally: In early November, SBB met with various stakeholders to discuss issues related to bicycle mobility. One is “in the process of working out the implementation modalities. Of course, these will be communicated in due course, ”says a spokesperson upon request. Therefore, it is not yet clear whether new fees will take effect and how high they will be. A reservation today costs 5 francs.
Demand: tickets should be cheaper
The VCS comes up with an idea: for example, the prices of bicycle tickets will be lowered so that the mandatory reservation does not make bicycle transport more expensive. “To achieve the shift towards climate-friendly transport, it is imperative that public transport in the leisure sector is more attractive. With a bicycle reservation requirement, SBB is taking the opposite direction, ”says the organization. The VCS demands that trains become a priority and that more space be created for bicycles and other sports equipment in multi-functional compartments. “The general reserve obligation can only apply for a limited period until the rolling stock adjustments have been made,” he says.
SBB says they will create additional bike spaces at major connections. “On peak days, the capacity of bicycles will triple in some cases,” says a spokesman. This is expected to be the case starting next spring.
