Transport for Greater Manchester confirms details of bike trial on Metrolink trams - what you need to know

A supervised trial to allow bikes to be taken on Greater Manchester’s Metrolink Network has been launched. Transport for Greater Manchester proposals for the trial were given the green light back in January.  

The pilot, which launched on Thursday February 29, will run for four-to-six weeks on off-peak services on different lines, routes and stops across the Metrolink network, at different times of the day and days of the week. At present, folding bikes are allowed on the network, but standard bikes are not. 

TfGM has selected volunteers from cycle groups around the region to take part in the trial. Only invited participants under supervision by KAM staff will be able to take their bikes on Metrolink trams.

Another part of the trial will be giving consideration to the space required by passengers with bikes, as well as the current issues of accommodating bikes on trams and other aspects of the network including stops and crossings. 

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Dame Sarah Storey, Active Travel Commissioner, said: “I would like to thank Transport for Greater Manchester for progressing with the bikes on trams trial and I am looking forward to observing the study myself in the coming weeks. 

“Not only will researchers carry out their study on a range of Metrolink lines and services, they will also trial different types of cycles, including non-standard ones used as mobility aids.  A follow up report on how it’s gone will be brought to the Bee Network Committee this summer and I will be interested to read their analysis and learn more about how volunteers and tram users have found the experience.”

Danny Vaughan, Head of Metrolink at TfGM, said: “I’m pleased to confirm that the pilot to test the carriage of bikes and non-standard cycles on trams is now underway and I look forward to reviewing its findings.

“I would like to remind Metrolink customers and cyclists that only invited volunteers can take part in the pilot, and that the current conditions of carriage still stand. In the meantime, we welcome people’s views about bikes on trams and they can get in touch by emailing [email protected].”