NS wants to reserve a bicycle, passenger organizations are against | Inland

From 10 July, NS wants to make a reservation compulsory for at least the entire summer for travelers who want to take a bicycle on an NS train. This means that from now on, cyclists at NS will have to rely on a pre-selected train via the NS app or customer service. With this, NS proposes to find a solution for the lack of bicycle places on the train and complaints that are allegedly caused by bicycles. The measure is met with great misunderstanding by Rover and the Fietsersbond.

“It is incomprehensible that especially now that NS is so shy about travelers, cyclists are banned,” says Esther van Garderen, director of the Fietsersbond. “It is impossible to estimate exactly how long a bike ride will take, especially for this group of travelers it is important to be able to board the train spontaneously.”

Rover director Freek Bos agrees. “Since the corona crisis, we have seen fewer commuters and more recreational travelers on the train, which is precisely where opportunities lie for NS. We also fear difficult discussions between travelers and staff, as bicycle reservations with other train operators are not mandatory. We will also ask the State Secretary whether she agrees with this NS proposal. ”

‘Strange logic’

Rover and the Fietsersbond consider it strange logic and particularly customer-unfriendly for NS to want to solve the shortage of bicycle spaces by banning cyclists. The consumer organizations are asking NS to investigate alternative solutions, such as creating more bicycle places in the train, for example by means of suspension structures or demountable benches.

Annoyance

“We know that the train and bicycle are a golden combination. That is why we are starting a pilot this summer in which travelers can go out with a 25% discount on the bicycle ticket, but we do want travelers to register in advance. In this way, we ensure that everything runs smoothly with as little inconvenience as possible for (other) travelers ”, says Oscar van Elferen of NS. “Taking bicycles with them on the train has long been one of the top 5 complaints from travelers about things that take place on the train. Among other things, it causes annoyance when getting in and out. “

“We traditionally know that a lot of bicycles are taken on the train in the summer months,” he continues. “And this summer, when many Dutch people are on holiday in their own country due to corona, we expect even more cycling travelers. We look forward to welcoming all those travelers back on the train after a period in which the train was only intended for necessary journeys. ”

–