Bikes on trams plan 'should be squashed'

COUNCILLOR CLAIMS SCHEME WOULD CAUSE 'MAJOR PROBLEMS'

- PAUL BRITTON

ALLOWING bicycles on board Metrolink trams would 'cause major problems, a committee of councillors was told as transport bosses revealed plans to use a quiet siding as an off-network testing site for a 'soft trial.

One councillor said passengers already struggled to get on packed peaktime trams and stressed people with prams, electric scooters, different-sized mobility scooters and suitcases already use the network together with, now, dogs.

Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM), meanwhile, revealed it was looking at using volunteers with bikes to conduct a 'mock up' test off the live tram network, possibly at Crumpsall.

A pilot scheme allowing bicycles on board Metrolink trams across Greater Manchester is now being drawn up. The city-region's new active travel commissioner, former Paralympian Dame Sarah Storey, revealed she's working with transport bosses and the mayor of Greater Manchester, Andy Burnham, to devise a trial.