Bikes on trams pilot

We’re running a trial to see if bikes and non-standard cycles can be taken on trams.

The guided pilot will take place in March and April 2024 and will only be on off-peak services. The pilot will be supervised by the tram operator, Keolis Amey Metrolink (KAM).

Only volunteers who have been invited by Transport for Greater Manchester can take part in the trial.

Members of public are not allowed to bring standard bikes on trams during the trial, in line with Metrolink’s conditions of carriage.

A group of cyclists will be invited by TfGM to take part in a guided pilot. Under supervision, these volunteers will take their bikes on board off-peak tram services, on different routes at different times and days of the week.

This trial will include adapted bikes used as mobility aids, but also scooters which are not currently permitted on the tram. We will be looking at the amount of space needed for bikes to travel on the tram alongside people, and how they will pass through tram stops and interchanges.

A guided trial means the study will take place with volunteers under test conditions with the supervision of the tram operator, Keolis Amey Metrolink. This will minimise disruption on passengers and maintain public safety.

The pilot started on 29 February and continue for six weeks, on specific days and journeys.

TfGM works closely with a range of Greater Manchester Equality Groups, including its own Disability Design Reference Group made up of people with a range of disabilities.

People with disabilities and people using pushchairs will be involved in the trial to make sure all access needs are considered when testing the reality of bikes on trams. Feedback will be asked of all cyclist volunteers, other passengers, and all participants on the journeys to inform the equality impact assessment.

When the guided trial is taking place, supervisors will make sure trams remain accessible for people needing to use the wheelchair space – the volunteer cyclists will be briefed to be aware of that.

TfGM has recruited volunteers from cycling groups in Greater Manchester, including those who have both standard and adapted bikes. The volunteer group reflects people will all types of access needs, as in the 'How will you make sure equalities groups are properly considered?' FAQ.

The guided trial will enable observation of how carrying bikes on Metrolink could work in practice and will add useful insight to research already undertaken by TfGM and the operator. The Metrolink network was not originally designed to carry bikes, so the guided trial will highlight what adaptations to the network may be necessary to allow safe storage of bikes on trams by customers in normal passenger service. There are two spaces on each tram which are prioritised for wheelchairs, mobility scooters and prams – during the trial, bikes will be allowed to use these spaces. However, if someone with a wheelchair, mobility scooter or pram needs the space then the bike will be asked to move. Public safety will not be compromised.

The supervised nature of the guided trial will be considered when the results are analysed because during normal operation, staff are not always available on the trams to supervise storage of bikes and priority spaces. The guided trial results will include observations from researchers, feedback from the volunteers with bikes, passengers and equality groups, and any impacts on the Metrolink service.

The trial will take place at various times during the week and at the weekend on off-peak services, across different lines. This will not necessarily be all day, every day. This will help us to understand how regular services could be impacted if bikes were to be introduced across the tram network. There will be supervisors making sure that the trial does not impact the safety of regular services and the researchers will record any impact on service.

Where relevant, forecasts of increased passenger numbers will be included in the overall report to the Bee Network Committee in the summer.

Yes, only folding bikes are currently allowed on trams. Only those recruited to be part of the trial can take their standard or adapted bikes onto the tram, accompanied by supervisors and researchers.

Please read the Metrolink conditions of carriage.

TfGM has been reviewing the matter of bikes on Metrolink since 2023. We have been looking in detail at other transport networks, assessing the suitability of the Metrolink trams and stops, undertaking tests and consulting with interested groups. This information has helped to shape the trial. The findings of the trial and the rest of the activity will be put into a report to the Bee Network Committee in the summer, with details of any adaptations needed to the Metrolink network.

The decision whether to change Metrolink policy to allow bikes to be carried on trams could be taken by the Mayor and Bee Network Committee (BNC), if significant funding is allocated to adapt the trams and stops.

We welcome people’s views. Please email us at hello@beenetwork.com.