Bike/Bus & Tram Restrictions (UK)

Bike/BusOur Bike/Bus page lists UK bike restrictions on UK bus, coach & tram services. Folding bikes travel free and without restriction on all coach and tram services unless stated.
If you have any official or unofficial information on cycle carriage, please
share it with us by e-mail.

We are grateful to local authorities, individual cycle users and the Cyclists Touring Club for information on cycle carriage.

Please note

  • For cycling routes near stations, visit Sustrans. Enter the station POST CODE in the blue box then click FIND. The resulting MAP shows routes close to the station.
  • Barry Doe‘s excellent rail map gives a clear picture of all UK operators and routes.

Coaches & Rail-link Buses

Borders Rail Link Coach

Routes: Carlisle – Borders – Berwick
Folding bikes: tick At driver’s discretion   Tandems and tricycles: Unknown
Bicycles are not permitted. Covered folding bikes and other luggage are carried at the driver’s discretion.

National Express, Silver Choice & Megabus Coaches

Routes: National coach operator
Folding bikes: tick No restrictions, but we would always recommend keeping the bike well covered and treating as normal luggage
Tandems and tricycles: Unknown
Bicycles must be packed flat and wrapped up.

Oxford Express & Oxford Tube Coaches

Routes: London-Oxford
Folding bikes: tick No restrictions but we would always recommend keeping the bike well covered and treating as normal luggage  Tandems and tricycles: Unknown
Most buses carry up to three bikes in the luggage hold.

Rail-Air Coaches

Routes:National Rail Network Interchange Reading and National Rail Network Interchange Woking – Heathrow Airport,National Rail Network InterchangeLuton Airport Station – Luton Airport
Folding bikes: tick No restrictions   Tandems and tricycles: Bicycles and tricycles are not permitted.
Covered folding bikes and other luggage are carried at the driver’s discretion. Luton Airport is only a short ride from the new dedicated railway station. For Heathrow, we suggest taking a local Great Western train to Hayes & Harlington (from Reading), or a South West Trains service to Feltham (from Woking or Reading) – see individual entries above for restrictions. Feltham is a short distance from Terminal 4. Hayes & Harlington is convenient for Terminals 1, 2 & 3 via the cycle tunnel.

Trams & Light Rail

Croydon Tramlink

Routes:National Rail Network Interchange Croydon –National Rail Network Interchange Elmers EndNational Rail Network Interchange, Beckenham Junction, New Addington
Folding bikes: tick No restrictions   Tandems and tricycles: Unknown
A vital interchange with other public transport operators in south London. Bicycles are not carried, but folding bikes are unrestricted.

Manchester Metrolink

Routes: National Rail Network Interchange Manchester –National Rail Network Interchange Altrincham,National Rail Network InterchangeBury, Eccles, Manchester Airport & Rochdale
Folding bikes: tick No restrictions   Tandems and tricycles: No
Bicycles are not permitted, but compact folding bikes may be carried without restriction if ‘fully-folded’ and ‘fully encased’. A victory for common sense.

Midland Metro

Routes: National Rail Network InterchangeBirmingham Snow Hill – Wednesbury- Wolverhampton
Folding bikes: tick No restrictions   Tandems and tricycles: No
Bicycles are not permitted. Following a number of test-cases, Centro has confirmed that ‘fully-folded’ folding bikes will be accepted without restriction.

Tel: 0121 200 2700

Nottingham Express Transit (NET)

Routes: Nottingham cross-city tram services
Folding bikes: tick No restrictions  Tandems and tricycles: Not permitted
Although NET’s publicity leaflets and website make no mention of bikes, there are areas to lock bikes at most tram-stops (lockers at Hucknall Railway Station, nearby at Trinity Square, nearby at Fletcher Gate and at Nottingham Railway Station), but bikes are not allowed on the trams themselves. Folding bikes are welcomed though, and there is plenty of space to store the bikes, even in rush hour.

Tel: 0115 942 7777

South Yorkshire Supertram

Routes: Local services around Sheffield
Folding bikes: tick No restrictions   Tandems and tricycles: Unknown
Bicycles are not permitted. Folding bikes and other luggage are carried at the driver’s discretion. Technically folders should be covered, but you can expect to get on with an uncovered Brompton or similar micro-folder.

Stagecoach Express Coaches

Routes: Nationwide coach operator
Folding bikes: tick No restrictions and some interurban services have interior luggage space for two folded Bromptons, but we would always recommend keeping the bike well covered and treating as normal luggage
Tandems and tricycles: No, but bicycles are carried in the boot if there is room, so a tandem could be carried in theory.

Tyne & Wear Metro (Nexus)

Routes: Local services around Newcastle
Folding bikes: tick No restrictions   Tandems and tricycles: Unknown
Bicycles are not permitted. Approved folding bikes travel without restriction on all services.

Tel: 0870 608 2608

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