Our 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: 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: 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: 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: Reading and Woking – Heathrow Airport,Luton Airport Station – Luton Airport
Folding bikes: 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: Croydon – Elmers End, Beckenham Junction, New Addington
Folding bikes: 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: Manchester – Altrincham,Bury, Eccles, Manchester Airport & Rochdale
Folding bikes: 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: Birmingham Snow Hill – Wednesbury- Wolverhampton
Folding bikes: 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: 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: 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: 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: No restrictions Tandems and tricycles: Unknown
Bicycles are not permitted. Approved folding bikes travel without restriction on all services.
Tel: 0870 608 2608