By P. Taylor
June 16 2005

Have you tried to find an alternative to the closed season blues? Well if the experience of one Arsenal Fan is anything to go by the sporting options have just narrowed. P. Taylor writes to Arsenal Times:

 My girlfriend and me have been training for the London to Brighton cycle ride which has been organised by the British Heart Foundation (BHF) to raise money to carry out its important work.

 

We have just discovered that the three train companies that operate out of Brighton, Southern, South-West Trains and Thames Link have banned all cycles on Sunday 19^th June 2005, the day of the bike ride.  Southern Trains say that their new trains offer no spaces for cycles. So those who have cycled 60 miles to raise money for this cause can just cycle back home again after arriving in Brighton. So we have had to cancel the trip, as it’s not possible to get back in time for work. Nor is a 120 mile round trip that feasible for the occasional long distance cyclist.

 

 What annoys me is that all three train companies have decided to ban cycles on the day of the ride. Have they no heart? Between the three operators they could put on additional services and earn revenue transporting cyclist back to London, but they refuse to do so. Are they trying to kill off  the London to Brighton bike ride after 29 years?  Surely the three train operators have a duty to offer some sort of service, no matter how limited, rather then taking the easy route and just banning them? Thanks for your support Southern, South-West Trains, and Thames Link; I don’t know how we would manage without you.

 

(Yes Arsenal Fans are used to the tawdry behaviour of the rail companies, only a couple of years ago they refused to run even one train to get to Manchester for the FA Cup Semi Final because it was a Sunday. But they haven’t even got the excuse of engineering works this time, just the usual crap Sunday Service. Ed)

 

P.Taylor

Cyclist & Arsenal Fan

London