Cyclist refused entry to ferry slams discrimination
Cyclist slams “pure discrimination against people on bikes” after being refused entry to ferry and left stranded – despite paying for motorcycle ticket
Baker, whose attempts to arrange a meeting with Irish Ferries have so far amounted to nothing, has since launched a petition calling on Irish Ferries and other Irish Sea ferry companies to “stop discrimination against cyclists and foot passengers”, along with the tendency to prioritise passengers with motor vehicles, and to ensure that “all passenger ferry services which take motorised vehicles and motorcycles should also allow non-motorised cyclists and foot passengers”.
“And they couldn’t really give me any good reason,” she says. “They said, ‘Oh it’s a different ferry called the Norbay and we can’t get you on the ferry’. But I can get on the ferry the same way a motorbike can get on. It doesn’t make any sense! So, I told them it was a bit ridiculous.” Intending at this point to carry on with her journey to Pembroke from Newport, and at the very least “make a point”, Elaine decided to film her experience of attempting to board the ferry with a bike, in aAfter a five-hour wait at Pembroke Port, Baker was told by otherwise “understanding” staff that she could not board the ferry, because foot passengers are not permitted for ‘health and safety reasons’ – while also being informed that “push bikes are not allowed, only motorcycles” – and that...
“In the early morning, I then got three buses and three trains from Pembroke to Holyhead. At Holyhead, I asked Irish Ferries when the next sailing would be, and they said 8pm – but that they couldn’t take cyclists. So, it was the same issue.” > “I would find it more logical to wear a life jacket”: Cyclist told to wear hi-vis and a helmet… to take their bike on a ferryThe petition, which has so far attracted over 560 signatures, calls on “ferry companies operating from Ireland to provide services to cyclists and foot passengers on every ferry service on which they provide services to motorised cars and motorcycles” and on the National Transport Authority to “make passenger ferry licenses conditional on non-discrimination against...
“So, in that case they can get across, but it’s €300 more expensive than if they’d had a car. They almost decided to book a car, but thought that was ridiculous. The environmental impact of hauling the piece of metal across the ocean for no reason at all is just ridiculous, just to save €300.”She also explained that another group of touring cyclists told her that they were once instructed to remain on the ferry until a bus came to take their bikes, before “busing them 50 metres down the ramp”.
“So ferry companies need to see this as an opportunity. There’s this whole new market of people who are going to be taking ferries instead of flying – environmentalists, people who care about climate change – so let’s encourage and support them.Help us to fund our site
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