“Definitely not OK”: Photo of bikes on Melbourne train divides the internet
A picture of bicycles parked in front of an accessible seating on a Melbourne train has sparked an online debate over the appropriateness of using allocated spaces.
The photo, which showed a pair of bikes locked to the railing in front of a priority seat, was shared to the Australian Disability Parking Wall of Shame Facebook group on Saturday.
Source: Facebook
“Not car related but train disabled seating on Frankston train line just now,” the poster wrote.
“My opinion [is] they shouldn’t be allowed, what you think?”
Some said that the owner of the bikes was within their rights to put their bicycles at the area in question.
“If it’s empty and not blocking the aisle what’s the problem as long as they’re moved when the space is needed,” one wrote.
“Nothing wrong with bikes going there as that’s where they’re meant to go. But must be moved when needed for a wheel chair,” another commented.
“If no one requires access at the time, makes sense to use the empty space,” one added.
However, others believed the move was illegal or at least improper.
“Should be fined. Disabled folk treated like crap as usual,” one wrote.
“People think that the signs DO NOT apply to them,” another added.
“If someone needed the seats they are supposed to be offered up. But locking the bikes seems a bit over the top,” one chimed in.
“Definitely not OK,” one said.
According to Public Transport Victoria, bikes can be carried on metropolitan trains except at the first door of the first carriage, which is designated as a priority area for passengers with mobility impairment.
It is not known whether the picture was taken on the priority carriage.
“It’s important to be considerate of all passengers sharing the train network by ensuring seats, particularly those for the mobility impaired, are not obscured by objects – including bikes,” VicRoads told Yahoo News Australia.
A University of Melbourne study found that inaccessible public transport was one of the main issues preventing the city from becoming more inclusive for people with disability.
“Public transport is better than nothing but there are a lot of barriers I wasn’t expecting in such a big city,” wheelchair user Stacey Christie told The Age.