Recently I posed a simple question to @TheGautrain via Twitter as well as on their Facebook fan page. Will folding commuter bicycles be allowed on the train?

Incidentally I also sent an email about 2 weeks ago to the Gautrain team that looks after commercial opportunities asking the same question. To date I have not received an answer from them yet.

I got two contradicting responses from their social media team. Via Twitter I was glad to learn that I will indeed be allowed to take my bike on the train. 

On the Facebook fan page however I was told that it won’t be allowed.

So that leaves me with more questions than when I started out:

• Do different people manage the various social media channels on behalf of Gautrain?
• Is the policy clear on this issue or open for interpretation?
• Does a policy exist and may I see it?
• Why on earth would they NOT allow folding bicycles on the Gautrain?

Every single commuter train i’ve travelled on in Ireland, England or mainland Europe allows folding bikes. It seems like there will be bike lockers at the Gautrain stations but then I still need two bicycles – one in Hatfield and one in Sandton and the additional locker expense. Surely one key aim of establishing world class public transport and infrastructure is to reduce the number of cars on the road?

My appeal to the Gautrain management is to give some serious consideration to a reasonable request. Please allow us to take folding bicycles onto the train. They are smaller than carry-on luggage and reduce our reliance on cars to get to and from stations.