404,902 bike day passes were sold by SBB between January and October 2022. In addition to the record number of bicycles transported, there were also those for which pre-payment was made with a Bike GA. 3172 bike reservations were made on the peak day, 29 May. SBB is also proud to report that the number of responses has remained stable, although it does not specify how the figures are divided between positive and negative reactions.

SBB assumes that bicycle transportation on trains will continue to increase. They therefore promise to create around 500 additional bicycle spaces in various carriages and compositions by 2026. In detail: 300 additional spaces in the single-decker Intercity coaches (also known as "IC Bt"), 16 additional IC2000 coaches with multifunctional zones with five additional bicycle spaces (previously 40 such coaches), plus an additional 80 bicycle spaces and, finally, 15 additional identical coaches, each with 7 additional spaces, in addition to the existing 15 EuroCity Velo coaches.

Just as unavoidable as the praise that the railroad is giving itself is the criticism from Pro Velo. This is because the supply of bicycle parking spaces on trains still does not keep up with demand at peak times. According to the bike lobby organization, bike transport remains particularly difficult on tilting trains, the new double-decker compositions and the Giruno running on the Gotthard line.

Some things are getting better

SBB promises a further improvement when it comes to buying the ideal ticket for a bicycle. Until now, customers had to find out for themselves whether the day pass or a half-price segment ticket for bicycles was the cheaper solution. On shorter journeys or when returning on a different day, the route ticket could be the cheaper option. In its press release, SBB promises that the app will now automatically issue the cheapest ticket. In addition, the area of validity of bike tickets and bike passes will be extended to that of the Velo-GA.

Further improvements: Children's bicycles up to the age of 16 will ride for free if the children are accompanied by adults; the same applies to child trailers, which will thus be treated in the same way as baby carriages.

Traveling by bike remains complicated on trains and during periods when a reservation is required in addition to the bike ticket. "The bike reservation system, on the other hand, still has shortcomings", write the Federal Railways self-critically, while Pro Velo calls the reservation system for bike transport "incomplete and discouraging".

Reservations remain complicated

As a reminder, SBB has introduced a reservation requirement for bicycles at certain times (April to October, Friday to Sunday) and on certain trains (Intercity, Eurocity, etc.) from 2022. This is to ensure that there are only as many bikes waiting to be loaded on the platform as there are spaces available on the train. The binding allocation to a specific parking space is also intended to prevent too many people crowding into the same carriage with their bikes and thus delaying the departure of the train.

The problem that remains unresolved is that on certain trains it is extremely complicated to make a bike reservation at all, for example on international connections, even if you get off before the border. In addition, the reservation requirement prevents you from leaving spontaneously by train and bike at certain times. In addition, a day trip can take longer than planned and passengers may not be able to book free bike spaces. Instead, their reserved spaces ride empty, as it is not possible to cancel a booking and will not be possible in the foreseeable future.

In short, bike transport with SBB remains practical, provided you know exactly when and where you want to ride and are familiar with the different booking processes for the various train connections. In all other cases, it gets complicated. So complicated, in fact, that recently an elderly gentleman, well known to the writer and a rail traveler with a bicycle for decades, asked for help at the counter with his reservation. The SBB official was also unable to make the reservation.

Luckily, there is still the Tranzbag and other bike bags that allow you to take your bike on all trains in Switzerland free of charge and without a reservation. It costs a few minutes to remove the front wheel and pack it before boarding. But at least it's a transparent process that costs a lot fewer nerves than trawling through the SBB app or website in search of the reservation button for the bike.

In the coming year, Ride will take an in-depth look at the transportation of bikes by rail and also consider this from the perspective of the rail companies. Because one thing is clear: the railroads earn money with passengers, not with bikes, which don't earn twenty francs in Switzerland, no matter how long the journey.