PROTESTERS armed with cardboard bikes have urged transport chiefs to make room for cycles on trams.

Campaigners from Friend's of the Earth are fighting a ban on taking bikes on to the Metrolink.

They want the next generation of trams, being built as part of the massive investment in the region's transport system, to feature cycle storage bays.

The Love Your Bike campaign coincided with the news Metrolink's `Little Bang' - the extension to Rochdale, Droylsden, Chorlton and Oldham - should be complete by spring 2011 after engineers M Pact Thales were appointed to create and maintain the new line.

But cyclists say the new trams will be a wasted opportunity unless cycles are allowed on board.

Campaigners want Greater Manchester Passenger Transport Executive and Greater Manchester councils to do a U-turn on the ban.

David Coleman, of Manchester Friends of the Earth, said: "We want to show that it is possible to get a bike on a tram by taking on cardboard life-size cut outs of cycles.

"It's illogical that prams, push chairs and wheelchairs are allowed onboard when bikes aren't - unless they are folded up."

Robbie Gillet, a Friends of the Earth campaigner said: "We need trams to accommodate as many cycles as possible, otherwise people will tend to use cars."

GMPTE's Metrolink director Philip Purdy said: "We are currently reviewing the policy that people can't take bikes on the trams by asking the public for their opinions and by investigating the impact allowing bikes on trams would have on all our passengers.

"We will put forward a recommendation to Greater Manchester Passenger Transport Authority once this review is complete."


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