Bringing a bike or manual scooter
For everyone’s safety, bikes and manual scooters should never be ridden on our stations or onboard. We also ask that any lights on your bike or manual scooter are switched off when you are at our stations as they could distract our staff from carrying out safety-related duties.
Please continue reading for information regarding our e-scooter, e-unicycle, e-skateboard and hoverboard policy.
Other transport companies may have different policies, so be sure to check your onward journeys.
Please check our separate guidance on mobility aid scooters.
Our bike policy
If you have a fully folding bike, you’re welcome to bring it on board any of our trains. Just be sure to fold and carry your bike before going through the ticket gates and when doing so, please make sure you use the wide aisle gate as this provides more space and time for you to walk through.
By ‘fully folding’, we mean a bike that has small wheels and folds in more than one place.
Unfortunately we don’t always have space for non-folding bikes.
In case of engineering works
For safety reasons, we can’t take non-folding bikes on rail replacement buses. Please check for any engineering works before you travel.
Storing your bike at our train stations
How to access a cycle hub
Simply present your Key Smartcard, or use the push button release, to access the cycle hub.
Sign up for our Key Smartcard and you can top up with tickets for travelling on Thameslink services and have access to the station cycle hubs for free.
We take bike security seriously. That’s why we’ve invested heavily in new, secure bike parking facilities at many of our stations.
Find bike parking near you.
Our e-scooter, e-unicycle, e-skateboard and hoverboard policy
We understand that you may travel to and from our services in a variety of ways. However, we are committed to keeping you and our people safe, which means all e-scooters, e-unicycles, e-skateboards and hoverboards are not permitted on our trains or in our stations from 1 June 2023.
Why are we banning them?
Under advice from the Rail Delivery Group (RDG) and following recommendations by the Rail Safety Standards Board (RSSB) and London Fire Brigade, our safety team along with many other rail companies have carried out a review of the risks of these items and decided they should be banned. This is because of the limited regulation around the lithium-ion battery which has the potential to cause harm should it malfunction.
Can I store it at your station whilst I travel?
As they are not safe to have on our stations, we don’t allow them in our storage facilities.
Can I remove the battery and bring it with me?
Even if the battery is removed and carried separately, they are still not permitted due to the risks of the battery malfunctioning and causing a fire.
Can I bring them onto a rail replacement bus?
The companies that provide rail replacement buses have also banned these due to safety concerns. This means you are unable to take these on buses that run during engineering work or disruption.
Are e-bikes and mobility scooters still permitted?
Yes, e-bikes and mobility scooters are permitted on trains. Our normal bike and mobility scooter restrictions apply. See our guidance on mobility aid scooters here. E-bikes and mobility scooters may be prohibited on rail replacement bus services, subject to the individual safety policy of rail replacement vehicle operators and available space.
Can I bring my manual (non-powered) scooter or skateboard with me?
Yes, your manual scooter (if fully folded) and skateboard can be brought onboard any of our trains. Remember they should never be ridden onboard or on our stations for everyone’s safety.
