Eurostar has now backed down over its controversial plans to make cyclists box up their bikes thanks to our ‘Zero Stars for Eurostar’ campaign. In a resounding victory for CTC and you, our supporters, Eurostar’s Head of EU Public Affairs Pierre Delalande emailed us at 6pm on Friday (13 November) to say: “You will be pleased to know that we are not intending to go ahead with the requirement for all bikes to be carried in boxes and will accept fully-mounted bikes.”
We galvanised support from leading politicians on both sides of the Channel. The UK’s All Party Parliamentary Cycling Group criticised the move as did the Mayor of London, Boris Johnson MP, and the Mayor of Paris, Anne Hidalgo.
London’s Cycling Commissioner Andrew Gilligan and CTC’s Head of Communications and Campaigns David Murray discussed the issue in a special meeting with Mary Walsh, Eurostar’s Director of Communications, at City Hall three days ago.