TRANSPORTING YOUR BIKE BY TRAIN OR BUS: PRACTICAL TIPS FOR A HASSLE-FREE JOURNEY

First of all, be aware that there are no standardized rules within the European Union. Some bus and train companies allow you to transport your bikes without even having to dismantle them. Others will require them to be disassembled (or folded in the case of a folding bike) and sometimes stored in a suitable case. The maximum size of this “exceptional luggage” will also vary from one company to another. Let’s start with a brief overview, by company (we have selected the most significant ones). URL links to the dedicated pages of each company are added at the end of the article, so you can find updated information with just one click.

BUS

• Flixbus: Some FlixBus services allow you to take your bike on a rear bike rack or in the luggage compartment without having to dismantle it! The cost is 9€. You can also transport it as special luggage in the luggage compartment, inside a case. In that case, the dimensions to be respected are “Length + width + height = max  240 cm,” and the weight must be below 30kg. Please note that FlixBus does not accept electric bikes due to the risk of battery explosion. It might be possible to bring your electric bike if you remove the battery and place it in your carry-on bag. However, we have not (yet) received any response or feedback on this matter.
• BlablaCar Bus: You will always need to dismantle your bike. The conditions are slightly stricter: “Length + width + height = max 200 cm” and 23kg. Again, electric bikes are not allowed. Their website indicates an additional baggage price of 3.99€.

Finally, note that a European directive requires new buses to be equipped with bike racks. Therefore, there will be an increasing number of spaces available in the coming years.

TRAIN

• SNCF :
  • TER : On most TER (Regional Express Train) services, your bike travels for free, either suspended or placed in a designated area. These spaces are available on a first-come, first-served basis, without requiring a reservation, and subject to availability.
  • TGV inOui : It is possible to take your bike for free and without a reservation if it is folded or disassembled and has a maximum size of 130×90 cm. If you cannot or do not want to fold or dismantle your bike, you can reserve a space at the time of purchasing your train ticket for 10€.
  • OUIGO : If your bike is disassembled or folded, you can take it on board all OUIGO trains for the price of 5€. If it is not disassembled or folded, you can only bring it on OUIGO Train Classique. This will cost you 10€, and it will be subject to seat availability.
• SNCB : In Belgium, you can take your bike on all trains (except high-speed trains, see below) for a fixed price of 4€ per journey. Foldable or disassembled bikes can be taken on board for free.
• Deusche Bahn :
  • In regional and local trains (RE, RB, and S-Bahn), the transportation of bikes is free without the need to reserve a space for your bike.
  • In long-distance trains, you must reserve a space for your bike if you wish to travel with it. When there are available bike spaces on board IC, EC, and ICE trains, they are indicated by a bike symbol. The price for reserving a bike space typically ranges between 6 and 16€.
• Thalys :
  • The bike must be folded or disassembled. Please note that very few bikes will meet the maximum dimensions of 75 x 53 x 30 cm to be transported in this manner.
• Eurostar :

  • You can reserve a dedicated space for your bike by contacting their reservation service. They only transport fully assembled bikes on their trains operating between Brussels and London. However, between Paris and London, the bike must be disassembled and packed in a bag or a box. Foldable bikes can be taken on board freely if they measure less than 85 cm in length and are packed.