Stena line and bikes...

[Dirk Van Der Dirk]

So I receive an email today from Stena. Apparently if I am a motorist or foot passenger I can get a discount on booking for a limited period. Sod us cyclists though. I have heard of these types of things before. Seems discriminatory to me.

 

[Drago]

Get a folder, bag it up, walk on as a foot passenger, and generally stick it to the man.

 

[Oldhippy]

I totally agree about charging cars, trucks due to weight, fuel use and so on. A bicycle however why charge more than a foot passenger? Bikes are always stuck in an empty corner or secured to a handrail, weight in comparison is null and void on a boat that big. Just greed and because they can sadly I suspect.

 

[mjr]

A bicycle however why charge more than a foot passenger? Bikes are always stuck in an empty corner or secured to a handrail, weight in comparison is null and void on a boat that big.

Stena do allocate a chunk of lorry deck to bike storage, with fences to tie bikes to, unlike DFDS ones I've used. Still less space than one lorry, though, so the argument against this high charging basically holds. They have us over a barrel and exploit it, in that changing route for a bike is more annoying than for foot passengers, with more restrictions on trains and buses, and flying a bike is much more annoying.

 

[mjr]

Get a folder, bag it up, walk on as a foot passenger, and generally stick it to the man.

It's very different ride, though. Also, most folders can't take as much luggage.

 

[Drago]

All I hear is excuses.

 

[Ming the Merciless]

All I hear is excuses.

@Drago doesn’t bother with ferries

 

[roubaixtuesday]

@Drago doesn’t bother with ferries

View attachment 798793

If you're above the water, you're not trying hard enough.

 

[wiggydiggy]

So I receive an email today from Stena. Apparently if I am a motorist or foot passenger I can get a discount on booking for a limited period. Sod us cyclists though. I have heard of these types of things before. Seems discriminatory to me.

Its not discriminatory, I think, for it to be discriminatory it has to be a protected characteristic such as age, sex or marital status. Cycling isn't mentioned as being one.

Try calling Stena and asking if you book a foot passenger spot can you arrive by bike (as I presume you have to walk it on the ferry anyway)?

 

[Dirk Van Der Dirk]

So I emailed them and they reply by saying the offer is open to people on bikes. So wby market it and only mention motors and foot passengers?

 

[classic33]

So I emailed them and they reply by saying the offer is open to people on bikes. So wby market it and only mention motors and foot passengers?

May be down to the number of people actually travelling as cyclists, nothing more.

 

[Dirk Van Der Dirk]

May be down to the number of people actually travelling as cyclists, nothing more.

Agree. However just say the offer is available and do not specifically mention types of passenger?

 

[wiggydiggy]

So I emailed them and they reply by saying the offer is open to people on bikes. So wby market it and only mention motors and foot passengers?

Because nobody thinks of bikes Glad the offer is open to you though.

 

[Dirk Van Der Dirk]

Its not discriminatory, I think, for it to be discriminatory it has to be a protected characteristic such as age, sex or marital status. Cycling isn't mentioned as being one.

Try calling Stena and asking if you book a foot passenger spot can you arrive by bike (as I presume you have to walk it on the ferry anyway)?

Yeah agree about my discrimination comment! Cycling is not a protected characteristic 🤣 It was more on an off the cuff remark but should have chosen a more appropriate term!!

 

[nogoodnamesleft]

My use of ferries is mostly pre-determined by where I want to go but one aspect of the Hoek<->Harwich Stena ferry that frustrates me is their requirement you book and pay for a cabin on overnight crossings (and my onward travel means I need an overnight crossing). Brittany ferries eg Portsmouth<->Caen you just find a seat ot floor somewhere and use it to sleep on (cheaper).

OK, two aspects that frustrate me about the Hoek to Harwich crossing is that the terminal in Hoek has no cycle facilities. For a country where cyclists are so well provided for the terminal at Hoek as "disappointing". In miserable weather I've taken my bike into the terminal and been shouted at by some supervisor ... Whereas departing Harwich once got there early and security guard let me into the terminal to wait, riding my tadpole recumbent across to the coffee machines, toilets, etc.), very helpful. He did ask me to stay round by the vending machines out of sight of others as he locked the entrance door behind me.