Getting the bike on Volvo

[aman mohla]

Hi All,

I am planning to ride till Chennai on 22nd April. I want to know that
if i book my return tickets online for a volvo, will they load my bike
(and bikes of two more riders) in boot as luggage? Or should i call up
the transporter forehand and inform that i want to load a bike as
luggage? Any precautions i need to take while getting it loaded? Also
if one could tell what will they charge for loading a bike as luggage?

If anyone is willing to join, they are most welcome. There will be two
more riders with me.


Thanks
aman

[Priya Ravindranath]

Hello Aman,

It will be possible to load your bike in the volvo. The space for luggage is sufficiently huge.

Things you need to take care before loading your bike.
- Please buy a luggage ticket for the bikes. This is very important without which it will be problematic to load the bikes.
- wrap the bike or main parts with bubble wrap or some protective cover.

One thing I would definitely want to warn you about is the attitude of the bus conductor and driver towards the bikers.
They will EXPECT you to warm theirs hands (in addition to the luggage ticket money! :-()
We faced this problem. At times they expect us to give close to 150 INR per cycle. :-( So, please beware.
We managed not to give these guys any extra money(at least on the return journey) .. the result.. very bad handling of bike when the bus stopped .(ignoring the sad comments)

Luggage charges will apply  as per distance. So, better find out from KSRTC luggage counter.
From Panaji to Bangalore, the charge was 90 INR per cycle.

Hope this information helps.
Enjoy your ride

- Priya

--
biking conversations on the world famous "Bangalore Bikers Club" :)

are you a part of the bicycle racing scene?
Visit www.bangalorebicyclechampionships.com for more details

[Rohan Kini]

Nice ! Useful info.

Logging it next to "how to take your bike by Train" in the biking notebook - http://notebook.bumsonthesaddle.com/pages/faq:misc

Thanks Priya.

[aman mohla]

Thanks a ton Priya, this would be really helpful.

Just one small thing, does the luggage ticket thing also applies to
the private volvo's, like Sharma Transports or VRL? If yes any idea
where can i buy it from?

On Apr 1, 3:29 am, Rohan Kini <rohan.k...@gmail.com> wrote:
> Nice ! Useful info.
>
> Logging it next to "how to take your bike by Train" in the biking notebook

> -http://notebook.bumsonthesaddle.com/pages/faq:misc
>
> Thanks Priya.

>
> On Fri, Apr 1, 2011 at 12:29 PM, Priya Ravindranath <priyarn...@gmail.com>wrote:
>
> > Hello Aman,
>
> > It will be possible to load your bike in the volvo. The space for luggage
> > is sufficiently huge.
>
> > Things you need to take care before loading your bike.
> > - Please buy a luggage ticket for the bikes. This is very important without
> > which it will be problematic to load the bikes.
> > - wrap the bike or main parts with bubble wrap or some protective cover.
>
> > One thing I would definitely want to warn you about is the attitude of the
> > bus conductor and driver towards the bikers.
> > They will EXPECT you to warm theirs hands (in addition to the luggage
> > ticket money! :-()
> > We faced this problem. At times they expect us to give close to 150 INR per
> > cycle. :-( So, please beware.
> > We managed not to give these guys any extra money(at least on the return
> > journey) .. the result.. very bad handling of bike when the bus stopped
> > .(ignoring the sad comments)
>
> > Luggage charges will apply  as per distance. So, better find out from KSRTC
> > luggage counter.
> > From Panaji to Bangalore, the charge was 90 INR per cycle.
>
> > Hope this information helps.
> > Enjoy your ride
>
> > - Priya
>

> > On Fri, Apr 1, 2011 at 11:54 AM, aman mohla <amanmo...@gmail.com> wrote:
>
> >> Hi All,
>
> >> I am planning to ride till Chennai on 22nd April. I want to know that
> >> if i book my return tickets online for a volvo, will they load my bike
> >> (and bikes of two more riders) in boot as luggage? Or should i call up
> >> the transporter forehand and inform that i want to load a bike as
> >> luggage? Any precautions i need to take while getting it loaded? Also
> >> if one could tell what will they charge for loading a bike as luggage?
>
> >> If anyone is willing to join, they are most welcome. There will be two
> >> more riders with me.
>
> >> Thanks
> >> aman
>
> >> --
> >> biking conversations on the world famous "Bangalore Bikers Club" :)
>
> >> are you a part of the bicycle racing scene?

> >> Visitwww.bangalorebicyclechampionships.comfor more details

[Vineet]

Great info, I was planning on taking my Bike to Goa, thanks a lot

On Apr 1, 12:29 pm, Rohan Kini <rohan.k...@gmail.com> wrote:
> Nice ! Useful info.
>
> Logging it next to "how to take your bike by Train" in the biking notebook

> -http://notebook.bumsonthesaddle.com/pages/faq:misc
>
> Thanks Priya.

>
> On Fri, Apr 1, 2011 at 12:29 PM, Priya Ravindranath <priyarn...@gmail.com>wrote:
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> > Hello Aman,
>
> > It will be possible to load your bike in the volvo. The space for luggage
> > is sufficiently huge.
>
> > Things you need to take care before loading your bike.
> > - Please buy a luggage ticket for the bikes. This is very important without
> > which it will be problematic to load the bikes.
> > - wrap the bike or main parts with bubble wrap or some protective cover.
>
> > One thing I would definitely want to warn you about is the attitude of the
> > bus conductor and driver towards the bikers.
> > They will EXPECT you to warm theirs hands (in addition to the luggage
> > ticket money! :-()
> > We faced this problem. At times they expect us to give close to 150 INR per
> > cycle. :-( So, please beware.
> > We managed not to give these guys any extra money(at least on the return
> > journey) .. the result.. very bad handling of bike when the bus stopped
> > .(ignoring the sad comments)
>
> > Luggage charges will apply  as per distance. So, better find out from KSRTC
> > luggage counter.
> > From Panaji to Bangalore, the charge was 90 INR per cycle.
>
> > Hope this information helps.
> > Enjoy your ride
>
> > - Priya
>

> > On Fri, Apr 1, 2011 at 11:54 AM, aman mohla <amanmo...@gmail.com> wrote:
>
> >> Hi All,
>
> >> I am planning to ride till Chennai on 22nd April. I want to know that
> >> if i book my return tickets online for a volvo, will they load my bike
> >> (and bikes of two more riders) in boot as luggage? Or should i call up
> >> the transporter forehand and inform that i want to load a bike as
> >> luggage? Any precautions i need to take while getting it loaded? Also
> >> if one could tell what will they charge for loading a bike as luggage?
>
> >> If anyone is willing to join, they are most welcome. There will be two
> >> more riders with me.
>
> >> Thanks
> >> aman
>
> >> --
> >> biking conversations on the world famous "Bangalore Bikers Club" :)
>
> >> are you a part of the bicycle racing scene?

> >> Visitwww.bangalorebicyclechampionships.comfor more details

[Priya Ravindranath]

Sorry Aman... no idea about Private transports.. Best would be to just check with their offices.

[aman mohla]

Okay i think i will call them up and ask, will post the info here.
Thanks a lot for the help Priya

On Apr 1, 5:16 am, Priya Ravindranath <priyarn...@gmail.com> wrote:
> Sorry Aman... no idea about Private transports.. Best would be to just check
> with their offices.
>

> > > >> Visitwww.bangalorebicyclechampionships.comformore details

>
> > > >  --
> > > > biking conversations on the world famous "Bangalore Bikers Club" :)
>
> > > > are you a part of the bicycle racing scene?

> > > > Visitwww.bangalorebicyclechampionships.comformore details

[Ram]

You don't need to get any luggage ticket for bicycle. I have taken my
bicycle through KPN and paid 50 bucks to the conductor/cleaner who
helped load the bicycle in the luggage space (which is pretty huge).

Cheers,
Ram

> > > Visitwww.bangalorebicyclechampionships.comformore details- Hide quoted text -
>
> - Show quoted text -

[Akshay Prabhu Gaonkar]

Let me know ur experience. I have to bring my bike back from Goa :)

> > >> Visitwww.bangalorebicyclechampionships.comformore details

>
> > >  --
> > > biking conversations on the world famous "Bangalore Bikers Club" :)
>
> > > are you a part of the bicycle racing scene?

[swim/bike/run]

guys i have done this cycling + volvo many many times across india...

DO NOT go by private transport...they do not have space nor the will to take oversize stuff in their cargo...moreover they charge you more than 2 seats sometimes...best is to go by KSRTC volvo...no need to book luggage tickets in advance...they use scare tactics to eek out some chai paani  by quoting exorbitant amounts initially...but once you're knowledgeable about fares they seldom argue...here are some very approx cycle fares from blore 1 way/cycle

to mysore- 25rs

to trivandrum- 75rs

to chennai- 40-60rs

to mumbai/pune- 100-175rs

Best

Sriram

[Sudarshan]

You are allowed to carry bicycles in the luggage compartment of volvo.

There is a possibility that they will allow your bicycle in the luggage compartment without charging you anything when you load it. But in the destination, they might demand a big cheque! (It happened to me once mys-blore). Ensure that you pay for the "luggage fee" as per ksrtc rules than pay a personal fee to the conductor. 

[Shankar Shastry]

Ensure that you pay for the "luggage fee" as per ksrtc rules than pay a personal fee to the conductor. 

- On our goa trip, as priya mentioned earlier, the conductors asked us to cough up "a little something" over and above the luggage fee we paid as per ksrtc rules.

@Anita : No offense meant.

Regards,

Shankar

On Sun, Apr 3, 2011 at 10:43 PM, Sudarshan <sudars...@gmail.com> wrote:

You are allowed to carry bicycles in the luggage compartment of volvo.

There is a possibility that they will allow your bicycle in the luggage compartment without charging you anything when you load it. But in the destination, they might demand a big cheque! (It happened to me once mys-blore). Ensure that you pay for the "luggage fee" as per ksrtc rules than pay a personal fee to the conductor. 

--

[Naru]

Have a similar question to this topic, hence posting in this thread.

I have registered for Columbia Asia Cyclothon 2011 @ Bangalore on May
1st. I received an e-mail stating that I have to report at the venue
at 6 AM. I am statying at South Bangalore, near Electronics city.

Is it possible (anyone tried) taking the bicycle on the City Red Volvo
buses? Do they allow? Please share your experience if any. I am
thinking that during the morning timings the volvos run nearly empty
and they might allow to carry the bikes at some charges.

Also if anyone is willing to do pooling of carrying of bikes to the
venue from south bangalore please let me know, I am wanting to join
and share the expenses.

Otherwise I will have to bike all the way to the venue in the early
morning - which I am trying to avoid :-)

Thanks in advance
narayanang76

[Abhijit Kshirsagar]

Volvos will allow. Especially if they are empty. Board from the rear
doors and park in the low-floor area. I've done this many times.
Sometimes i'm asked to pay for a luggage ticket which is about 50% of
the main ticket.

But if you have to get to the venue at 6am I'm not sure the volvos
will be running at the time. At least not the BMTC ones... BIAL volvos
will get you to Mekhri circle, from there you could ride to the
venue...

~Abhijit

[Sudarshan]

@shankar

great job... *whistles* *whistles* :-)

[aman mohla]

I went to Dharamasthala last week on my bike. The plan was to ride
till Dharamasthala, load the bike on the luggage carrier of a red
colored normal KSRTC bus and come back. However, 50Km's before
dharamasthala, while pushing it a bit too hard and fast, i wrecked my
knees and thighs with cramps. There was no way i could ride any
further and i decided to drop out at Sakleshpur.

Sakleshpur is a small bus depot where KSRTC drivers stop for dinner.
To my hard luck from 9:00 - 11:00 pm not even a single bus arrived
which had a luggage carrier on its top. The agonizing pain and a
commitment of attending an important meeting on Sunday afternoon were
fueling my levels frustration. At around 11:30 there came two
Rajamhansa buses.

When i approached one of the drivers he simply refused saying that
bicycles can only be loaded in Volvo's not in Rajamhansa buses. Though
i feel that this is not true as the luggage compartment is of equal
size in both the buses. The second driver was really friendly and knew
Hindi (i don't know Kanada, its hard to bargain with bus drivers
without this), but to my hard luck he had forgotten the keys of the
boot at the Mangalore bus stand and now there was no way my bike could
be loaded. Seeing no hope of getting back from Sakleshpur i started
walking back from the Bus depot in search of a lodge. Just outside
the depot the driver stopped the bus and asked me to remove the wheels
and load the frame behind his seat. We were two cyclists and within
two minutes we removed both the wheels and loaded our frames behind
his seat. Though it caused a few scratches on the frame, but we had no
other option left. Since the bus was full we had to sit on the gear
box but that was fun. However, It felt like a spa on our aching
bums ;)

The driver charged us just 350Rs which is the cost of the ticket from
Mangalore to Bangalore. No extra money, No chaai Paani, not even a
cigarette. The point here is, it depends a lot on the driver and
conductor, if they are bicycle friendly you can load your bicycles
easily without any hazels, but if they are adamant they gonna charge
you heavily.

[anilk...@gmail.com]

had to sit on the gear
box but that was fun. However, It felt like a spa on our aching

bums ;).....lol...

I have experienced it once....I know how it feels...!!!

Anil s kadsur


Sent on my BlackBerry® from Vodafone

[shakti mishra]

volvo can load your bike, how ever my suggestion is to hire a door to door bike transporter for hassle free transportation one i know is bike transport chennai >check it out your self thanks.