V/LINE will not enforce a ban on bikes during peak hour periods
until a review announced this week by Victorian transport minister Lynne Kosky is complete.
Bikes were banned on peak hour trains from January 1 in a move that was met with strong opposition by the Victorian cycling community.
A passionate group of Castlemaine cyclists this week rallied to  show their frustration with the decision.
The group gathered at the Castlemaine station, where they displayed cardboard bikes which were then carried on the 7.49am train to Bendigo.
According to Louise Cook-Tonkin of the Mount Alexander Sustainability Group, the cardboard bikes were symbols of the issue.
“We needed to work out where they can go, how difficult it is to have them on the train,” she said.
Ms Cook-Tonkin, who rides 5km to the Castlemaine station  before taking a 15 minute train trip and riding a further 9km to work at Tylden Primary School, said the bans would
affect many regional commuters.
The group discussed their concerns with V/Line representatives who made the trip from Castlemaine to Bendigo with the group.
“We talked with V/Line about what we want them to do ... we asked for a meeting to discuss plans and designs to allow bikes on trains,” Ms Cook-Tonkin said.
A V/Line spokesman yesterday said staff were instructed not to enforce the ban after a review was announced on Tuesday evening.
“People can travel with bikes subject to there being space,” he said.
“We want to try and come to the situation where people can travel as freely as possible and that includes with bikes but at the same time cope with some pretty busy periods.
“The question is where do we head from here?”