§ MR. J. BRYCE (Aberdeen City, S.)I beg to ask the President of 895 the Board of Trade what replies the Board of Trade has received to the representations which he promised last summer to address to the principal railway companies of the United Kingdom regarding the conveyance on their lines of bicycles at reduced charges or free of charge, and regarding the provision of better facilities for the conveyance of cycles by rail and their custody at stations?
§ THE PRESIDENT OF THE BOARD OF TRADEThe Board of Trade received a reply in December last, intimating that the matter was under the consideration of the railway companies. Sir Henry Oakley has also written me a letter, in the course of which he says—
No satisfactory mode of carrying bicycles has so far as I am aware been devised by any railway company or by anyone else. I know that many companies have experimented, and are still experimenting with various plans of their own, or suggested by others. The Great Northern Railway have provided at many of their suburban stations special stores for bicycles, and are at the present moment fitting up two more vehicles for further experiment.I shall be happy to show the right hon. Gentleman the whole of the letter.