ENVIRONMENTAL campaigners are celebrating after they achieved the “best possible outcome” in the fight against the Metrolink bike ban.

The Greater Manchester Integrated Transport Authority (GMITA) decided on Friday, February 12th, to set-up a cross-working group that would look into the possibility of taking bikes onto the Metrolink.

Each of the three main parties will be represented by two authority members and the group will also get advice from the 10 district authorities, tram users, and cycling organisations.

Richard Knowles, chair of the Capital Projects committee at GMITA, said the working group would “examine any safe ways in which cycles can be carried on trams”.

The group will also investigate European tram systems that allow bikes, cost options for tram modification and the possibility of allowing bicycles at off-peak times.

Councillor Keith Whitmore, chair of GMITA, said passenger’s safety remained the main concern but hoped that the review would help them to understand the full implications of the situation.

Last month, envoironmental campaigners reacted angrily to GMITA’s decision to continue to ban bicycles on trams because of safety issues.

Pete Abel, from Love Your Bike, said the decision to start a working group was a “step in the right direction”.

Before attending the meeting on Friday, he took part in a publicity stunt with seven other campaigners to demonstrate that folded bikes are no more dangerous than folded prams or ironing boards.

They got on a tram at the Altrincham Metrolink stop armed with an assortment of folding objects including deckchairs, ironing boards and folding trailers.

Katy Carlisle, from Manchester Friends of the Earth, said the event had been a success and it was about time that Manchester had an integrated transport system.