If you think rail trails are just for runners, riders and walkers, the rail trail team in Tumbarumba had a better idea. Why not offer taxi-style rides along the Tumbarumba to Rosewood Rail Trail (TRRT) on an e-bike, to those unable to do it under their own power?
At the official physical opening and 1st Birthday of the TRRT in April 2021, Rail Trails Australia representative Jeff Ibbotson brought along 2 trioBikes to ferry seniors along the trail. Grant Harris and the local TRRT group immediately saw the potential, and set about acquiring firstly one trioBike and then a second unit, thanks to local Rotary and Lions club support. The fleet of 2 bikes was up and running in September 2021.
The main use of trioBikes is to enable people who cannot make the 21km distance by foot or bike to experience the rail trail and (in many cases) to relive the memories of times gone. Passengers are often senior citizens who once travelled by train between Tumbarumba and Wagga Wagga, and their comments usually are “great scenery, loved every minute, great way to see the trail”. Special events are another source of passengers. Rides are operated at no cost to passengers, thanks to Rotary Club volunteer pilots.
Some additional details: the trioBike Taxi model takes up to 2 passengers plus a pilot. Normally the 42km roundtrip can be done on one battery charge based on a lighter load eastbound after passengers have alighted in Rosewood, but a spare battery is carried just in case. TrioBike outings are accompanied by solo riders to assist with road crossings and general safety.
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Register for news updatesSunday, 4 June, saw the Mansfield Marathon along the Mansfield end of the Great Victorian Rail Trail (GVRT) return for t...
Paul Baker, an enthusiastic rider who is aiming to ride every rail trail in Victoria in 2023, recently rode his 29th Ra...
The section of the Port Fairy – Warrnambool Rail Trail between Port Fairy and Illowa will soon benefit from a new surf...
The community have the opportunity to provide direct feedback to assist the Mt Alexander Shire Council in partnership wi...
The City of Greater Bendigo will shortly commence a project to construct and install public toilets, bike hoops, new par...
A large crowd turned out today (Friday 26 May) on a beautiful morning at Trawool Estate for the official launch of the A...
On Wednesday 10 May 2023 a public-information session was held for community members to view and discuss the plans for r...
The duplication of Main South Road from Seaford to Sellicks Beach has commenced and will include a 16km off-road shared ...
The Bunny Rail Trail is a new trail under development between Ballarat and Buninyong in Western Victoria. Walkers, runne...
The good news just keeps rolling in for the Tweed Section of the Northern Rivers Rail Trail with the Tweed Council NRRT ...
On 17 May 2023, Cessnock City Council unanimously approved the Review of Environmental Factors (REF) and associated repo...
The third South Burnett Express Rail Trail Relay, run from Kingaroy to Wondai (on the Kilkivan – Kingaroy Rail Tra...
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2 comments on “TrioBikes are a hit on the Tumbarumba to Rosewood Rail Trail”
Hi, I'm interested in the idea of the trioBike for my wife and elderly mother in law. How would we go about making a booking for the bike and how far in advance should we book?
Regards
David Cooper
Hi David – I understand my colleague Alan at Rail Trails Australia has contacted you about this.
The Tumbarumba rail trail group can also be contacted via Facebook/Meta.