Post a photo of your bike and a ferry.

[Jayjay]

First cycle trip off GB, and also did a Krimpen crossing This be us aboard the waterbus.
It was a little confusing as the signboard didn't mention our preferred destination, and more than one boat used the stop! We met some helpful travellers though, and one was going to the same stop 

Waterbus, Rotterdam by John Jackson, on Flickr

Later, amongst other ferries and bridges, we used this one:

Hand operated ferry by John Jackson, on Flickr

Of course it was on the "wrong" side and we had to winch it over before crossing.

[quixoticgeek]

Later, amongst other ferries and bridges, we used this one:

Hand operated ferry by John Jackson, on Flickr

Of course it was on the "wrong" side and we had to winch it over before crossing.

Where abouts is that ferry? It looks very similar to one near Oudekurk am de amstel?

J

[quixoticgeek]

Round these parts it can be a challenge to find a decent bike ride that doesn't involve a ferry. Getting north of the Noordsee kanal I have an option of 4 different ferries, or a tiny path across the top of a lock gate. I tend to take a ferry.

However, these 2 photos are of a different trip, the first was the most expensive Dutch Ferry I've used from Vlissingen across the almost Belgium.



Then this next ferry was a surprise. Hadn't realised it was on the route, Annoyingly it only runs every 30 mins, so the guy running it just sits there staring at you across the river for 25 mins until finally coming to get you. Most annoying.

Somewhere in Belgium:



No photo of the bike on this ferry, but I ended up taking it after the bridge up stream was closed for construction work, and the ferry that replaces it stopped running at 2000... Had to wait for the captain to finish fishing before he decided to come collect me.




J

[bobb]

Some little ferries:

Santander to Somo via Pedreña:



France to Germany across the Rhine:



Germany back to France:



Altrip to Mannheim (Germany):



Somwhere in the Netherlands:



Somewhere else in the Netherlands:



Yet more Netherlands:

[andrewc]

Haz a jealous, and not only for Bobb's cool hair....

[Pingu]

Kobus ferry on the canal between Bruges and Sluis. One of those hand operated jobbies.


IMG_0889_01 by The Pingus, on Flickr

[Jayjay]

Later, amongst other ferries and bridges, we used this one:

pic

Of course it was on the "wrong" side and we had to winch it over before crossing.

Where abouts is that ferry? It looks very similar to one near Oudekurk am de amstel?

J

Very likely, as we were riding from Fort Spion to Sloten sport park for  Cycle Vision http://www.ligfiets.net/commissie/cyclevision/cyclevision2018.html

[marlan]

The Jura Passenger Ferry from Tayvallich to Craighouse on the Isle of Jura.

Not cheap at £20, but quick and efficient. Comfortable seats, so I had a snooze!

M


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[Cudzoziemiec]

Haz a jealous, and not only for Bobb's cool hair....

Bobb also haz a cool bar bag and a cool bike. 

[Andrew Br]

Bawdsey Ferry:-

18-07-02 Bawdsey Ferry 5 by Chocolatebike1, on Flickr

[Oscar's dad]

I think I need extra points for this!  Not only do you have my bike (far left on the roof rack), you have a wife, car and caravan plus added Costa Coffee cup goodness!  What do I win?

[ElyDave]

what's the ferry/luggage ettiket when touring?

Leave it? Remove it? Remove valuables? I'm guessing no different from the concept of leaving a laptop in view in the back of a car?

All my valuables and electronica will be in separate drybags inside the main pannier, so easily removable

[Oscar's dad]

what's the ferry/luggage ettiket when touring?

Leave it? Remove it? Remove valuables? I'm guessing no different from the concept of leaving a laptop in view in the back of a car?

All my valuables and electronica will be in separate drybags inside the main pannier, so easily removable

I think it's OK to leave luggage on your bike, I think its quite safe as I think the car deck is locked whilst the ferry is underway, although obviously other passengers are milling around during the embarking / embarkation process.  But, if you can carry your luggage easily then take it with you when you go upstairs.

[Phil W]

Fowey ferry

[Cudzoziemiec]

what's the ferry/luggage ettiket when touring?

Leave it? Remove it? Remove valuables? I'm guessing no different from the concept of leaving a laptop in view in the back of a car?

All my valuables and electronica will be in separate drybags inside the main pannier, so easily removable

I think it's OK to leave luggage on your bike, I think its quite safe as I think the car deck is locked whilst the ferry is underway, although obviously other passengers are milling around during the embarking / embarkation process.  But, if you can carry your luggage easily then take it with you when you go upstairs.

What about security on cross-channel ferries? There seem to be occasional tales of cycle tourists having their panniers searched and camping equipment – gas cannisters, swiss army knives – being confiscated. But possibly this is just people being alarmist.

[Jakob W]

There are a couple of threads on the CTC forums about over-zealous checks and confiscation of penknives etc. - it seems Portsmouth has a particular allotment of jobsworths (but that is obviously anecdotal). Most ferry T&C's prohibit you from having knives and gas canisters in the passenger areas, so if you're carrying your panniers up to your cabin you're probably technically in breach, but it's not like anyone will ever check.

On the Harwich-Hook ferry last month there weren't any routine checks, and most cyclists took their bags up to the cabin with them, but a couple of the fully loaded tourers left some on the bike (I presume they just grabbed valuables and clothes/toiletries). That was an overnight sailing, mind - for a daytime one I'd have thought there'd be more left on the bike.

[ElyDave]

I'm doing three hops on Calmac, nothing longer than 2 hours so removing luggage entirely would be somewhat faffy

Hopefully no customs checks 

[Kim]

My pannier arrangement is such that the front panniers contain valuables, tools, quick-access clothing, and all the food stuff.  Which covers most of what I'm likely to want access to during a shorter ferry crossing, and (with the exception of fuel bottle mounted on the bike^[1]) anything security are likely to be interested in.

The big panniers with tent, sleeping bag/mat, spare clothing, wash things, etc. stay on the bike.  Unless it's an overnight sailing where I'd go to the effort to bring all four to the cabin so I have access to the extra clothes and wash things.  I'll also not bother removing pump, lights, etc.

Security (looked like army types, rather than customs) were actively searching vehicles when I went through Dunkirk a couple of years ago.  They complimented my usual bike and waved me through.  I think they're more interested in hidden humans than penknives etc.


_{[1] Seems likely that if a sniffer dog is going to get interested in something, it's going to be this, and having it exposed saves having your panniers explored.  Not sure what the actual rules on alcohol/paraffin/LPG/etc are, but I expect the law of unusualness means that half a litre of meths is an explosion risk that will kill everyone utterly to DETH, but petrol-fuelled vehicles with hot engines and active electrical systems are completely harmless.}

[SA_SA_SA_SA]

..._{[1] Seems likely that if a sniffer dog is going to get interested in something, it's going to be this, and having it exposed saves having your panniers explored.  Not sure what the actual rules on alcohol/paraffin/LPG/etc are, but I expect the law of unusualness means that half a litre of meths is an explosion risk that will kill everyone utterly to DETH, but petrol-fuelled vehicles with hot engines and active electrical systems are completely harmless.}

Last time I checked you were allowed up to 0.5litre meths in a proper bottle on the car deck (I checked before travelling) with ferry company after looking up international marine rules which seemed to indicate that.... Was accepted on the ro ro ferry to York Rally.

[quixoticgeek]

Had a short pootle around yesterday to pick up some more tiles for veloviewer, and in so doing, used a self operated ferry.




Wasn't alone on the ferry, a couple of locals got very confused with how it operated and we got the chain knotted up in the middle of the river, blocking other boats. Had to fix it to get us moving again.

J

[FifeingEejit]

I'm doing three hops on Calmac, nothing longer than 2 hours so removing luggage entirely would be somewhat faffy

Hopefully no customs checks 

If it's a "major" unit, Argyle, Bute, the Loch Nevis or Loch Portain then the car deck is locked while at sea; I tend to keep anything I'll want while on board in my bar bag anyway so shove the shoulder strap on it and crack on for the mariners.

If it's any other double ended  landing craft then you're allowed to stay with the vehicle (anything scheduled for under an hour apparently) all you can do on them is sit in one of the passenger "lounges" or go up on top of it though so once you've crossed the pursers hand with gold that's you done.

If it's still raining later I'll dig out some photos

[FifeingEejit]

Helston ferry (Either you can only see a link, or you can see the image too, I have no idea...)

https://1drv.ms/u/s!AlB7bV6RdTovgcEhf-YW-HjpbnUmAA


The other LeJog bike + ferry photos are pretty rubbish
https://1drv.ms/u/s!AlB7bV6RdTovgb5yxkPUhnPzE5Fm8g

As are my hebridean trip ones
https://1drv.ms/a/s!AlB7bV6RdTovhrRDurH5IapxlbWHZw

[bhoot]

OK so it's not yet possible to take your bike on it but here is the new Woolwich ferry Ben Woollacott on the north pier (Dame Vera Lynn is just out of shot on the southern pier).

[Kim]

The first one to post a photo of their bike on a Seaborne Freight ferry^[1] wins the internet...


_{[1] I'm expecting Deliveroo gear and/or creative use of Photoshop.}

[perpetual dan]

Not so much "of my bike and a ferry" as them sidling into the edge of the picture, but, here they are on the Exemouth - Starcross ferry in the summer.