Leaving items on bike on Bluebridge ferry?

[russd7]

Yep really impressed with Bluebridge, they are way more biker friendly than the interislander.
Went down south at xmas on both trips different staff came over and asked if anyone needed a hand in tying their bikes down.
One of the staff said that there was some empty cabins and to feel free to use them to store our helmets and bags and we could also use the cabin but would have to leave it if someone booked it (no one did, used them both ways all good )
An altogether more professional service in my opinion with friendly staff and well presented vessels.

yup my experience as well, and every time i have traveled they have been cheaper than interislander.
as for gear, i just have one of those wire rope things for pushbikes, thread through jacket arm and chin guard on helmet and frame on bike, handy if ya stop somewhere along the way and don't want to cart ya helmet and jacket round with you as well.

[Tazz]

Yep really impressed with Bluebridge, they are way more biker friendly than the interislander.
Went down south at xmas on both trips different staff came over and asked if anyone needed a hand in tying their bikes down.
One of the staff said that there was some empty cabins and to feel free to use them to store our helmets and bags and we could also use the cabin but would have to leave it if someone booked it (no one did, used them both ways all good )
An altogether more professional service in my opinion with friendly staff and well presented vessels.

Yeah, funny the difference actually having to work hard for a profit and the pride it can bring to a workforce compared to state owned (hand outs whenever needed and poorly run) enterprise.

Ever since the Interislander said they would pull their advertising from a small local fold out map guide if Bluebridge was in it I've avoided them. Before that I had sent them an advertising video of ours that had both the Bluebridge and Interislander in it. BB shared it on social media almost immediately, Interislander said I had to remove BB from it... More than a bit pathetic.

The food on the BB is almost always a good cut above Interislanders quality too. Only downside is their times are not always as convenient, but I have no down the Interislander has a hand in dictating when they want to berth (must be some rules for timing between vessels that size, particularly in Picton where they have to turn around in slow motion).

Actually, when there was all that Cloudy Bay talk Interislander was trying to angle to only have facilities built for them and to force Bluebridge to remain running from Picton.

Anyway, they are good cunts and where possible should be supported over their 'competitor' imo.
At least when Toll (briefly) owned it the competition was fair.

[russd7]

At least when Toll (briefly) owned it the competition was fair.

toll never owned or operated the interislander to the best of my knowledge, for that purpose it was deemed part of the national roading network not the rail network, but ask why then we have to pay twice (through taxes and fares) to use the interislander then it suddenly becomes part of the rail network

[FJRider]

toll never owned or operated the interislander to the best of my knowledge, for that purpose it was deemed part of the national roading network not the rail network, but ask why then we have to pay twice (through taxes and fares) to use the interislander then it suddenly becomes part of the rail network

Think of it as a toll road/rail bridge ... and you'll sleep easier at night ...

[Tazz]

toll never owned or operated the interislander to the best of my knowledge, for that purpose it was deemed part of the national roading network not the rail network, but ask why then we have to pay twice (through taxes and fares) to use the interislander then it suddenly becomes part of the rail network

I'm not too sure on the inner workings but what I said there is almost a direct quote from the Bluebridge CEO about 4 years ago, so I guess however it was divvied they were still the main operator.
Might have been the gummit still owned the ferries and just leased them or such like to cover that sort of plan? I'd have to look it up to know any more than what I've been told so far. Either way the gist was that they were on a more even playing field than how it was pre, or how it is post, Toll.