Why can’t I ride the train?
MEET Yancy.
He’s a pug cross Shih tzu (pugzu) who wants to be allowed to ride on the train.
His owner Charlotte Gibbon has started a change.org petition asking for pets to be allowed to travel on the back carriage on Sydney trains.
Unlike Melbourne, dogs are not allowed on Sydney trains unless they are assistance animals or police and security dogs.
“I just want dogs to be allowed on the back carriage so I can take my small dog on days out with me,” Ms Gibbon said.
“Then he would not be left alone all day when I am out on weekends.”
Ms Gibbon says Yancy is restricted to a nearby dog park because she does not have a car to take the pooch elsewhere.
“I have many friends who live all over Sydney who would love for Yancy to be able to visit them but he is not able to without me getting a car,” she said.
Charlotte Gibbon wants her dog Yancy to be allowed on trains.Source:Supplied
Can I see your Opal card please?Source:Supplied
“By restricting dogs to just the back carriage it will ensure that anyone who does not want to be around dogs can avoid them and still travel feeling safe in the other carriages.
“My idea would give great freedom to all pet owners and encourage pet owners to take public transport instead of using their cars when travelling with pets.”
And it seems Yancy has a supporter in dog owner Lucy Turnbull.
The Greater Sydney Commission chief commissioner told Fairfax Media last year that dogs should be allowed on trains outside peak hours.
“The way to do it would be to allow travelling with pets outside of peak hour,” she said.
“You would also need to limit the type of animal — I’m not sure that many people would be keen on sitting next to a python.”
Lucy Turnbull is a fan of dogs being allowed on trains. Picture: Jonathan NgSource:News Corp Australia
In Melbourne dogs are allowed on trains as long as they are muzzled and on leads, but owners are encouraged not to travel during morning and afternoon peaks.
The news isn’t as good for other animals though.
“Animals other than dogs and assistance animals are not allowed to travel on public transport unless they are carried in an approved container as stated above,” the Public Transport Victoria website states.
But despite the support of the Prime Minister’s wife and even young Futurama fan Yancy, it doesn’t seem the NSW Government is keen on dogs on trains.
“Assistance animals and police and security dogs are permitted on stations and trains,” a Sydney Trains spokeswoman told news.com.au.
“There are no current plans to allow animals on trains.”
Sorry Yancy, your day trips to the Blue Mountains or Bondi Beach will have to wait for now.