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Bikes on Trains and Buses

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  • Member since
    June 2008
  • 9 posts
Bikes on Trains and Buses
Posted by eltraino2 on Saturday, June 21, 2008 8:12 AM

http://www.toronto.ca/ttc/bike_racks.htm is a picture of the bike racks on buses////

http://www.caltrain.com/info_bicycle_program.html for caltrains bike policy

Maryland has a law that says that bikes are to be allowed on the MARC Trains but the railroad refuses to carry bikes...MARC Train parreles the C&O Canal Trail (Georgetown-Cumberland)....

In addition many citys have railtrails that go to or near train stations like DC and Chicagos North Shore that parreles the Great Lakes-Kenosha Metra Line....

BUT----- No Bikes on South Shore and Buffalo is taking bike racks off its buses....Cleveland has 95% Bike racks......

Bikes allow access to jobs in the suburbs were the job is in a office park (KALMBACH) for instance...

  • Member since
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  • From: Charlotte, NC
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Posted by Phoebe Vet on Monday, June 23, 2008 11:39 AM

CATS (Charlotte Area Transit System) has bike racks on it's buses and it's light rail trains.

http://www.charmeck.org/Departments/CATS/LYNX/Bikes+on+LYNX.htm

http://www.charmeck.org/Departments/CATS/Riding+CATS/Bike+Racks.htm

 

Dave

Lackawanna Route of the Phoebe Snow

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Posted by Anonymous on Wednesday, July 2, 2008 4:37 PM

Capital Metro in Austin has a bike rack on its local and commuter buses, except for the MCI buses that are used in express commuter service.  However, bikes can be loaded in the baggage compartment of the MCI buses.

Fort Worth has a bike rack on its buses, with the possible exception of several commuter buses.  Also, it is permissible to take a bike on the Trinity Railway Express (TRE), which runs between Fort Worth and Dallas.

Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART) does not have bike racks on any of its buses.  They asked the federal government for funds to equip their buses with bike racks, but the money was not forthcoming.  However, a passenger can take a bike on the bus, I believe, during non peak hours; but given the design of DART's buses, getting a bike on and off the bus is a bit of a struggle.

 

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  • From: Near Promentory UT
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Posted by dldance on Wednesday, July 2, 2008 8:27 PM

Since UTA started running the Frontrunner in April, the trains have been inundated with bikes.  Each car of the 3 car trains has racks for 2 bikes but this proved inadequate.  Steps they are taking include removing additional seats to allow room for more bike and installation of bike lockers at some stations.  Long-term steps include potential bike rental locations and of course more bike racks on future car orders.

dd

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Posted by gardendance on Wednesday, July 2, 2008 8:48 PM

Philadelphia area,

most buses, SEPTA and NJTransit have the front folding 2 bike racks that seem to be the wave of the future.

As for rail, the only line with actual racks is NJTransit's River Line. Each 3 section articulated car has a pair of folding seats underneath hooks for hanging 3 bikes in each end, total of 6 hooks per car. I have seen all 3 hooks occupied and 1 or 2 extra bikes. I've also been on other trips where a bicyclist, for reasons unknown, opted not to use an available hook.

Otherwise the rule for rail, heavy rail at least, is something on the order of 2 bikes per car, with varying peak period restrictions. They ask you to occupy the wheelchair spot on cars so equipped, which means one should get ejected if an actual wheelchair shows up.

The exception is SEPTA's light rail streetcars and Media and Sharon Hill rts 101 and 102, no bikes. However the mid-range, some would say light rail, some would say heavy rail, Norristown rt 100 does allow bikes, this line has high level platforms.

Patrick Boylan

Free yacht rides, 27' sailboat, zip code 19114 Delaware River, get great Delair bridge photos from the river. Send me a private message

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Posted by erikem on Friday, July 4, 2008 7:16 PM
The San Diego Union-Trib reoprted that the Sprinter will be allowing more than four bikes per train - provided that the bikes fit in the designated area.
  • Member since
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  • From: Portland, OR
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Posted by MisterPleasant on Saturday, July 12, 2008 10:03 PM

Seattle Metro has had bike racks installed on the front of all busses since at least 1997.  The standard two bike apparatus. 

Portland Oregon Tri-Met also has these bike racks.  In a town crazy for bicycling, they are heavily used.  Most routes run every 15 minutes during daytime hours which makes waiting for the next bus not too big of a problem when the racks are full.  The Max light rail is another story.  I forget how many hanging racks they have in each car (8 maybe), but they aren't nearly enough.  And often rude riders will bring their bike on when cars are full, and sometimes block aisles and exits, making departures difficult for everyone.  Also it is clearly posted that bikes are to be walked at the station stops, but many ignore this.  I cannot recall how many times I have bit clipped by a rider while waiting for a train.  I am all for bicycle commuting, but a little bit of respect from the bicycling community would be appreciated.

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