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#1
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seen any good bike/train commuting options
I currently bike to the train (MARC http://www.mtamaryland.com/) then
ride the train to DC. I would like to take my bike with me but it's not allowed. Most of the other transit systems in the area carry bikes ex: MetroRail (except rush hour), Metrobus, light rail in Baltimore and most of the local bus systems carry bikes now also. I was wondering if anyone has seen a system for carrying bikes on a train like Amtrak with no baggage cars. I'm curious if there is a current system being used somewhere else that I could use as an example when asking Maryland Transit for an option other than buying a folding bicycle and packing it into a carrying case. -- ack remove .ns from email to reply |
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#2
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seen any good bike/train commuting options
ack wrote in news:bhtdri$l82$1@sun-
news.laserlink.net: I was wondering if anyone has seen a system for carrying bikes on a train like Amtrak with no baggage cars. I'm curious if there is a current system being used somewhere else that I could use as an example when asking Maryland Transit for an option other than buying a folding bicycle and packing it into a carrying case. Caltrain is a commuter train serving the San Francisco area. They allow bicycles on all trains without folding or boxing. See http://www.caltrain.org/caltrain_bike_access.html |
#3
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seen any good bike/train commuting options
ack wrote in message ...
I currently bike to the train (MARC http://www.mtamaryland.com/) then ride the train to DC. I would like to take my bike with me but it's not allowed. Most of the other transit systems in the area carry bikes ex: MetroRail (except rush hour), Metrobus, light rail in Baltimore and most of the local bus systems carry bikes now also. I was wondering if anyone has seen a system for carrying bikes on a train like Amtrak with no baggage cars. I'm curious if there is a current system being used somewhere else that I could use as an example when asking Maryland Transit for an option other than buying a folding bicycle and packing it into a carrying case. The San Jose-San Francisco commuter train, CalTrain can take a minimum of 32 bikes per train (some trains have two bike cars for a total of 64 bikes). This was a long hard battle, but at the time it started the trains were running empty enough that it wasn't causing any lost seat revenue, and sadly this is the case again, though there was a time (pre-Bush) that the trains were pretty crowded and even with 32 bike spaces they were turning cyclists away at the station. I couldn't risk missing a train and waiting 30 minutes for the next one (which could also be full), so I went the folding route. Basically they took half the seats out of one car and put in some steel bars to stack bikes against. You have to try to arrange the bikes in the order of stations, but there is a lot of shuffling of bikes, and it's not a place for an expensive bike that you don't want to get scratched. Generally people hang a tag on their bike indicating their departure station so people boarding the train can place their bike either in front of, or behind the existing bikes. If Maryland transit is running their trains with a lot of empty seats then they might be willing to look at what Caltrain has done, but if the trains are packed then they probably wouldn't be interested. The conversion to a bike car is permanent, there is no way to fold down a seat to convert the space back to passenger space. You can read about the bike program at: "http://www.caltrain.com/caltrain_bikes.html" |
#4
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seen any good bike/train commuting options
ack wrote in message ...
I currently bike to the train (MARC http://www.mtamaryland.com/) then ride the train to DC. I would like to take my bike with me but it's not allowed. Most of the other transit systems in the area carry bikes ex: MetroRail (except rush hour), Metrobus, light rail in Baltimore and most of the local bus systems carry bikes now also. Surprising (and disappointing) that MARC won't even allow bikes on board during non-commute hours. Generally, commuter-type operations don't have the crowding problems seen on subways and have platforms that are long enough to handle an extra bike-car if needed. I was wondering if anyone has seen a system for carrying bikes on a train like Amtrak with no baggage cars. I'm curious if there is a current system being used somewhere else that I could use as an example when asking Maryland Transit for an option other than buying a folding bicycle and packing it into a carrying case. Some examples from California: 1. Amtrak "California" railcars have bike racks in the vestibule area -- 3 bikes per car. The newer cab cars have room for 15. These are technically "intercity" and not commute trains, however. 2. Caltrain cabcars have been converted to bike cars -- the lower level of the bi-level car has had most seats removed and bike racks installed. There is room for 24 bikes. 3. Lower level of one of the ACE (Altamont Commuter Express) cars also has the entire lower level devoted to bike racks. |
#5
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seen any good bike/train commuting options
ack wrote in message ...
I currently bike to the train (MARC http://www.mtamaryland.com/) then ride the train to DC. I would like to take my bike with me but it's not allowed. Most of the other transit systems in the area carry bikes ex: MetroRail (except rush hour), Metrobus, light rail in Baltimore and most of the local bus systems carry bikes now also. I was wondering if anyone has seen a system for carrying bikes on a train like Amtrak with no baggage cars. I'm curious if there is a current system being used somewhere else that I could use as an example when asking Maryland Transit for an option other than buying a folding bicycle and packing it into a carrying case. GO transit in Ontario allows bicycles on trains, except rush hour. (of course for most of their routes they only run trains during rush hours, and don't allow bikes on the buses which does make taking bicycles difficult) They allow two bikes per train in the vestibule area. You can see an example of where the bikes go on this page http://www.crazyguyonabike.com/journ...l&page_id=1933 For longer distance trains with comfortable seats I can't see where you could put bicycles unless they removed a couple of seats on each train which you'd probably find it hard to convince them to do. |
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