Amtrak Bike Train - Ideas Wanted

Over the years I've taken my bike on Metrolink all across Los Angeles, Orange, and San Bernadino Counties, and the Metro Commuter Trains in Los Angeles, but have never had the chance to use Amtrak.

My friend and fellow advocate for cycling, Larry Lagarde, of Ride This Bike and Places to Ride, was inspired by a story from Canada to look into the implimentation of a similar idea in the United States.

He's looking for serious feedback from cyclists across the country, through blog comments here, or on his blog.

Let him explain:

Just thought I'd pass along that I'm in the initial stages of discussing
a Bike Train with Amtrak. I'm looking for feasible locations for such a
service and would like to put the call out to readers at the CyclingDude.

Last summer, Canada's ViaRail ran a pilot Bike Train with space for 56
unboxed, fully assembled bikes from Toronto to Niagara Falls. The
service was such a success that ViaRail is expanding the Bike Train. I'm
convinced that an Amtrak Bike Train would have the same results.

Ideally, the Bike Train would run from a large metro area served now by
Amtrak. The metro area selected must have a high number of cyclists and
the train must run to a destination that is favored by cyclists and is
just a few hours from the large metro area. The cycling destination
should already be a stop on Amtrak that is staffed by Amtrak personnel.

Based on the above qualifications, if readers have ideas regarding a
potential Bike Train service, please pass them along.

Here's the story by Larry, with a link to the website of the Canadian Project.

See the results of his great straw poll of some bicycle advocates from across the country in "Unboxed Bikes on Trains in the USA."

Here in SoCal cyclists and everyone else, pack the Metrolink from LA to Ventura, and Amtrak to Santa Barbara, and beyond, for day trips on the weekend.

I've heard it can be a madhouse, and I've heard it can be great.

On trains, such as the Surfliner, you sit adjacent your bikes, but space is limited.

Beginning next month I will be using both Metrolink (Pictured to the left.) and Amtrak, to get me to some rides throughout the year, and will write of my experiences.

When I head out to the Northern end of the Los Angeles River to begin my ride to the beach, soon, I will have to use the Blue and Red Line Trains in LA, and on those you have to stand with your bike in designated areas of each car for the whole ride.

Here is the page on the AMTRAK Website that describes its options for the cyclist.

Metrolink Policy is as follows:

Bikes are allowed on trains at all times.

Regular bikes should be secured using wheel straps available on certain
passenger cars.

Folding bikes should be folded, carried onto the train and stored like any other carry-on item.

Train personnel may ask cyclists to wait for the next train if bike storage is unavailable.

Three-wheeled bikes are not permitted on trains.

I like the idea of having special Baggage Cars just for 50 or so bikes.

Larry says that "People have been calling and emailing like crazy about the bike train.
Many have asked what more they can do to help get the bike train underway." 

He has some suggestions:

Ways To Build Interest In The Bike Train:

1. Tell others.
More cyclists must be aware of the bike train and express their desire
to use it.

2. Gather statistics.
Providing Amtrak with hard facts on the number of cyclists interested in
the service and where those cyclists want to take the train to go
cycling helps Amtrak guage the costs and benefits of the service.

3. Endorse the concept.
Everything that Amtrak does is scrutinized so demonstrating broad
support is vital. The more entities that speak up, the better.

4. Sponsor the bike train.
Offsetting the initial costs of the bike train service with sponsorships
makes it more appealing for Amtrak to initiate bike train service.

Gene Bisbee, of Biking Bis, has suggested running the bike train
to major cycling events like the Seattle to Portland Bike Classic (STP).
The coordinator of that event (Dave Douglas) believes that a
competitively priced bike train would sell out for the STP and other
rides put on by the Cascade Bike Club.

He has more to say about the issue here.

Like Larry I am very passionate about cycling.

I think the idea of combining cycling and passenger rail is a no brainer and confident that a bike train would be successful

I support Larry's efforts to pursue the idea with Amtrak.

Although my time and resources are limited, compared to many cycling advocates, I'm willing to do what I can to help in the effort.

Let's see what we can do to help Amtrak become more appealing to
cyclists!