As we posted yesterday, the Metro Board of Directors officially lifted — effective immediately — the peak hour prohibition against bringing bikes on Metro Rail. The Board had previously asked for more information about crowds on trains before some seats are removed to accommodate more bikes — and Metro CEO Art Leahy said trains could grow longer and run more frequently as seats are taken out.
The idea is to help the increasing number of cyclists in L.A. County use their bikes to commute. What do you think? Can Metro Rail trains handle more bikes at rush hour? Will this help encourage more people to bike? Will it be a major turn off to non-cycling rail passengers?
Please vote and feel free to leave a short comment here with your views.
Good idea. However, I have a concern. For the blue line, the designated area for bikes are not big enough to accommodate more than two bicycles. For example, in the blue line, one time I seen around five bicycle on a wagon. It was challenge to get out of the train. I would suggest for new trains(trains are old) or removing some seats. But overall, I think it is a good idea. Especially if you live or work near a train station that does not have access to a bus route.
I hear a lot of concern of cyclists, but the real concern is peoples behavior, not cyclists behavior.
As many cyclists I see hold their bikes in the non-designated area, I see the same amount of people without bikes, crowd the area that is designated for cyclists, strollers and luggage.
I think it is a shame that so many of us don’t see beyond the object and realize that human behavior is just that. Human behavior, regardless of mode of transport.
Just as there are cyclists not following the law on the road and at the train stations, there are the same amount of motorists if not more (in percentage), who don’t signal, who park their cars where they shouldn’t, make u-turns illegally, block driveways, use the handicap parking space, even though they are not handicapped, etc.
People are people. We come in all shapes and sizes, with our own ideas of the law, (even law enforcement is known to “personalize” the law to their interpretations), and we need to learn to except each other with our faults, without condemning groups or people based on the actions of individuals.
We should be encouraging each other to make the right choices and support everyones freedom to move, whatever their mode.
Hmm, has Metro considered BART’s solution? Regular bikes are banned in some directions during rush hour, but folding bikes are always allowed. This makes sense because rush hour trains get very packed (and they are longer and I believe wider than Metro trains). The ban is also mitigated by many self-park and attended secure bike parking facilities throughout the system, which is more spread out than Metro Rail.
@enci
Well Said. We all tend to judge our fellow passengers, but in a sense we are in the same boat. I was in a very crowded bus yesterday and someone’s backpack bumped my shoulder and a nice lady was hitting my leg with her huge stroller every time the bus stopped. I took it in stride knowing that bus was full. No one likes their personal space to be violated, but when we take public transportation, sometimes we must find humility in judging other people’s behavior.
What ban? Never noticed it on the gold line. It’s getting bad on the gold line during rush hour. There are so many cyclist squeezing themselves into packed trains during rush hour, I’m waiting for something to happen. Time will tell.
I rode the Goldline in the early mid-morning recently (on the way to the Flyaway). It was only 2 cars long and was really packed going into Union Station. There were multiple bike riders on the car (I think around 6). The riders were well behaved and quite polite about things. With my roller duffle-bag standing on end and my back pack, I took up more space than a bike did. Everyone on board was acting like a real trooper.
A few days later in New York, I rode the 1 during rush hour and it too was packed.
Since having a bike can solve the first/last mile problem and make public transit a valid option, I think that the desicion was the right one. Making adjustments in the future (3 cars every rush hour train, bikes in a specific car [Metrolink riders have been doing that for years], hooks, wider spaces) will enhance this great option. And more bike parking at the stations too!
If using a bike would make it so that I could take public transit to work, I would. Currently there is no valid option for some of us to take PT to work. Until Metro sets up a freeway bus route system, some of us won’t have the option.