That looks like fun. I have never put my bike on the train. It seems counter intuitive.
Posted by tommy on 2006-07-18 14:39:31 +0000
Neat. It's funny how they say their train holds 39 "stationary bikes". They must mean that they can hold 39 bikes that won't be rolling all around the car, but it sounds like a whole bunch of people are going to be bringing their exercycles to the beach. That would be funny.
Marna and I have been riding our bikes to "exclusive" beaches the past few weekends (where "exclusive" means limited/expensive car parking). Last weekend was Minot Beach in Scituate, and before that Singing Beach in Manchester-by-the-Highway and Wingaersheek Beach in Gloucester. We've stopped saying "what are we going to do this weekend?" in favor of "which beach are we riding to this weekend?"
For the record, you can take your bike on any non-rush hour commuter train, as long as you don't mind holding your bike up (or letting it fall over).
Posted by G lib on 2006-07-18 18:28:38 +0000
I've taken the non-rush hour commuter train a few times, which I love. What I really love is that they bought a train car specifically for bikes, which is a step in the right direction for all trains, rush-hour or not. It just makes sense-- commute in from the suburbs by train, hop on your bike, ride to work.
Posted by tommy on 2006-07-18 19:39:26 +0000
It makes total sense to have rush-hour access for bikes. And, it's not hard.... all you need is a little bit of empty space set aside for large objects (could be a bike, could be luggage, etc.). The MBTA seems to be trying. Given enough demand, I suppose there's no reason they couldn't put the bike coach on one of their weekday rush-hour routes.
Any other country I've taken the train in (okay, granted, it's only been the UK, France and Canada) has solved the "problem" of how to transport bikes by train. Amtrak has not figured it out.
You know those riddles that companies like Google use to find smart people to hire? Here's one: "You want to ride your bike across Massachusetts. Amtrak, Greyhound, and Peter Pan will all drop you off in Pittsfield for a reasonable fee. How do you get your bike there?"
Posted by tendiamonds on 2006-07-18 19:45:09 +0000
Amtrack has at least partially solved the "problem" When I lived in Seattle I took the train to Vancouver and put my bike on the bike car, which was an empty car with bick hangers along the walls.
Posted by tommy on 2006-07-18 22:01:15 +0000
Was that an Amtrak train or a Via train? You can take your bike on a train from Boston, but there are only two southbound trains per day that will take your bike. It has to be disassembled and boxed up though. And they go south to DC. If you want to go west, you are out of luck. At least that's the information I got from the Amtrak folks on the phone. Not like it's the worst thing in the world, but as you say... an empty (part of) a car is all it takes. I think that the new service to Portland lets you take your bike, too.
Posted by G lib on 2006-07-19 12:58:05 +0000
Many places make you pay extra for your bike, I'm not against that idea. But not allowing your bike at all? Stupid.
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In Boston they're always talking about how you can put your bike on the front of some of the buses, but most of the time the metal contraption (used successfully in many other US cities) doesn't work, or the bus driver doesn't know how to use it (or, I'd imagine, won't let you).
Posted by tendiamonds on 2006-07-19 14:04:07 +0000
It was an Amtrak train, there's even a picture of it!
Posted by Miriam on 2006-07-19 14:40:34 +0000
Question came up last night about putting a Vespa on the Commuter Rail...any word on that?