When I lived in Salt Lake City, all the buses had bike racks on the front of them and people used them often. The new light rail system was accepting of bikes even though there wasn't a designated space for them.
I now live in Cape Town, South Africa where roads are based on colonial width design and public safety keeps most people driving cars for everything they need to do. There are few bikes on the roads which are becoming more crowded by SUV's as people 'need' them. And the city metro system is a constant state of transport need vs. risk of robbery while in transit. and the smog on windless days........
Perhaps local gov't acceptance of bikes is the best way to transfer people over to bike use. Accommadating bikes on trains and buses is the first step, bike lanes on roads, side pavements would be great as well.
houston
· 3 years ago
I think it is a fairly good idea. In Helsinki a number of public transit mediums allow riders to bring onboard their bikes. Not to mention that Helsinki is full of sophisticated bike lanes, public bicycle parking lots, and respectful car traffic. It is a very good place for bike riders, very bike friendly. I have been to several other areas in Finland, and they are all the same. I am currently visiting relatives in Finland in a town called Joensuu in the northeast in a house several kilometers from the city center, and I am going to the center with my wife in a hour on bikes.
Jarvis
· 3 years ago
Wow, I commend all those responsible for making biking to and from work fun. I live in Boise, Idaho and our first step is to have some sort of mass transit. The current bus line is small but they do have bike racks on most of them.
Carl
· 3 years ago
Great pic. Reminds me of Amsterdam. Right next to the central train station is what looks like a large 3-4 story car garage. It was filled with thousands of bikes =)
MikeH
· 3 years ago
Mayor Daley of Chicago has been very proactive to this end. Most, if not all, of the CTA (public transit) buses have bike racks on the front, and bikes are allowed on the "L" trains as well. And as of this year, Metra finally acquiesced to allowing bikes on their trains too...
M. L.
· 3 years ago
On a slightly related note, I'd like to add that Chicago also offers a secure indoor "bicycle station" in one of its downtown parks. It's free to park your bike there, but with membership, you also have access to showers, lockers, discounts on bicycle repairs, etc. Part of the reason I don't commute by bike is lack of security. Bike thievery seems particularly bad in New York City, where I live now, and many buildings don't allow you to take bikes inside.
Jenny
· 3 years ago
Washington, DC is pretty bike-friendly. Similar to the BART, you can take your bike on the Metro during non-rush times, and all day on the weekends. I use this option frequently, but a special bike car would be an amazing option, since I frequently find myself in the way of other passengers. Many of our buses also have racks on the front of them -- though unfortunately, I've heard of thefts happening from them. Finally, we have a ton of bike lanes and trails in the city. Our mayor is very involved, and always attends Bike to Work Day and other functions -- I'm sure this helps a lot!
KPod
· 3 years ago
Madison, WI buses have bike racks built for two, which are usually in use.
We also have the Bike Federation of Wisconsin which organizes Bike to Work Week each year to encourage and educate people about alternative transportation. And we have John Coleman, who has almost singlehandedly ensured that the bike paths of the city are linked so that you can get from here to there almost anywhere around the city: http://www.lic.wisc.edu/users/jsc/bike/bike12a....>
John Markos O'Neill
· 3 years ago
Folding bikes are permitted (folded) on BART during commute hours. Also, you can put a folded bike on the "luggage car" of Caltrain even when the regular bike car is full.
Of course, folding bikes don't do so well on the hills of SF!
Adam Brown
· 3 years ago
I live in Austin, TX and we have a pretty decent public transportation system considering the region we are in.
All of the city buses in Austin have bike racks that hold two bikes.
In early 1999, Bicycling magazine rated Austin as one of the Top 10 bicycling cities in North America. Then in Nov. 2001, they rated Austin #2 of cities between 0.5-1.0 million people.
Joseph Willemssen
· 3 years ago
When I lived in San Francisco, I'd use the Bay Bridge Bicycle Shuttle during restricted times on BART. It was basically a big passenger van towing a trailer for bikes.
It appears that it's still operational.
http://www.dot.ca.gov/dist4/shuttle.htm
peteathome
· 3 years ago
I live in NJ in the Philadelphia area. All southern NJ busses now have bike racks, except for a few of the long haul buses which will stow bicycles under the bus. The PATCO Highspeed line, which runs through the region into Philly, allows bikes onboard full time. The light rail River Line, which runs from Camden to Trenton, also allows bikes on unrestricted and has neat bike hooks to allow vertical stashing of bikes.
Dan
· 3 years ago
FYI, Caltrain has been "consdering" adding more capacity for bikes for at least five years. I'd sooner believe in the Tooth Fairy than believe they'll actually do anything.
Heidi
· 3 years ago
Despite the beautiful weather and exhorbitant cost of living here in San Diego, cars are definitely the preferred method of transportation (people look at us like we have three heads when we tell them that neither I nor my husband owns a car). There are some bike lanes, but most cyclists are recreational rather than commuters. There is space for a couple of bikes at the back of each Trolley car, and most buses are now outfitted to allow two bikes on a rack that folds down at the front outside of the bus. Space for cyclists improves a fraction each year, with a new bike lane here and there.
consumer_q
· 3 years ago
Bikes are allowed in the end cars on the Salt Lake City TRAX (light rail). When I traveled through Germany, there was also a bike car.
The two-bike carriers on the front of buses seem to always be filled in Salt Lake City. It was the same in Madison when I lived there. A rack for two bikes is not enough; they should hold at least four.
Madison also has bike lockers for rent around the capitol area, from what I remember.
CC
· 3 years ago
Gainesville, FL has a great bus system that also has bike racks for 2 bikes on the front of each bus, not to mention the city itself being pretty bike-friendly (it was in the top 10-20 maybe a couple of years ago). I think Tallahassee also has space for bikes on the front of their perhaps rather crappy public transit, but what for I don't know--being that it is an incredibly un-bike-friendly city. I would love to move to a cheaper apartment, but that would be further from work, and while I have a good, safe route now, it would be much harder living further away.
Anonymous
· 3 years ago
I live in Pasadena, California.
The train allows bicycles on them except during morning and evening rush hour on the weekdays. Folding bikes are considered luggage and can go on the train at any time. Dahon makes some fantastic folding bikes that ride as well as any non-folding bikes.
www.dahon.com<br /> The Speed Pro weighs less than 23 pounds, has 24 speeds, and costs $999.
All Comments
When I lived in Salt Lake City, all the buses had bike racks on the front of them and people used them often. The new light rail system was accepting of bikes even though there wasn't a designated space for them.
I now live in Cape Town, South Africa where roads are based on colonial width design and public safety keeps most people driving cars for everything they need to do. There are few bikes on the roads which are becoming more crowded by SUV's as people 'need' them. And the city metro system is a constant state of transport need vs. risk of robbery while in transit. and the smog on windless days........
Perhaps local gov't acceptance of bikes is the best way to transfer people over to bike use. Accommadating bikes on trains and buses is the first step, bike lanes on roads, side pavements would be great as well.
I think it is a fairly good idea. In Helsinki a number of public transit mediums allow riders to bring onboard their bikes. Not to mention that Helsinki is full of sophisticated bike lanes, public bicycle parking lots, and respectful car traffic. It is a very good place for bike riders, very bike friendly. I have been to several other areas in Finland, and they are all the same. I am currently visiting relatives in Finland in a town called Joensuu in the northeast in a house several kilometers from the city center, and I am going to the center with my wife in a hour on bikes.
Wow, I commend all those responsible for making biking to and from work fun. I live in Boise, Idaho and our first step is to have some sort of mass transit. The current bus line is small but they do have bike racks on most of them.
Great pic. Reminds me of Amsterdam. Right next to the central train station is what looks like a large 3-4 story car garage. It was filled with thousands of bikes =)
Mayor Daley of Chicago has been very proactive to this end. Most, if not all, of the CTA (public transit) buses have bike racks on the front, and bikes are allowed on the "L" trains as well. And as of this year, Metra finally acquiesced to allowing bikes on their trains too...
On a slightly related note, I'd like to add that Chicago also offers a secure indoor "bicycle station" in one of its downtown parks. It's free to park your bike there, but with membership, you also have access to showers, lockers, discounts on bicycle repairs, etc. Part of the reason I don't commute by bike is lack of security. Bike thievery seems particularly bad in New York City, where I live now, and many buildings don't allow you to take bikes inside.
Washington, DC is pretty bike-friendly. Similar to the BART, you can take your bike on the Metro during non-rush times, and all day on the weekends. I use this option frequently, but a special bike car would be an amazing option, since I frequently find myself in the way of other passengers. Many of our buses also have racks on the front of them -- though unfortunately, I've heard of thefts happening from them. Finally, we have a ton of bike lanes and trails in the city. Our mayor is very involved, and always attends Bike to Work Day and other functions -- I'm sure this helps a lot!
Madison, WI buses have bike racks built for two, which are usually in use.
We also have the Bike Federation of Wisconsin which organizes Bike to Work Week each year to encourage and educate people about alternative transportation. And we have John Coleman, who has almost singlehandedly ensured that the bike paths of the city are linked so that you can get from here to there almost anywhere around the city: http://www.lic.wisc.edu/users/jsc/bike/bike12a....>
Folding bikes are permitted (folded) on BART during commute hours. Also, you can put a folded bike on the "luggage car" of Caltrain even when the regular bike car is full.
Of course, folding bikes don't do so well on the hills of SF!
I live in Austin, TX and we have a pretty decent public transportation system considering the region we are in.
All of the city buses in Austin have bike racks that hold two bikes.
In early 1999, Bicycling magazine rated Austin as one of the Top 10 bicycling cities in North America. Then in Nov. 2001, they rated Austin #2 of cities between 0.5-1.0 million people.
When I lived in San Francisco, I'd use the Bay Bridge Bicycle Shuttle during restricted times on BART. It was basically a big passenger van towing a trailer for bikes.
It appears that it's still operational.
http://www.dot.ca.gov/dist4/shuttle.htm
I live in NJ in the Philadelphia area. All southern NJ busses now have bike racks, except for a few of the long haul buses which will stow bicycles under the bus. The PATCO Highspeed line, which runs through the region into Philly, allows bikes onboard full time. The light rail River Line, which runs from Camden to Trenton, also allows bikes on unrestricted and has neat bike hooks to allow vertical stashing of bikes.
FYI, Caltrain has been "consdering" adding more capacity for bikes for at least five years. I'd sooner believe in the Tooth Fairy than believe they'll actually do anything.
Despite the beautiful weather and exhorbitant cost of living here in San Diego, cars are definitely the preferred method of transportation (people look at us like we have three heads when we tell them that neither I nor my husband owns a car). There are some bike lanes, but most cyclists are recreational rather than commuters. There is space for a couple of bikes at the back of each Trolley car, and most buses are now outfitted to allow two bikes on a rack that folds down at the front outside of the bus. Space for cyclists improves a fraction each year, with a new bike lane here and there.
Bikes are allowed in the end cars on the Salt Lake City TRAX (light rail). When I traveled through Germany, there was also a bike car.
The two-bike carriers on the front of buses seem to always be filled in Salt Lake City. It was the same in Madison when I lived there. A rack for two bikes is not enough; they should hold at least four.
Madison also has bike lockers for rent around the capitol area, from what I remember.
Gainesville, FL has a great bus system that also has bike racks for 2 bikes on the front of each bus, not to mention the city itself being pretty bike-friendly (it was in the top 10-20 maybe a couple of years ago). I think Tallahassee also has space for bikes on the front of their perhaps rather crappy public transit, but what for I don't know--being that it is an incredibly un-bike-friendly city. I would love to move to a cheaper apartment, but that would be further from work, and while I have a good, safe route now, it would be much harder living further away.
I live in Pasadena, California.
The train allows bicycles on them except during morning and evening rush hour on the weekdays. Folding bikes are considered luggage and can go on the train at any time. Dahon makes some fantastic folding bikes that ride as well as any non-folding bikes.
www.dahon.com<br />
The Speed Pro weighs less than 23 pounds, has 24 speeds, and costs $999.