By Railfan & Railroad Staff
Metra announced in January that it was making a pandemic-era rule about bikes on trains permanent and that it would soon be installing new bike racks on railcars across its system.
Bikes have been allowed in the ADA seating area on Metra trains since 2005, but for most of that time, they were restricted to non-rush period trains. During the pandemic, when ridership plummeted, Metra relaxed that policy to allow bikes on rush period trains, and now that change has been made permanent effective February 1.
Last year, 260,000 riders brought bikes on trains, the highest annual number ever – even higher than in pre-pandemic years. To facilitate the growing number of cyclists, and to ease conflicts with ADA customers, Metra is manufacturing and installing new bike racks on its railcars in-house. The new racks, which can hold two to four bikes and can also be used to store e-scooters, will initially be installed on about 50 cars, and those cars will be identified with an exterior bike logo and used on the trains that carry the most bikes.
The creation of the policy and installation of new racks was aided by bicycle advocates who lobbied the Metra Board of Directors, contributed to a working group that drafted the new policy, and tested the new racks.
“We are truly grateful to the passionate cyclists who helped us change our policy for the betterment of all riders,” said Metra CEO/Executive Director Jim Derwinski in a press release. “Metra and bicycles are natural partners, and it is gratifying to solidify our relationship.”
Under the new policy, bicycles and scooters, including e-bikes and e-scooters, are permitted on all trains, either in the priority seating areas of ADA-accessible railcars or in the new racks on railcars with the bike logo. There is no additional charge to bring a bike.
Bicycle and scooter spaces are allocated on a first-come, first-served basis, and customers with disabilities have priority in the priority seating areas on ADA-accessible railcars. Customers with bicycles and scooters may be required to leave the train if ADA-accessible space is needed for boarding passengers with disabilities. Every effort will be made to accommodate customers elsewhere on the train before requiring that they leave. Crews have the right to refuse bikes and scooters if all spaces are filled or if ADA-accessible seating is needed for customers with disabilities.
Bicycles must be secured to the new racks with a built-in strap or the cyclist’s own strap or lock. In the ADA-accessible seating areas, bicycles must be secured to the lower rail of folding seats with long bungee cords or other devices supplied by the cyclist. Bicycles must be kept clean and free of dirt and grease while aboard Metra trains and must not present a hazard to other customers.
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