tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6467858377106451384.post8448180233863879288..comments2024-03-27T05:14:23.738-04:00Comments on Lovely Bicycle!: Bikes, Trains, SailboatsVelouriahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00359329171411037482noreply@blogger.comBlogger47125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6467858377106451384.post-60955762892507531252013-08-19T14:49:32.147-04:002013-08-19T14:49:32.147-04:00Where I live, (The North of England, UK) Most comm...Where I live, (The North of England, UK) Most commuter trains are small, and about forty years old - the bicycle 'facilities' consist of an empty space around 6x2 feet at the end of one carriage out of every train. There is no extra charge, (On 'Northern rail' services at least) but on the busiest trains, bicycles end up in the aisles, and we struggle to get off the train, with our bicycles, at stations. Same situation 'over the pond' then!BikerDudehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14298910690114945901noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6467858377106451384.post-39456033018814724712011-08-04T21:04:19.513-04:002011-08-04T21:04:19.513-04:00Wow, just noticed this! Thank You soooo much, Ano...Wow, just noticed this! Thank You soooo much, Anon 4:28!!! Somehow I was not able to find this info, and the MBTA staff I spoke to did not know either.Velouriahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00359329171411037482noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6467858377106451384.post-71800459206520900322011-07-22T16:28:57.930-04:002011-07-22T16:28:57.930-04:00Hi there,
A friend just pointed me to your blog; ...Hi there,<br /><br />A friend just pointed me to your blog; it's very enjoyable! FYI, here is a link to the MBTA Bike Coach schedule for 2011:<br />http://www.mbta.com/uploadedfiles/Riding_the_T/Bikes_on_the_T/Eastern%20Route%20Bike%20Train_11.pdf<br /><br />The bike page for the entire system (bus, subway, commuter rail etc.) is: http://www.mbta.com/riding_the_t/bikes/Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6467858377106451384.post-59537789459157798492011-07-09T14:32:12.335-04:002011-07-09T14:32:12.335-04:00Oh but haven't you heard? Nobody rides bikes i...Oh but haven't you heard? Nobody rides bikes in the USA and there's no public transit ;-) Or so I'm told!<br /><br />Seriously, those place names ring a bell. I must have visited there as a child. I remember it being very beautiful.<br /><br />Anyway, here in Sweden, bikes on trains is a patchwork. Many trains accept bikes but there's always a catch. Either there are limited spaces (like 3 or 4) and no guarantee you'll be let on, or you have to be there 30 minutes in advance, or bikes are prohibited during "rush hour" which amounts to six hours a day, or there's a high charge, or a combination of the above.<br /><br />If I was a more seasoned traveller I might not let this get in the way. But for mere mortals I feel it's worth it to get a folder for the freedom it offers. My Brompton rides fine and it's part of the fun to fold it and take it on trains, busses or inside buildings. A folder makes it easier to explore new places to cycle, and in combination with public transport it can be a fast and efficient way of getting from A to B.Erik Sandblomhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14411108063216855210noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6467858377106451384.post-50186378027980956492011-07-08T20:29:18.956-04:002011-07-08T20:29:18.956-04:00I take my bike on LA's Metro often, and Gina a...I take my bike on LA's Metro often, and Gina and I have twice taken our bikes on Amtrak's Coast Starlight--first to San Jose, then all the way to Portland. Amtrak provides oversized bike boxes for that (and numerous other) trains, so all you do is turn the handlebars, remove the pedals if necessary, and roll the bikes in! Worked great.<br /><br />Want to try the Pacific Surfliner (onboard racks, no box required) soon.Rick Risemberghttp://www.bicyclefixation.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6467858377106451384.post-17873333766483019972011-07-07T15:00:03.405-04:002011-07-07T15:00:03.405-04:00This makes me miss New England, but also reminds m...This makes me miss New England, but also reminds me how it's not nearly as bike friendly as the West Coast...I've never seen such pileups on the CalTrain system here, but maybe I just don't take it often enough. I guess as francis said it, we have it pretty nice!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6467858377106451384.post-84628835482781922992011-07-07T08:20:42.561-04:002011-07-07T08:20:42.561-04:00Here folding bikes are free on all trains (where a...Here folding bikes are free on all trains (where as a regular bike is 6.80 euros per day). There are special cars for bikes that have seats that fold up and you have to use the seatbelt to hold your bike in place. <br /><br />http://ronajustine.blogspot.com/2011/07/inside-dutch-train-bikecar.html<br /><br />There have been times that people cram their bikes against mine, but over all everyone's pretty polite about it. No damage so far.Ronahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16096213034605839343noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6467858377106451384.post-13980016006179205012011-07-07T02:04:00.078-04:002011-07-07T02:04:00.078-04:00Cape Ann looks beautiful! Too bad about the bike ...Cape Ann looks beautiful! Too bad about the bike chaos. Considering many people have the same idea, the rail line should have a scheduled bike coach.<br />In Greater Vancouver you can take bikes on the skytrain on off hours, but only 1 bike per car or something. All the buses have racks as do the buses where I live which helps if I have taken a bike into the city and cannot bear the thought of biking home from the ferry terminal late at night. <br />I'm not sure what Via rail's cross country policy is, but I don't think it's good. I have heard that the Rocky Mountaineer is much more accommodating. There is a VIA rail line on Vancouver Island which would be fantastic but does not allow bikes! Comparatively Amtrak is supposed to have space for bikes, but no experience with that. <br /><br />I once watched a quaint little film reel about cycling in England in the 1950's. Trains had entire cars just for bikes with hooks from the ceiling. Cyclotouring was very popular with little hotels everywhere in the country side to stop along the way. sigh.<br /> I think it is unfortunate to have to get a folding bike when you have wonderful bikes you want to ride somewhere. Folders are definitely useful for commuting, and obviously can be considered 'luggage', but if you have a touring bike and want to do a tour of a Cape or an island etc, seems a shame to have to take a folding bike-unless you already are into folding bikes....they are definitely handy!heathernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6467858377106451384.post-88702653150614519672011-07-06T22:15:12.058-04:002011-07-06T22:15:12.058-04:00I also bring my bike aboard New Jersey Transit tra...I also bring my bike aboard New Jersey Transit trains -- mostly it has been on the weekends, either to get out of the dense suburbs to go ride in more rual settings, to NYC, or the Jersey shore, but lately I have been using a bike/train/bike combo to get to work every so often. It's always been quite easy -- there are open sections at the ends of each car, as was mentioned earlier, and I have yet to see on board NJT trains even a fraction of the number of bikes in those pictures!!Bob Ehttp://www.flickr.com/photos/30490050@N04/sets/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6467858377106451384.post-40166039910186795392011-07-06T20:28:18.899-04:002011-07-06T20:28:18.899-04:00An initiative called Bike Train (http://www.biketr...An initiative called Bike Train (http://www.biketrain.ca/) started in the Greater Toronto Area a couple years ago. Both Via Rail (our Amtrak equivalent) and Go Transit (regional commuter trains) have special programs to make it easier to bring bikes on the trains. GO Transit's is a kind of 'Bike Coach' - but with scheduled times! (http://www.gotransit.com/public/en/travelling/seasonal.aspx - go to the Bicycles section). <br /><br />I haven't tried either of these options yet, but am planning at least a day trip before the end of the summer...Dunanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6467858377106451384.post-84798339953381355602011-07-06T13:02:28.655-04:002011-07-06T13:02:28.655-04:00Here in the UK it varies from train company to tra...Here in the UK it varies from train company to train company - on a trip to Manchester I had to take 3 different trains with 3 different approaches. Scotrail has nice areas on every train where up to six bikes can be hung up, no booking required. Virgin Rail has a separate locked space at the back which you have to book and only about 4 bikes can be accommodated per train. The TransPennine express has carriages with spaces for two bikes but they're also an area with folding seats so if you've booked your bike on there and it's busy you have to evict people from the seats, which isn't guaranteed to endear you to anyone. And only one website actually allows you to book your bike ticket at the same time as your own ticket - everywhere else you have to book your train and then find out whether there's space for the bike. They definitely would not allow that sort of mosh pit to develop - if the aisles are blocked like that I think the bikes and their owners would be thrown off at the next stop. So in short, yes, it's all a great big Brompton marketing opportunity...townmousehttp://cityexile.wordpress.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6467858377106451384.post-22533342494171380592011-07-06T11:02:09.431-04:002011-07-06T11:02:09.431-04:00I can't comment about bringing your bike on th...I can't comment about bringing your bike on the train but I do have a recommendation about riding around Cape Anne. Get off the train a little earlier in Beverly and take Rt. 127 up the coast for a longer scenic ride. You'll discover some nice little coves as you go through Beverly Farms and Manchester-by-the-sea. It gets a little dicey through parts of Gloucester but then get on 127A and continue on into Rockport. Cape Anne is beautiful, especially this time of year. Just discovered your blog today BTW and am enjoying reading it.RickFnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6467858377106451384.post-24397067731808272932011-07-06T03:29:54.486-04:002011-07-06T03:29:54.486-04:00Here in the Bay Area we have it pretty nice. As C...Here in the Bay Area we have it pretty nice. As Chris mentioned above Caltrain has lots of space, but is quite popular and the trains are relatively infrequent, so the spaces do fill up sometimes. <br /><br />BART, which runs between San Francisco and the East Bay, doesn't allow bikes during rush hour on trains going through downtown since there's barely space for people. They do provide bike lockers at most stations though. The lack of racks means one has to hold onto their bike during the trip, but at least trips tend to be short. The one nice thing though is the platforms are level with the train floor so one can just roll bikes on.<br /><br />The California Amtrak routes have bike cars with rows of racks on some trains and on others the luggage racks can fold up and turn into bike racks. Having used it before it's quite nice, and there's sometimes a bit of hanging out between all the cyclists. Connecting bus service has racks on the front of the bus or space in the luggage compartments.francisnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6467858377106451384.post-78966227985557919702011-07-06T03:29:23.264-04:002011-07-06T03:29:23.264-04:00I travel frequently by train in neighbouring Switz...I travel frequently by train in neighbouring Switzerland, although rarely with my bike; which I ride, given the choice. However most carriages have a reserved area with hangers and securing straps for up to 10 bikes (the carriages take about 200 passengers). The rule is one bike per person for a charge supplement of 5CHF.<br />However I rarely take a bike because one can hire a pretty good bike (Dutch style, 7speed Nexus, carriers and lights) on arrival, and for a low price (even for no charge at all; in Geneva for example). <br />It is also possible to load bikes into a freight wagon on certain trains and while I have never tried this personally I have had a second-hand bike purchase delivered via freight wagon across Switzerland (Basel to Lausanne) for 19CHF; no damage to the bike at all.<br />So it appears that the Swiss rail system is generally bike friendly, as is Switzerland.<br />See http://map.veloland.ch/?lang=en for info.Richardhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00272755559589366573noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6467858377106451384.post-73481054203261273212011-07-06T01:01:40.251-04:002011-07-06T01:01:40.251-04:00I have a vintage folding Peugeot and my boyfriend ...I have a vintage folding Peugeot and my boyfriend has some folding bike with an obscure name (Yeah bike) and we bought both off craigslist, both in pristine condition. My Peugeot had the original Pirelli tires on it. Every weekend we go back and forth between Fort Lauderdale (where he lives) and West Palm Beach (where I live) on the train. We love the fact that South Florida has a commuter train and its called Tri-Rail. It runs from one stop north of West Palm all the way down to the Miami Airport and we've used it to get to the airport too and no need to drive. They say only 2 bikes per "bike space area" but really people pile on like 3-4 bikes at a time. There's rumors going on that when they roll out the new cars, they won't allow full size bikes anymore but that defeats their entire campaign to get people out of their cars. I hope it doesn't come true. My boyfriend will be using the train everyday to commute to school and work when he moves up here in a couple of months. <br /><br />On other news, our stupid governor, Rick Scott, who threw away federal funding for the high speed rail has finally approved the SunRail for the Orlando area. I am glad to see another rail line open in Florida because we badly need it. However he is a hypocrite but I'm glad it got through.bikeWPBhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02606163367700978867noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6467858377106451384.post-22075237603266771182011-07-06T01:01:13.984-04:002011-07-06T01:01:13.984-04:00Thank you : )
You should have seen the "isles...Thank you : )<br />You should have seen the "isles" instead of "aisles" that were here earlier...Velouriahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00359329171411037482noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6467858377106451384.post-11924526501472820452011-07-06T00:43:54.559-04:002011-07-06T00:43:54.559-04:00I have come to read your posts regularly and am im...I have come to read your posts regularly and am impressed with your writing ability. Forgive me for pointing out this spelling correction, however. The word is not halfhazardly, it is haphazardly. : )Garthnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6467858377106451384.post-77098640633831271462011-07-05T23:46:43.780-04:002011-07-05T23:46:43.780-04:00I put my bike on Metro North from New Haven to New...I put my bike on Metro North from New Haven to New York City a lot. MN will not allow bikes during prime commuting hours, and bikes can be put on any car where the sliding door exit is. One has to watch what happens at each stop, and move the bike if it's in the way. It's fun to ride through Grand Central Station when I get there.<br /><br />MN also makes one buy a bike permit for a few dollars. It's really an insurance release in case your bike gets damaged.<br /><br />The best place for bikes on a MN train is in the bar car, plenty of wide open space with no seating, only upright poles to hold on to. I couldn't imagine a train company allowing bike overcrowding like you experienced.James Stollenwerckhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00350748109107951365noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6467858377106451384.post-76138322693394331422011-07-05T23:18:29.693-04:002011-07-05T23:18:29.693-04:00Heh. An article about the commuter rail + bike iss...Heh. An article about the commuter rail + bike issue is <a href="http://bit.ly/pe6i4U" rel="nofollow">on the NYT green blog</a> today.Velouriahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00359329171411037482noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6467858377106451384.post-46769935985983506432011-07-05T23:07:08.359-04:002011-07-05T23:07:08.359-04:00In Western Australia I catch 2 trains to work on t...In Western Australia I catch 2 trains to work on the suburban line. Bikes (other than folders complying to Transperth dimensions) are banned during the 2 hours peak travel at either end of the day. However, as I work nights this is no problem. I park my bike in the bike spot by the door, if it's crowded (after Aussie Rules matches) I use one of the folding seats and stay with it. There are only ever a few bikes and there is no way Transperth would allow the sort of pile-up you had to avoid (I felt pretty shocked looking at the photo. Surely it presents some sort of safety issue). It is free to travel with your bike within the metro area.<br /><br />If I use Transwa to travel to the country, it doesn't matter how many Kms I'm going 100km or 400km the bike ticket is $10 and can be purchased for both train and coach. I always pre-book these as there are theoretically limited spots, although I have never seen anyone's bike refused. On the coach it is safely stored with the luggage, upright in the hold with no tweaking of pedals or handlebars required. On the Australind (train) it is stored in a little hobby-hole behind the driver's cab and the kind attendants have always been on the station holding my bike at the ready for me as I disembark.<br /><br />I love the combination of trains and bikes. In fact I'd be hard pressed, given WA's sparse population and sprawling distances, to manage car-free without it. Whenever I hear about the difficulties of combining cycles and public transport in other states/countries I suddenly feel ridiculously lucky.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15636177626451867375noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6467858377106451384.post-25604433091896539602011-07-05T23:06:23.760-04:002011-07-05T23:06:23.760-04:00Here in Australia we have bike hooks in every seco...Here in Australia we have bike hooks in every second rail carriage, so that only permits one bike to hang for that carriage. But there is also an area at the end of some of the carriages where you can stand your bike and I have travelled using those areas. There have never been so many bikes on the train that the bikes piled up when I've done this, there has been room for half a dozen bikes and their owners to stand with them. Of course, these trips have been quite short, I would not like to take a long trip having to stand by my bike.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6467858377106451384.post-18414340987451266812011-07-05T21:10:48.469-04:002011-07-05T21:10:48.469-04:00Bif - Why is that? Being lighter and with a smalle...Bif - Why is that? Being lighter and with a smaller wheelbase, the Seven was easier to take on the train, but the Riv would have been better once actually there. Potholes and off-road on 23mm tires, plus no luggage make the Seven less than ideal for many types of rides.Velouriahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00359329171411037482noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6467858377106451384.post-51203949771237492012011-07-05T20:51:39.351-04:002011-07-05T20:51:39.351-04:00Velouria- Gladly! Hope you watched the second par...Velouria- Gladly! Hope you watched the second part as well! Definitely the good ol' days... at least in regard to bike riding!cyclotouristhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08432432995861421062noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6467858377106451384.post-60327118956476647022011-07-05T20:33:34.483-04:002011-07-05T20:33:34.483-04:00I would have also taken the Seven.I would have also taken the Seven.Bifhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05543158648103470697noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6467858377106451384.post-17467654074193895932011-07-05T20:12:40.619-04:002011-07-05T20:12:40.619-04:00I used to live in Gloucester for 11 years while wo...I used to live in Gloucester for 11 years while working in Marblehead. Since regular bikes weren't allowed on the trains during rush hour, I bought a Brompton to use on my commute. Rode to the station, quick fold, train ride to Salem, unfold, ride 5 miles to Marblehead. The Brompton was great for that purpose. However, I don't find it comfortable for much more than 5 miles due to the riding position. Of course I am 6'2" tall. Glad you enjoyed Cape Ann, I made that ride many times while living there. Chris Igleheart also rides to Boston from the North Shore frequently and he has a good route you might want to ask him about.<br /><br />Cheers,<br /><br />DavidDavid in Mainenoreply@blogger.com