Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Bob Kastigar on August 2, 2010 at 3:53pm

I really do wish that amtrak would allow you to roll on bikes with a reservation the way they allow you to in IL when traveling to destinations that do not check baggage. There are several WI or MI trips I would bring my bike on the train for.

I'm no expert on this, but doing a little mousing around and getting the various Amtrak schedules:

The three IL routes and the one MO route are heavily subsidized by the Department of Transportation in both states, the IDOT and the MDOT.

Go to Amtrak's website for Michigan at
http://www.amtrak.com/servlet/ContentServer/AM_Route_C/124124566451...
and look at the routes.

There are two clickable links for the MI routes. Get the one for the Pere Marquetteroute. It's a .PDF
file.

Compare these to the IL and MO routes.

The IL and MO routes support carry-on bikes. the MI routes don't.

Remember that all three are heavily subsidized by the state DOT.

I think our concern is to address the state's Departments of Transportation.

This isn't an Amtrak decision, it's what the states are willing to subsidize.

Two possibilities: Amtrak says "OK States, we'll carry bikes and this is what it will cost you." Alternately, the state says "OK Amtrak, start carrying bikes or we're going to cut off the subsidy."

In IL and MO it still costs you $10 per bike. I dunno what the big deal is. Does it require special trains that have room to carry the bikes? I don't know.

This may be something our-guy-in-Washington, LaHood, may have to put the arm on Amtrak and/or Michigan to get this bikes-on-trains in Michigan moved.

I don't think there's any regional service in Wisconsin, so there's even less possibility of getting something done in that state.

Permalink Reply by Liz on August 3, 2010 at 4:33am

I believe the Michigan regional trains are the same cars as the IL regional trains. The number of bikes is limited to how many fit in that car as is. There are no modifications to the car, and the conductor does not assist with loading/unloading the bikes. The bikes are either parked in the wheelchair area or lifted and placed into the overhead luggage area. The $10/bike goes straight to Amtrak. It doesn't really make sense for them to oppose making an extra $10 off of passengers traveling with bikes. I think writing letters to both the Michicago State Department of Transportation (who fund the Pere Marquette, Wolverine and Blue Water Services) and to the Michicago tourism group whose ads are all over the train brochures.

I agree that since WI does not have any regional trains it would not be worthwile to persue adding bike service (at least for now).

Bob Kastigar said:

Compare these to the IL and MO routes.

The IL and MO routes support carry-on bikes. the MI routes don't.

Remember that all three are heavily subsidized by the state DOT.

I think our concern is to address the state's Departments of Transportation.

This isn't an Amtrak decision, it's what the states are willing to subsidize.

Two possibilities: Amtrak says "OK States, we'll carry bikes and this is what it will cost you." Alternately, the state says "OK Amtrak, start carrying bikes or we're going to cut off the subsidy."

In IL and MO it still costs you $10 per bike. I dunno what the big deal is. Does it require special trains that have room to carry the bikes? I don't know.

This may be something our-guy-in-Washington, LaHood, may have to put the arm on Amtrak and/or Michigan to get this bikes-on-trains in Michigan moved.

I don't think there's any regional service in Wisconsin, so there's even less possibility of getting something done in that state.

Permalink Reply by Bob Kastigar on August 4, 2010 at 5:23am

Liz said:

I agree that since WI does not have any regional trains it would not be worthwile to persue adding bike service (at least for now).

Feel free to copy and paste, edit to add your own comments and suggestions, and mail it:
`````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````
US Dept of Transportation
Secretary Ray LaHood
1200 New Jersey Ave SE
Washington DC 20590

Dear Sec. LaHood:

Outside the borders of Illinois a minor hassle about bicycles that perhaps you could do something about to open a couple of bottlenecks.

In Illinois, the Illinois DOT subsidizes three Amtrak routes that allow carry-on bicycles. These routes run between Chicago and St. Louis, Carbondale, and Quincy. In Missouri, there is one subsidized route that runs between Kansas City and St. Louis that also allows carry-on bicycles. I’ve ridden all of these routes at various times, with my bicycle on-board. There’s a minor charge, but that isn’t an issue.

This is really a very attractive to us bicycle tourists. If you wish, you can pursue some of my escapades at http://orion.neiu.edu/~rkastig1/bikehome.html

In Michigan there are three daily routes very similar, subsidized by the Michigan DOT, with one very important difference: there is NO BICYCLE CARRY-ON! The passenger vehicles are the same, or very similar, to the Illinois and Missouri routes. We’ve been having some discussion about this on various bicycle discussion lists. Could you maybe put a little nudge behind Amtrak or the state to do something?

In Wisconsin, your July 29th Press Release talked about a considerable amount of money for high-speed rail. Wisconsin does not have local routes like Illinois, Missouri, and Michigan and it could certainly use them across the state. Right now there are only three stations that handle checked-luggage (which allows you to partially disassemble the bike and pack it in a box). That’s Milwaukee, Columbus, and LaCrosse. There’s only one train a day, major and expensive cross-country routes. The local routes, running on the same tracks as the current trains, could be more attractive and do-able now rather than wait for high-speed. Could you nudge Amtrak and Wisconsin to do something a little better?

If you’re ever in Chicago, bring your bike. Thank you for your consideration.

Yours truly,

``````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````

Permalink Reply by Bob Kastigar on August 4, 2010 at 9:22am

Cameron Puetz said:

Or use the links on this page to email:
http://www.michigan.gov/mdot/0,1607,7-151-12960-64505--,00.html#

Well, maybe a positive note. An email response I got:

Hello,
Thanks for your e-mail to MDOT. I've recently spoken to a staff person
with MDOT's Office of High Speed Rail and Innovative Project Advancement
and she spoke with Amtrak in May about this issue. Currently, there is
not any checked baggage on the Michigan trains, which is an Amtrak
policy due to limited staffed stations etc.

Amtrak says that golf bags and bikes will soon be accommodated. They
need to install racks on the train to secure them, but this is supposed
to happen yet this summer. That does not mean there will be checked
baggage......just the ability for a passenger to load clubs or a bike.

Please watch the national Amtrak Web site for updates on this subject.



Janet Foran
Office of Communications
Michigan Department of Transportation
P.O. Box 30050
Lansing, MI 48909
office phone: 517-335-7176
cell phone: 517-937-7219
e-mail: foranj@michigan.gov

Permalink Reply by Bicycle Poet on August 4, 2010 at 11:16am

Excellent job. Thank you for starting this lobbying effort. I had something like this in mind for awhile but have kept it on my mental backburner due to higher priorities. MDoT's current bike-prohibition on Amtrak is preventing Michigan tourism revenue. I am very excited about one-day doing a lot of touring in the Wolverine state.

• ‹ Previous
• 1
• 2
• 3
• Next ›
• Page