Bikes on trains: Conductors perspective

Ive looked through a few of the topics on this matter and thought I'd give my 2c from a different viewpoint, that toolbag from the kingdom of jerk off, a Metra conductor. Have 15 years in and it was oh so nice for the first 9 not to have to deal with this but as we all know, that ended a few years back and the geniuses at Metra who came with the plan as usual half assed it and left us , the operating employee, holding the bag for it. While they are at home every weekend, they leave it to us to enforce the policy, rules and regs that go along with being able to bring bikes on board, a policy that  to this day many riders have zero clue about the proper way of doing. Of course the people who read this forum dont fall into this category at all, you are all respectful and abide by what the conductor says every time you ride Im sure. Bikes in general are a pain to have on the train, whether or not there is room for them. To this day, my estimate is that 60% of the people STILL get on without a way to secure their bike to the bottom rail like theyre supposed to, then want to fight with me about letting them ride anyway. Main reason we are such sticklers for this? If for some reason that bike is unsecured and something happens where the train moves suddenly, derails, goes through a crossover, etc and it breaks loose and hits little Tommy sitting with his Mom across the aisle and hurts him, management and Tommys Mom arent going to come after you the bike rider. Nope, theyre going to come after me, the conductor and first thing theyre going to ask / tell me is why didnt you make sure those bikes were tied down? Boom, Im out of a job when Tommys Mom sues and Im not putting my families future at risk because some doofus doesnt carry around a bungee or chain. Next, relinquishing your seat or being asked to leave the train when the train becomes too crowded IS a possibility and a risk you take when you bring your bike on board. Ive had so many arguments over this its not even funny. People seem to think once theyre on, thats it and they cant be asked to leave when we need the space. Sorry, but we can do that and Im not making a family of 5 stand up for 30 plus miles just so you can bring your bike on. Next up, reaching max capacity . Certain trains can take up to 15 bikes but we dont have to take that many. If the bikes that are on board are clogging the aisle making walking by them unsafe, Im going to cut off the bikes right there and no more will be allowed to board. So when you try to get on halfway down the line and I tell you we're full, its my decision and its final. I usually get the "cmon man you can take 1 more" stance and Im not going to compromise the safety of the other passengers no matter how much people beg and plead. Youve all seen how crowded those trains are especially on weekends, and when I have to move 4 people from their seats when you get on 1 stop out of Ogilve / Union so you can bring your bike on, its a pain, I dont like my job to be a pain, I like it to run smooth. Bikes in general cause the train not to run so smooth because of all the baggage that goes along with it. Just keep that in mind next time you think the conductor is being a jerk to some rider about their bike. NONE and I mean none of the conductors I know like having them on board m we are being forced to do it because some dopes at the top thought it would be a good idea and forced it on us without really creating a way to make it palatable for us and for you the rider. For that I dont fault you I fault them but they leave us to clean up the mess . Thanks for reading, Flame away.

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Permalink Reply by Steve Taylor on July 16, 2013 at 6:46am
That's just it is that here we are 5 years into the program and my conservative estimate is 6 out of 10 riders with bikes have zero clue about those conditions . I can't believe how many still get on without a chain or bungee. Obviously there's a breakdown in the dissemination of the information and that's where a good majority of the problem lay. The suggestion of additional signage at stations down the line may help a bit but based on how many sheeple I get on my train daily who walk by a giant lit up board detailing what stops the train will be making in addition to the predeparture detailing what stops we make and still manage to get on a train that doesn't stop where they want to get off lends me to believe that they aren't paying much attention anyway and wouldn't see any sign. The bike icon on the website is a solid idea though.
Permalink Reply by Anne Alt on July 16, 2013 at 7:51am

Exactly. Once someone finds that page, it is fairly clear and informative, but it takes a bit of searching to get there. I like the idea of having a bike icon on the home page.

I also hear Steve Taylor's point about how many people are clueless even when ample information is provided.  I'd consider that a problem in general, not specific to Metra.

As someone who often takes a bike on the train on evenings and weekends, I often find it frustrating to deal with other cyclists who don't have a clue, so I sympathize with the conductors on this.  In the early days of bikes being allowed on Metra, I remember most conductors telling cyclists they didn't know (before boarding the train) that they MUST have a bungee cord to secure their bikes, otherwise they wouldn't be allowed on the train.  With all the problems I've encountered with unsecured bikes and clueless people in recent months, I wouldn't mind a return to that policy.

igz said:

..."you know, i dont hate you guys, you commuters. you have your shit together, you are organized. you have your bungees, you know what order everyone is getting on and off. i dont have to worry about you guys".

... its the uneducated on the matter that cause issues. ...

i went to the metrarail.com site. i starred at the screen for a bit. nothing about bikes. not a word, not an icon. (a big bicycle graphic would be perfect - click on me!). i kept scanning. then, on the top menu - "Riding Metra". ok, yes i want to ride metra. click. scan scan scan - ah, there - third from last on the side bar - "Bikes on Trains". 

Permalink Reply by Steve Taylor on July 16, 2013 at 8:07am
That policy is still in effect but mamy of my coworkers don't enforce it. I've taken to asking and making cyclists show me how they plan on securing their bike before ill let them board at all. For those who think I'm being a hardass let me say that the rules state bungee or chain. That's it. However people have used belts, shoelaces, a plastic bag as tie downs and we really aren't supposed to let that happen. Bungee or chain and that's it.
Permalink Reply by Anne Alt on July 16, 2013 at 8:32am

I've seen people do half-a@#ed jobs of securing their bikes with belts, shoelaces, plastic bags and other things.  It usually doesn't work so well.  U-locks sometimes work better, depending on exactly how they're used.

I remember being asked to show my bungee cord before boarding in the early days.  I usually have it in hand as the train approaches, so if the conductor is one who doesn't know me, he/she knows that I know the drill.

"my conservative estimate is 6 out of 10 riders with bikes have zero clue"

I'd agree with your estimate.

Permalink Reply by igz on July 16, 2013 at 8:55am

i forgot to mention - this conductor said he was part of the pilot program to see how the bikes situation would work. back then (and he thinks late 90's), a person had to make a reservation online in order to take their bike, and their name had to be on a manifest upon boarding.  not sure if there is something to that that would work for blackout periods, but maybe an interpretation of that would work for daily commuters.

Permalink Reply by bobweiser on July 16, 2013 at 9:51am

just trying to brainstorm other potential ways to raise awareness:

  • pamphlets by ticket machines?
  • there's bike the drive, what about "bike the metra"? a specific train could be reserved for cyclists going to and from a ride somewhere outside the city, and on the way conductors could demonstrate how to secure a bike, answer questions, sell bungee cords, pass out literature, etc.
  • speaking for myself, i lead rides that take advantage of the metra, and i'm planning from now on to (1) check to see if it's a blackout date and (2) include a link in the description to metra's Bikes on Trains page.
  • what if the chainlink site had a train icon that linked to its own Bikes on Trains page?
Permalink Reply by igz on July 16, 2013 at 10:17am

BAM!

robert hsiung said:

  • what if the chainlink site had a train icon that linked to its own Bikes on Trains page?
Permalink Reply by Julie Aberman (Hochstadter) on July 16, 2013 at 10:24am

so like a reminder on the site whenever their was a blackout date and info about bikes on trains so people could use it and add to it as a resource guide?

igz said:

BAM!

robert hsiung said:

  • what if the chainlink site had a train icon that linked to its own Bikes on Trains page?
Permalink Reply by igz on July 16, 2013 at 10:31am

for realz.  but more so a Metra Icon.  not just updates but the regular rules in general

Julie Hochstadter said:

so like a reminder on the site whenever their was a blackout date and info about bikes on trains so people could use it and add to it as a resource guide?

igz said:

BAM!

robert hsiung said:

  • what if the chainlink site had a train icon that linked to its own Bikes on Trains page?
Permalink Reply by Steve Cohen on July 16, 2013 at 11:09am

I'm one who was once clueless.  I'm not a regular bike commuter on Metra or anything like that.  I just wanted to go up to Kenosha and ride back down one weekend.  I was so clueless I didn't realize I HAD to go research the thing on the Metra web site, and really, why should I have realized it?  I just heard that Metra allowed bikes.  Cool, let's try it.  Bungee cords?  Nope, I didn't know.

Of course, now that I am no longer clueless I'm not going to repeat that mistake.  But the first-timers who may not have gotten the word don't really deserve to be treated like crap either.  They just need to be educated.  I think Metra needs to have more signage.  Conductors should be able to point to a sign when denying access to those who haven't learned the rules, and not have to do it all on the strength of their personalities.  Or maybe a little sheet they could hand out.  "Here are the rules - next time you'll know - sorry".  Instead of the confrontations that sometimes occur.


Steve Taylor said:

That's just it is that here we are 5 years into the program and my conservative estimate is 6 out of 10 riders with bikes have zero clue about those conditions . I can't believe how many still get on without a chain or bungee. Obviously there's a breakdown in the dissemination of the information and that's where a good majority of the problem lay. The suggestion of additional signage at stations down the line may help a bit but based on how many sheeple I get on my train daily who walk by a giant lit up board detailing what stops the train will be making in addition to the predeparture detailing what stops we make and still manage to get on a train that doesn't stop where they want to get off lends me to believe that they aren't paying much attention anyway and wouldn't see any sign. The bike icon on the website is a solid idea though.
Permalink Reply by Steve Cohen on July 16, 2013 at 11:14am

Best in my view when encountering newcomers who don't know the rules:

1) Give the conductors a pad of sheets with the rules that they can pass out to these folks.

2) Conductors should be hardasses about enforcing the rules without being hostile.  Just hand them the sheet and say "sorry, next time you'll know".  That would defuse the confrontational aspect of it and be the most educational.

igz said:

i had a meaningful conversation with one of my inbound conductors yesterday. i asked him "do you hate bikes"? he responds "yes!. im assuming you wanted an honest answer". i did, and i got one.

but he was quick to clarify his position.

"you know, i dont hate you guys, you commuters. you have your shit together, you are organized. you have your bungees, you know what order everyone is getting on and off. i dont have to worry about you guys".

it seems this theme resonates throughout the conductorship.  its the uneducated on the matter that cause issues.  i mentioned that Metra struggles at communicating their policies, blackouts, etc. and he asked "does it". i realized i wasnt 100% certain, so i promised i would try to find that info, how easy/difficult it would be.

i went to the metrarail.com site. i starred at the screen for a bit. nothing about bikes. not a word, not an icon. (a big bicycle graphic would be perfect - click on me!). i kept scanning. then, on the top menu - "Riding Metra". ok, yes i want to ride metra. click. scan scan scan - ah, there - third from last on the side bar - "Bikes on Trains".  

maybe not entirely intuitive (which i unfortunately do believe we need to dumb everything down that is accessed by the general public), but its there, just two clicks away once on the site. i still think a big bicycle graphic that links to that page would be great.

but that link does give you all the details (though larger print would be helpful). you have a list of blackout dates, age restrictions, ADA provisions and bike amount allowance on each train (not to be confused with train car), and a list of 14 additional rules, all of which are reasonable (except 5 - which is open to subjectivity; and 6 - what if you cant lift a bike up them steep stairs, just help the old lady out).

its not unreasonable for a metra user to look this info up.  but getting them to understand they need to look this info up is another story

Permalink Reply by Anne Alt on July 16, 2013 at 3:40pm

But the first-timers who may not have gotten the word don't really deserve to be treated like crap either.  They just need to be educated.  I think Metra needs to have more signage.  Conductors should be able to point to a sign when denying access to those who haven't learned the rules, and not have to do it all on the strength of their personalities.  Or maybe a little sheet they could hand out.  "Here are the rules - next time you'll know - sorry".  Instead of the confrontations that sometimes occur.

Sounds fair to me.

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