Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Mike McCune on August 28, 2012 at 5:56am

I like the inward facing seats. There is a lot more room for bikes. Plus it is easier to sit with your bike.

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Permalink Reply by Thunder Snow on August 28, 2012 at 7:27am

I've experienced the new cars 3 or 4 times now and like them for the most part.  People no longer bunch up at the doorways, preventing entrance or egress.  The new train cars facilitate a more even distribution of standees throughout the car.  In fact there's a nice open "plaza"-like space near the door, where It's very easy to stand (not sure, but it may be intended for wheelchairs).  Downsides: if you're sitting, you may get squashed between people, but standing is much easier on these new train cars, so that's maybe a better option.  I'm guessing most folks will leave an empty seat on each side, unless the train is jam packed.  If you're sitting, you get butts & crotches in the face, another reason to stand.  I like never getting caught stuck inside at a window seat having to ask your seatmate to stand when exiting, like the old layout seating.  The thing I miss most with the new cars is the ability to just sit and look out the window; now if you look across and out the window, people across from you will think you're staring at them.

I haven't yet tried it with a bike, and to be honest, I'd still probably bring the folding bike on the L rather than a full-sized bike, just for ease of movement. 

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Permalink Reply by Barry Aldridge on August 28, 2012 at 7:39am

I brought my bike on a cta train once - never again. There is simply no room for a bike anywhere on an el car - even with the center-facing seats. They are just too much of an imposition on everyone else who rides the train. I've never understood putting bikes on busses and trains, anyway - you have your bike, ride it!

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Permalink Reply by Thunder Snow on August 28, 2012 at 7:52am

Barry, I think you're neglecting to consider the many of us who use bikes as a commuting tool in a whole toolbox of multimodal travel options.  I have two main clients, each of which is 25 miles or more away from my home, each in opposite directions (I'm positioned midway between them).  For those of us older folks who may not be athletes, a 50 mile daily ride bookending a long day of work, particularly in rough weather, simply isn't a good option.  For many of us, public transit is our main travel mode and using our bikes is for the first and last few miles, from station to destination.  We all use our bikes differently.
 
Barry Aldridge said:

I've never understood putting bikes on busses and trains, anyway - you have your bike, ride it!

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