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 igz on July 18, 2013 at 7:03am

more things learned / realized:  

-The Metra handycap cars do not show a bicycle indicating where the bikes should go. Only shows an ADA symbol.

-Conductor said the "silent car" rollout was more conceived, is more enforced, has more talking points when a family of screaming kids sits down, than there is a conversation about bike policy.

Permalink Reply by Paul on July 19, 2013 at 7:31am

Do you mean the 4 hooks, 2 at each end of every car, where you hang your bike vertically by one wheel and the little shoe at the bottom that the other wheel fits in?

The real difference is cultural.  Bicycle transportation is a way of life, not nuisance.


Steve Cohen said:

Granted that the Metra program is poorly conceived.  What would a well-conceived bike program for Metra look like?

I was just out in Portland, OR last month (bike heaven).  They seem to have an answer for all these problems though it's hard to see how some of their solutions could be retrofitted to existing Metra cars.

Permalink Reply by Paul on July 19, 2013 at 7:40am

You have been to airline management school, right? 

peter moormann said:

Travelers with bikes should be charged for the space the bikes use on the train car.

1 ticket for person, 1 ticket for bike.

This should solve most of the issues.

Permalink Reply by igz on July 19, 2013 at 8:33am

one bikes uses the same amount of seats as 3 bikes.  2 bikes use the same amount of seats as 6 bikes.  are you going to instate a prorated system? how would you manage that?

it actually doesnt solve any issues

Permalink Reply by Skip Montanaro 0mi on July 19, 2013 at 9:25am

You mean 2 bikes == 6 people, right?

Permalink Reply by igz on July 19, 2013 at 9:30am

nope, what i said is correct. in the handicap area, where the folded seats are, is where the bikes go. there are ADA seats on both sides, onle side longer than the other. the non restroom side can accommodate two bikes front to back. BUT that can be stacked 3 deep - therefore 2 bikes takes as many seats as 6 bikes.

unless you want to state that two bikes would be stacked on top of each other, sure. but thats not always organized like that. it may be more correct for me to say that 4 bikes (3 and 1) will take up the same amount of seats as 6 bikes.

regardless of that, charging per bike isnt fair, and useless even, unless you guarantee that space for the bike.

Permalink Reply by Skip Montanaro 0mi on July 19, 2013 at 9:35am

Okay, I understand what you were saying.  If they can be stacked three deep, then stack three, then three more.  Three bikes can thus take up the same space as just one bike.

Permalink Reply by igz on July 19, 2013 at 9:40am

we have squeezed 8 - if people stack properly and neatly (watching for crank and pedal alignment) on the one side, 4 on the other side by the restroom. but you can only do 2 wide, 4 deep at the most.  i have taken the train and seen 12 bikes on a single car. have pics on FB to prove it. but if a wheel chair came on, someone would be fucked. unless there was room on another car.

Permalink Reply by Steve Weeks on July 19, 2013 at 9:57am

That's OK if everyone is going to the same place. Imagine that someone who got on early needed to get off before the others. Also, you're depending on the conductor being willing to stretch the limits a bit (or a lot).

Also... if I had a nice bike, I'm not sure I'd want to tangle it up like that. Just saying...

Steve

Permalink Reply by igz on July 19, 2013 at 10:09am

they actually arent tangled, they are organized, and they happen to be organized in order of people getting off.  and if you adjust the cranks and pedals, you wont scratch anyones frame, you'll squeeze more in, and the handlebars tend to help lock everything in place. most of those bikes got on at Itasca, the rest at Wood Dale. they get off at Cicero, Western, and Union. we got our collective shit together, yo.

Permalink Reply by Steve Weeks on July 19, 2013 at 12:26pm

My hat (helmet, actually!) is off to you!

Steve

igz said:

they actually arent tangled, they are organized, and they happen to be organized in order of people getting off.  and if you adjust the cranks and pedals, you wont scratch anyones frame, you'll squeeze more in, and the handlebars tend to help lock everything in place. most of those bikes got on at Itasca, the rest at Wood Dale. they get off at Cicero, Western, and Union. we got our collective shit together, yo.

Permalink Reply by Anne Alt on July 19, 2013 at 1:12pm

That's how it works when i'm on the Rock Island with folks who have a clue or newbies who are willing to accept suggestions.

igz said:

they actually arent tangled, they are organized, and they happen to be organized in order of people getting off.  and if you adjust the cranks and pedals, you wont scratch anyones frame, you'll squeeze more in, and the handlebars tend to help lock everything in place. most of those bikes got on at Itasca, the rest at Wood Dale. they get off at Cicero, Western, and Union. we got our collective shit together, yo.

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