Metra refitting cars, but not adding any bike amenities - The Chainlink2024-03-28T17:42:08Zhttps://thechainlink.org/forum/topics/metra-refitting-cars-but-not-adding-any-bike-amenities?commentId=2211490%3AComment%3A573554&feed=yes&xn_auth=noLuckily the train is so busy…tag:thechainlink.org,2012-07-22:2211490:Comment:5735542012-07-22T22:15:28.001ZJulie Aberman (Hochstadter)https://thechainlink.org/profile/JulieHochstadter
Luckily the train is so busy becaise of a seal concert at ravinia thqt they can't charge us any money. So metra loses all this money by overcrowding their trains and kicking off cyclists. The conductor said he was told he could tie it up but wouldnt
Luckily the train is so busy becaise of a seal concert at ravinia thqt they can't charge us any money. So metra loses all this money by overcrowding their trains and kicking off cyclists. The conductor said he was told he could tie it up but wouldnt Most of the time Metra allows…tag:thechainlink.org,2012-07-18:2211490:Comment:5721542012-07-18T21:34:21.987ZJaredhttps://thechainlink.org/profile/Jared
<p>Most of the time Metra allows more bikes than the posted limit. If they were to put in fixed racks for bikes then it might not actually increase capacity. I'm not sure how many you could fit in without removing seats. Also, if there was a set number you might see them limiting bikes after those racks are filled up. Right now they seem to be pretty lenient on how many they fit in.</p>
<p>Most of the time Metra allows more bikes than the posted limit. If they were to put in fixed racks for bikes then it might not actually increase capacity. I'm not sure how many you could fit in without removing seats. Also, if there was a set number you might see them limiting bikes after those racks are filled up. Right now they seem to be pretty lenient on how many they fit in.</p> Thanks for sharing Liz. I am…tag:thechainlink.org,2012-07-18:2211490:Comment:5721402012-07-18T18:54:52.797ZYasmeenhttps://thechainlink.org/profile/YasmeenSchuller
<p>Thanks for sharing Liz. I am also disappointed. There are so many people that do the bike/train commute now, it's hard to imagine they can continue to ignore this growing number of commuters. Buying a monthly pass doesn't guarantee you a spot on the train and more people are denied entry with their bikes because of the increased popularity combined with an arbitrary limit Metra came up with (a handicapped car can fit 9-10 bikes and officially, they only allow 4-5). I've been on other lines…</p>
<p>Thanks for sharing Liz. I am also disappointed. There are so many people that do the bike/train commute now, it's hard to imagine they can continue to ignore this growing number of commuters. Buying a monthly pass doesn't guarantee you a spot on the train and more people are denied entry with their bikes because of the increased popularity combined with an arbitrary limit Metra came up with (a handicapped car can fit 9-10 bikes and officially, they only allow 4-5). I've been on other lines that will only allow 2 bikes per car.</p>
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<p>It would be ideal to create dedicated cars so that bikes could get on one car and not have to run to the next car if the one you're waiting for is full. The vertical racks make perfect sense and don't look too terribly expensive to implement. Awareness events such as Critical Mass and Ride your bike to work week are great at getting the word out and raising awareness but regular bike/train commuters dread those days because the increased ridership usually means commuters will be denied entry because of capacity challenges. Metra conductors seem surprised on those days rather than being prepared to handle the increased capacity. </p> I can't add anything to this…tag:thechainlink.org,2012-07-18:2211490:Comment:5719112012-07-18T18:13:05.774ZFar'arned Retrogrumpalunkus #63https://thechainlink.org/profile/JamesBlackHeron
<p>I can't add anything to this but +1<br></br> <br></br> <cite>Daniel G said:</cite></p>
<blockquote cite="http://www.thechainlink.org/forum/topics/metra-refitting-cars-but-not-adding-any-bike-amenities#2211490Comment572104"><div><div class="xg_user_generated"><p>Disappointing but not surprising news. If they want to continue to work against bicycle commuters instead of with them, they will probably be doing so at their own cost anyway. Maintaining their mildly antagonistic position will only assure…</p>
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<p>I can't add anything to this but +1<br/> <br/> <cite>Daniel G said:</cite></p>
<blockquote cite="http://www.thechainlink.org/forum/topics/metra-refitting-cars-but-not-adding-any-bike-amenities#2211490Comment572104"><div><div class="xg_user_generated"><p>Disappointing but not surprising news. If they want to continue to work against bicycle commuters instead of with them, they will probably be doing so at their own cost anyway. Maintaining their mildly antagonistic position will only assure that conductors and bikers keep tripping all over each other in fear and hostility. But my god, power outlets finally. Of course Amtrak would get them before the busiest commuter rail service in the country outside of Nyc. Infrastructure in the US is being dragged kicking and screaming into the <span style="text-decoration: line-through;">21st century</span> mid-late twentieth century.</p>
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</blockquote> Disappointing news, but not a…tag:thechainlink.org,2012-07-18:2211490:Comment:5719062012-07-18T17:52:00.278ZZoetropehttps://thechainlink.org/profile/Zoetrope
<p>Disappointing news, but not at all surprising. It seems like it'd take quite a bit more money to install those bike storage pods than it would to install some sort of rack system on the outside of the trains, in the vein of the ones you see on the CTA buses. I may be wrong (I don't ride Metra, or trains in general much) but it seems like trains would be a near perfect means in which to utilize an outdoor rack system because there is a considerable amount of clearance usually on both sides…</p>
<p>Disappointing news, but not at all surprising. It seems like it'd take quite a bit more money to install those bike storage pods than it would to install some sort of rack system on the outside of the trains, in the vein of the ones you see on the CTA buses. I may be wrong (I don't ride Metra, or trains in general much) but it seems like trains would be a near perfect means in which to utilize an outdoor rack system because there is a considerable amount of clearance usually on both sides of the train. Wonder if anyone has tried something similar. </p>
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