The Chainlink

Metra's bike policy, for those so inclined.

What a beautiful day! The sun is shining, and summer has FINALLY shown up.  For any of you who would like to take your bike down to the lake front, or into the city, I wanted to offer you Metra's official policy on Bikes on trains, and explain to you the highlights and lowlights of what you may experience while doing it.  So here goes.

Bicycles are permitted on all weekday trains arriving in Chicago after 9:30 A.M. and leaving Chicago before 3:00 P.M. and after 7:00 P.M., (It does not matter how much you ask, or how nicely you ask. If it is between those times, the conductors are NOT going to let you bring your bike on the train.  His job is on the line)

and on all weekend trains, with the following exceptions:

  • Blackhawks Victory Parade - June 28, 2013
  • All days during Taste of Chicago - July 10, 2013 to July 14, 2013
  • Lollapalooza - August 2, 2013 to August 4, 2013
  • Air & Water Show - August 17, 2013 & August 18, 2013

*As a reminder, Metra reserves the right to prohibit bicycles if coaches are crowded or access is impeded, and makes no assurances that space will be available for bicycles.

1. Individual cyclists must be at least 16 years old. Riders aged 12 through 15 must be accompanied by an adult. Children under 12 are not permitted.

2. Only five bicycles per ADA car on each diesel train will be allowed in designated priority seating areas; two for each equivalent Metra Electric car. For 2013 the following number of bicycles can generally be accommodated per train:

Union Pacific North, Northwest & West Lines 20 bicycles

 

3. Standard bicycles not exceeding 70 inches in length will be permitted. Tricycles, tandems, trailers, bulky attachments, training wheels or powered bicycles are prohibited.

4. There is no additional charge for bicycles.

5. Train conductors will make the final decisions regarding the ability to accommodate bicycles on each train. All cyclists must follow instructions of Metra train crews.  ( It will do NO good to argue with the conductor.  The federal government, the state government, the city government, and Metra, have ALL concluded that the final authority on a train, is the conductor. )

6. Train crews are not required to assist with boarding bicycles; their primary responsibilities are for passenger safety and assisting those with disabilities.

7. The wheelchair lift will not be used to load or unload bicycles.

8. Cyclists must be considerate and allow all passengers (including those with mobility devices) to board and alight before carrying their bicycles on or off the train.

9. Cyclists may be required to leave the train if ADA space is needed for boarding passengers with disabilities. If cyclists are required to detrain prior to destination, passengers who purchased a cash fare from the conductor will be given a refund by that conductor. Passengers riding on One-Way or 10-Ride tickets will have their ticket returned with the following notation "Good for One Additional Ride."

10. Bicycles cannot block aisles or impede passenger movement. Cyclists must stay in the vicinity of their bicycles at all times.

11. In case of evacuation, bikes will be left on the train, clear of aisles and doors.

12. Metra makes no assurances that space will be available for bicycles on designated bike trains (including late-hour trains). Cyclists will be accommodated on a first-come, first-served basis.

13. Bicycles are permitted on all weekday trains arriving in Chicago after 9:30 a.m. and leaving Chicago before 3 p.m. and after 7 p.m., and on all weekend trains.

14. Bicycles must be kept clean and free of dirt and grease while aboard Metra trains. Bicycles that present a hazard to other customers or Metra facilities are prohibited.

15. Bicycles must be secured to the lower rail of folding seats in the priority seating area with long bungee cords (approximately 36 inches recommended) or other devices supplied by the cyclist which adequately secure the bicycle.  

This is a big thing. You HAVE to secure your bike.  Most conductors don't care if you use a shoe lace, as long as it is secured.  Reason being, If we come to a quick stop, or hit something big enough that we slow rapidly, what is going to happen to your bike?  It is going to become a missle on wheels and crash into the other passengers.  Heck, you can use your belt. But don't be lazy, and not want to secure it because "Your only going two stops" 

Also, ask the other riders where they are going (preferably before you get on the train, if there are multiple bikes on a platform). If you can, put your bikes in order of who gets off when.  You and they, don't want to be doing ring around the rosy every time someone wants to get off the train.  It delays the train, and makes everyone grumpy.

16. Folding bicycles in protective covers are permitted on all trains at all times but should not block train aisles or doorways.

Here's the thing.  As a conductor for 17 years, I remember the whole implementation of the bike policy in Chicago.  We were never consulted on the best way to do it, those decisions were made by people who don't work on trains. So you can imagine how smoothly that went. There was a certain amount of animosity in the beginning.  Some conductors got over it, some didn't.  I personally welcome the bikes on my train, because I then get to talk to the other bikers.  If you follow the guidelines, and be nice to the conductors, you will probably find that most of them are pretty normal,  guys and will be nice to you, if you are nice to us.  

I hope this helped.

M.
Milwaukee North & West Lines 15 bicycles
Rock Island Line 15 bicycles
BNSF Railway 10 bicycles
North Central Service 15 bicycles
SouthWest Service 15 bicycles
Metra Electric 8 bicycles*

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Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Tank-Ridin' Ryan on August 31, 2013 at 7:56am

If that's the case, the website could use some appending on this.

From http://metrarail.com/metra/en/home/utility_landing/riding_metra/bik...

1. Individual cyclists must be at least 16 years old. Riders aged 12 through 15 must be accompanied by an adult. Children under 12 are not permitted.

Mark said:

Children under 12, without a parent I believe. ( I will get further information on Tuesday when I go back to work)  How old is the child who rides independently? 

Permalink Reply by Mark on August 31, 2013 at 5:21pm

Yes, after reading it I saw that.  Hence the, I will get clarification on Tuesday.

 

 

Permalink Reply by Rich S on August 31, 2013 at 10:57pm

Is it also Metra's policy to allow conductors to make up their own rules?

I was denied boarding on Metra's electric line tonight because Jazz Fest is a blackout date. I had bungee in hand and I could see through the windows that the train wasn't crowded. I politely told the conductor that I checked the site and that Jazz Fest wasn't listed as a blackout date (nevermind that at 7pm no one is going downtown to Jazz Fest). I also told him that the rest of the group I was with boarded the train an hour earlier with no issues. I couldn't board that train because the limit of 8 bikes per train was reached and I was fine with that. The conductors on that train said I could get on the next one. The conductor on the train I was trying to board then just said too bad I'm not letting you on.  

I'm so sorry emperor conductor that I didn't offer a backrub or booty licking for your permission to board the train. Should I have called you Caesar? I get that some rules were put in place that you don't like but that doesn't give you the right to make up more or not follow those rules. It's been quite a few years since the bike policy was implemented. If you're not over it by now then you need some therapy. 

Every other conductor I've encountered on a Metra train has been courteous and professional. The conductors on the earlier train opened 2 cars to allow the rest of my group to board. I understand that they couldn't let me on because they would have exceeded the 8 bike per train limit. I wasn't asking anyone to break any rules. But what the conductors did on the next train is plain wrong. I was trying to work within Metra's rules and I will be writing a letter to Metra's management. 

Permalink Reply by h' Zerocats on September 1, 2013 at 12:22am

That's a real bummer Rich, sorry that happened.  Way to kill a fun day.

Permalink Reply by Mark on September 1, 2013 at 9:10am

Rich,

I understand your annoyed. You have every right to be.  Somewhere, somehow, that conductor, got wrong information.  He didn't arbitrarily just make up a rule.  Doing so, would get him disciplined.  Now this could have happened multiple ways. 

1. He was given wrong information.

2. He was new, and just assumed.

3. He misunderstood the information he was given.

4. He was using old information

5. He was right, and the first conductor was wrong.

However, paragraph 2, and what I can only assume, and I hope I'm wrong, the attitude at the time, Isn't going to help. Ultimately, It IS the conductors call.  The best course of action, is to get the train number, (see the schedule) and call customer service.  All complaints HAVE to be addressed by a field manager.  Hopefully, the manager can use the incident, to instruct the conductor on the proper protocol.  This benefits everyone in the future.  Much better than getting pissed, and here is why.

We recently had a conductor assaulted, and drug off the train, by a passenger, because he wasn't allowed to bring his bike on the train during lolapalooza.  Both the man denied ridership, and his girlfriend/wife assaulted the conductor, She blindsided him and punched him in the back of the head, as the man pulled the conductor off the train as the doors were closing.  How do you think this, and other negative attitudes, affect other conductors feeling about cyclists on the train?  Conductors gossip worse than a bunch of old busy bodies at church.   Im not implying you would do anything like this, it was an extreme case.  But lets not forget, people remember bad happenings.  The story went thru the ranks like wildfire. Leaving people who might have not had an opinion on bikes on the train, with a negative opinion.  I don't want that.  You don't want that. 

Again Rich, I'm sorry for the professionalism of one of my Co Workers.  It kills me that some guys just don't get it, how good a job they have. 

Permalink Reply by h' Zerocats on September 1, 2013 at 11:02am

Incidences of conductors making up blackouts used to be fairly common, to the point where I would print that page and the rest of the policy and carry it with me when riding and recommend that others do the same, but it's been a few years now since I've heard of a case like this.

Permalink Reply by millenial removing Bernie tattoo on September 1, 2013 at 3:55pm

Noooo!!!  You got the same guy we got on last year's ride!

Rich S said:

 

I was denied boarding on Metra's electric line tonight because Jazz Fest is a blackout date. 

Permalink Reply by Anne Alt on September 1, 2013 at 5:45pm

In years past, Jazz Fest dates were blackout dates. Last year and this year, they were NOT according to Metra's web site.  It seems that some conductors are either misinformed or choosing to invent a blackout date that isn't on this year's list.

envane (69 furlongs) said:

Noooo!!!  You got the same guy we got on last year's ride!

Rich S said:

 

I was denied boarding on Metra's electric line tonight because Jazz Fest is a blackout date. 

Permalink Reply by Anne Alt on September 1, 2013 at 5:47pm

We recently had a conductor assaulted, and drug off the train, by a passenger, because he wasn't allowed to bring his bike on the train during lolapalooza.  Both the man denied ridership, and his girlfriend/wife assaulted the conductor, She blindsided him and punched him in the back of the head, as the man pulled the conductor off the train as the doors were closing.  How do you think this, and other negative attitudes, affect other conductors feeling about cyclists on the train? 

That kind of physical violence is inexcusable.  I'm sorry that some thug did this to one of your co-workers.  It makes life worse for everyone.

Where did this incident happen?

Permalink Reply by Rich S on September 1, 2013 at 6:17pm

 

Mark, the conductor said that it was "a different conductor" that allowed my friends to board the earlier train. That certainly implies different conductors, different rules.
Mark said:

Rich,

I understand your annoyed. You have every right to be.  Somewhere, somehow, that conductor, got wrong information.  He didn't arbitrarily just make up a rule.  Doing so, would get him disciplined.  Now this could have happened multiple ways.

 

The letter I wrote is below:

 

To whom it may concern:

 

I am writing this email to inform Metra management of two service experiences I had yesterday, Aug 31 2013, on the Metra Electric Line.

 

I was with 8 other cyclists at the Flossmoor Station on Aug 31 attempting to board the 5:54pm inbound train (train #136). When the train arrived the conductors informed us that there was a limit of 8 bikes on the train. They went out of their way to open two cars in order to allow my friends to board the train home. However since I was the 9th person with a bike I was forced to wait for the next train. I have no issue with the conductors not allowing the train to exceed the limit of 8 bikes. I would actually like to thank them for going out of their way to open the additional cars to allow my friends to board. This is the type of service that makes Metra a reliable and pleasant transportation choice. This is also typical of the service receive from conductors on various Metra lines.

 

When the 6:53pm (train #140) arrived the conductors exited the train and immediately yelled that bikes were not allowed in a very angry manner. They claimed it was due to the Chicago Jazz Festival being a blackout date. I always check blackout dates before attempting to ride Metra with a bike and I was well aware that this was not correct. I also had my bungee cord in hand as it is required by Metra's rules to secure bikes. I politely informed the conductor that Jazz Festival was not a blackout date according to the Metra website. I also informed him that the previous train had no issues allowing 8 passengers to board the train with bikes. He then angrily informed me that it was a different conductor on the earlier train and that he just wasn't going to allow me to board. That is the type of service that makes Metra an unfriendly and unreliable transportation choice. The conductor's attitude and demeanor was completely uncalled for. This is the first time I ever received this type of service on Metra.

 

I would like you to follow up with the conductor of the Aug 31, 2013 number 140 Metra Electric line. I was attempting to ride Metra completely within its rules and the conductor had no right to deny me from boarding. Please clarify the blackout dates with this conductor. While there may be nothing that can be done to change the conductor's nasty demeanor he should still allow people to board trains with bikes if they are doing so within Metra rules.

 

Sincerely
Permalink Reply by Mark on September 2, 2013 at 7:38am

Well written.  I would suggest, "Please return correspond with me, when this situation has been resolved."  Hence, asking them to tell you when they have fixed the problem. 

 

All being nasty to people does, is makes other conductors jobs, and your own, more difficult.  We are in the business of moving people in a safe, and timely fashion. PERIOD. If the state of Illinois, and the city of Chicago, want us to move bikes, along with people, then that is our job too.   It is not a difficult job. It pays well. The benefits are great.  If we don't have people like you Rich, we don't have jobs.  Someone needs to get that message through to that conductor.  Before he is standing in the picket line with all the other people from McDonalds, wanting a living wage instead of a minimum one. 

 

Again, my apologize for those who fill the ranks, that have no idea what professionalism is.

Permalink Reply by Rich S on September 2, 2013 at 4:01pm

Cheers Mark! You seem like the type of conductor that makes riding Metra better. 

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