Metra to Charge for Bicycles?

Does anyone here (ATA?) work with Metra or have access to information in their pipeline?

As I loaded my bike on to the train this morning, my conductor said that in the summer, Metra may be floating the idea of charging riders using a bicycle a 'bicycle fee' that would  be in addition to the regular fare. He says that since a bicycle and its user effectively take up 3-4 spaces, Metra is looking to recoup the costs. 

Is there any truth in this? I'd hate for it to happen, as I use a combo of bike/train to get to work in Glenview. I could do the 15 miles one way in the summer, but would be less likely to do it when it's super cold.

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Permalink Reply by Duppie on February 12, 2013 at 5:18am

At the Active Trans member meeting a little while back, Ron Burke eluded to some great news coming soon regarding trains on bikes. Anybody know more about that? Would this be that awesome news?

Permalink Reply by Active Transportation Alliance on February 12, 2013 at 5:48am

I'll check with our transit folks and see. That doesn't sound like good news.

Ethan Spotts, Active Trans

Permalink Reply by Adam Herstein on February 12, 2013 at 6:01am

Won't somebody please think of the children?!

Cheryl said:

+1 more. Straying off topic but I find it deeply irritating that on days that CTA bans bikes completely (e.g. 4th of July), strollers are still ok.

Anne Alt 2-10 said:

+1  And ginormous suitcases.

Tony Adams 6.6 mi said:

Please do not get me started on strollers. 

Permalink Reply by Anne Alt on February 12, 2013 at 6:01am

But with fewer cars open, those off-peak cars aren't necessarily uncrowded.  I can sympathize with parents up to a point.  I don't have an issue with small to medium sized strollers that fold.  What bothers me is the enormous ones loaded up with enough stuff to service a small army. Those can take up as much room as a bike and the parents using them often don't share space well with others.

AM 9.5 said:

I think this is right.  Because Metra only allows bikes on trains at times when the trains are not packed with people, bikes don't compete for space with people.  It would makes sense to charge a fee at times when a bike takes space that other riders actually need on that particular train, and the same logic ought to apply to any item that similarly takes up passenger space actually needed by passengers.  

All that said, I have a soft spot for strollers.  Yes, they take up space, but they do carry a small human in them who, 9 times out of 10, can't be expected to walk and thus are critical.  They can also be insanely expensive for the types of strollers that are lighter and take up less space.  Also, I know several people who use daycare in the Loop (my office offers it) and thus commute with toddlers.  Having carted strollers for two kids in the fairly recent past, I have a lot of sympathy for them.  The right solution for this is to simply collect a fare for the child who is in a stroller or who requires his/her own seat.  I am not sure what Metra's current policy is on that, but I know that I rarely, if ever, paid a fare for my kids on the CTA when they were young enough to be in strollers.

Permalink Reply by Cheryl on February 12, 2013 at 6:40am

Exactly. 

Anne Alt 2-10 said:

... I don't have an issue with small to medium sized strollers that fold.  What bothers me is the enormous ones loaded up with enough stuff to service a small army. Those can take up as much room as a bike and the parents using them often don't share space well with others.

AM 9.5 said:

I think this is right.  Because Metra only allows bikes on trains at times when the trains are not packed with people, bikes don't compete for space with people.  It would makes sense to charge a fee at times when a bike takes space that other riders actually need on that particular train, and the same logic ought to apply to any item that similarly takes up passenger space actually needed by passengers.  

All that said, I have a soft spot for strollers.  Yes, they take up space, but they do carry a small human in them who, 9 times out of 10, can't be expected to walk and thus are critical.  They can also be insanely expensive for the types of strollers that are lighter and take up less space.  Also, I know several people who use daycare in the Loop (my office offers it) and thus commute with toddlers.  Having carted strollers for two kids in the fairly recent past, I have a lot of sympathy for them.  The right solution for this is to simply collect a fare for the child who is in a stroller or who requires his/her own seat.  I am not sure what Metra's current policy is on that, but I know that I rarely, if ever, paid a fare for my kids on the CTA when they were young enough to be in strollers.

Permalink Reply by WillG on February 12, 2013 at 7:22am

Probably the same way that airlines handle bikes in a bike case (e.g. http://graphics8.nytimes.com/images/2008/06/12/fashion/12phys-600.jpg) checked as luggage.....Even though the bike might not be taking up any extra room that a normal suitcase, we'll get charged through the nose!

Richard said:

And how would this apply to folding bikes which consume no more seating space than a suitcase?

Permalink Reply by WillG on February 12, 2013 at 7:23am

Adam, I have seen briefcases up there but rarely do you see a suitcase there. I mean, few people can life a large, heavy, awkward suitcase up above their heads like that. Far more often than not the suitcase is on the seat next to them (taking up a spot).

Duppie 13.5185km said:

At the Active Trans member meeting a little while back, Ron Burke eluded to some great news coming soon regarding trains on bikes. Anybody know more about that? Would this be that awesome news?

Permalink Reply by Dan Allison on February 12, 2013 at 7:29am

as a folding bike owner, i'm really only concerned about if and how this change might affect folding bikes on metra.

Permalink Reply by Michael J Blane on February 12, 2013 at 7:59am

+1

Jennifer on the lake said:

Sorry, I'm loopy today. I'm not sure how I feel about this, beyond the fact that if I have to pay extra to bring my bike on board, both it and I had darned well better be guaranteed a spot all the way to my intended destination.

Permalink Reply by Charlie Short 2.9 on February 12, 2013 at 7:22pm

Without quoting and quoting, Anne's right. I frequently take the Metra on the weekend and there's a lot of time where families with more the one child can't find space together. In the cold months, the conductors are general patient with cyclists, but during the summer months (on weekends) I've seen folks with bikes kicked off and told to "ride the rest of the way." There's not a lot of space when you only have 2 or 3 open cars, even on weekends.

Permalink Reply by Anne Alt on February 13, 2013 at 5:51am

I'd be grateful if any of you who take bikes on Metra for reverse commute or off-peak trips could take a few minutes to complete this survey.  I'm doing research for a blog piece about bike access on Metra, and your information would be extremely helpful.  Thank you!

Permalink Reply by Active Transportation Alliance on February 14, 2013 at 7:40am

Hey all, we checked with our Metra contacts in governmental affairs and communication and they hadn't heard of this. They are asking around and will let us know if that's different.

Thanks much,

Ethan Spotts, Active Trans

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