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NATO: Bicycles banned on Metra

"Passengers traveling May 19-21 will be allowed to carry only one bag not larger than 15-by-15 inches and four inches deep. No boxes, luggage, backpacks, bikes, food or liquid will be allowed. There also will be a ban on coffee.

Riders also cannot carry any tools, pipes, stakes, wood, weapons, pocket knives and pepper spray on the trains. Banned items cannot be stored at the stations and must be removed or thrown out, Metra said."


http://www.nbcchicago.com/news/local/Metra-Security-Plan-NATO-Summi...

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Permalink Reply by Far'arned Retrogrumpalunkus #63 on May 12, 2012 at 10:05pm

IMHO:  

Boycott Metra for the week

Boycott the loop or the week for any reason.


Don't go to work if you work downtown during NATO (the pointy stick of the G8) week.

-or just acquiesce like a good subject... 

Permalink Reply by Ride it like you stole it on May 13, 2012 at 12:15am

So much for vampire hunting that weekend I guess.

Permalink Reply by Melanie K on May 13, 2012 at 7:15am

I am so happy that I don't ride the Metra, and feel bad for those of you that do. Why is coffee mentioned separately? Isn't it part of the liquids, food and beverages ban, or is it so volatile it warrants an extra mention? 

Permalink Reply by Thunder Snow on May 13, 2012 at 8:28am

I think coffee is mentioned because Metra realizes this will be the source of the biggest passenger pushback, along with banning water bottles and larger bags.  Drinking a morning cup of coffee while reading a newspaper is a VERY ingrained habit among Metra riders and it's completely counterintuitive to think that sipping a cup o' joe while riding from Kenosha, Wisconsin or Harvard, Illinois may somehow adversely impact national security.  Instead of focusing a ban on inbound passengers travelling south of the Clybourn station or north of 35th Street, the ban for most things is oddly systemwide.  So, my usual outbound commute from Evanston to Lake Bluff--my 17" laptop is banned; my water bottle, a brown bag lunch, my morning en route granola bar and cup of coffee, knapsack, bike tools, jackknife, folding bicycle: all banned.  And this is with me travelling AWAY from the NATO convention.  Bizarre and ridiculous.

Permalink Reply by Anne Alt on May 13, 2012 at 2:59pm

I agree that the scope of these restrictions is way overboard, especially banning so many things systemwide.  Yes, I think that banning coffee is going to be a big deal for a lot of people, especially those with long commutes.  For so many people, picking up a cup of coffee before getting on the train is almost like breathing - a basic daily thing.

After a downtown meeting tomorrow, I'm boycotting Metra (and probably the Loop) for the next week.  For any downtown or other trips I might need to make, I'll go by bike, CTA, Pace or car.  Metra obviously doesn't want my business this week.

Thunder Snow said:

I think coffee is mentioned because Metra realizes this will be the source of the biggest passenger pushback, along with banning water bottles and larger bags.  Drinking a morning cup of coffee while reading a newspaper is a VERY ingrained habit among Metra riders and it's completely counterintuitive to think that sipping a cup o' joe while riding from Kenosha, Wisconsin or Harvard, Illinois may somehow adversely impact national security.  Instead of focusing a ban on inbound passengers travelling south of the Clybourn station or north of 35th Street, the ban for most things is oddly systemwide.  So, my usual outbound commute from Evanston to Lake Bluff--my 17" laptop is banned; my water bottle, a brown bag lunch, my morning en route granola bar and cup of coffee, knapsack, bike tools, jackknife, folding bicycle: all banned.  And this is with me travelling AWAY from the NATO convention.  Bizarre and ridiculous.

Permalink Reply by Far'arned Retrogrumpalunkus #63 on May 13, 2012 at 4:51pm

What's with the hate and blanket-approach labeling people as "bomb-throwing anarchists."

Anarchists (the real ones -not the punks who don't understand what the word means) are good folks.  I've never seen one throw a bomb. 

Permalink Reply by Zoetrope on May 13, 2012 at 4:59pm

It's clear by now that Metra offers a crap service with crap customer service, but will "boycotting" their trains during NATO prove to be a catalyst for future policy change?  No.  Metra is getting orders from Rahm, there's nothing you can do.  Also, because Metra get their orders from Rahm, the nice people at Metra will view your "boycott" as you making things convenient for them this week.  After NATO, Metra will continue to be crap when you all end your "boycott" and things go back to normal.  Just sayin...didn't want you guys to start thinking you were real anarchists and stuff.  

Permalink Reply by Anne Alt on May 13, 2012 at 6:23pm

At this point, it's a lose-lose no matter what we do.  I have no desire to subject myself to that level of restriction, which limits the usefulness of those transit trips.  I generally have stuff to work on during the day.  

I can't carry what I need for a full day within the ridiculously small 15"x15"x4" limitation.  I suspect there are a whole lot of other people in that same boat.

CTA isn't slamming people with a lot of restrictions.  I suspect that basic logistics have a lot to do with that (too many access points to control).  In reality, that makes CTA's service the only viable option for at least some of our transit trips, in light of Metra's draconian restrictions.

Zoetrope said:

It's clear by now that Metra offers a crap service with crap customer service, but will "boycotting" their trains during NATO prove to be a catalyst for future policy change?  No.  Metra is getting orders from Rahm, there's nothing you can do.  Also, because Metra get their orders from Rahm, the nice people at Metra will view your "boycott" as you making things convenient for them this week.  After NATO, Metra will continue to be crap when you all end your "boycott" and things go back to normal.  Just sayin...didn't want you guys to start thinking you were real anarchists and stuff.  

Permalink Reply by Kevin C Dormant on May 13, 2012 at 8:05pm

I don't disagree with most of the post with the exception that the word Rahm should be substituted with the word "Secret Service."

Zoetrope said:

It's clear by now that Metra offers a crap service with crap customer service, but will "boycotting" their trains during NATO prove to be a catalyst for future policy change?  No.  Metra is getting orders from Rahm, there's nothing you can do.  Also, because Metra get their orders from Rahm, the nice people at Metra will view your "boycott" as you making things convenient for them this week.  After NATO, Metra will continue to be crap when you all end your "boycott" and things go back to normal.  Just sayin...didn't want you guys to start thinking you were real anarchists and stuff.  

Permalink Reply by Duppie on May 13, 2012 at 8:10pm

Where do you get the idea that Metra offers crap service?

As a sometimes Metra user, I prefer Metra over CTA trains anyday. Plenty of trains during the times I use it most, clean trains that depart on the scheduled times, and it does get me to where I want to go a lot faster than the CTA.

Zoetrope said:

It's clear by now that Metra offers a crap service with crap customer service, but will "boycotting" their trains during NATO prove to be a catalyst for future policy change?  No.  Metra is getting orders from Rahm, there's nothing you can do.  Also, because Metra get their orders from Rahm, the nice people at Metra will view your "boycott" as you making things convenient for them this week.  After NATO, Metra will continue to be crap when you all end your "boycott" and things go back to normal.  Just sayin...didn't want you guys to start thinking you were real anarchists and stuff.  

Permalink Reply by Far'arned Retrogrumpalunkus #63 on May 13, 2012 at 8:14pm

Um, maybe from the crap service?

Have you never been jacked-with by a conductor with an attitude towards bikes and a penchant for interpreting the "rules" in such a way as to more efficiently and thoroughly screwing with you, the bicyclist who dares bring his/her bike on HIS train?

Yeah, me too...

Duppie said:

Where do you get the idea that Metra offers crap service?

Permalink Reply by Doug Haynes on May 13, 2012 at 8:15pm

How is Metra crap service?  I use it frequently and have never had any serious issue with the service or the staff.  It is always a step above the CTA in my opinion.

Cam you give us some examples of how they are 'crap?'



Zoetrope said:

It's clear by now that Metra offers a crap service with crap customer service, but will "boycotting" their trains during NATO prove to be a catalyst for future policy change?  No.  Metra is getting orders from Rahm, there's nothing you can do.  Also, because Metra get their orders from Rahm, the nice people at Metra will view your "boycott" as you making things convenient for them this week.  After NATO, Metra will continue to be crap when you all end your "boycott" and things go back to normal.  Just sayin...didn't want you guys to start thinking you were real anarchists and stuff.  

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