roll-on train service to Michigan

From Todd Scott's blog, Amtrak will be beginning roll-on service for bikes on its lines to Detroit, Grand Rapids and Lansing:

 

http://www.m-bike.org/blog/2011/04/28/amtrak-aiming-for-roll-on-bic...

 

Goody! I'll still drive most of the time for the flexibility it gives me, but it does remove an impediment for many people.

 

David

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Permalink Reply by David P. on February 8, 2012 at 2:35pm
Permalink Reply by Radfahrer on March 27, 2012 at 4:37am

Hi David, just posted this link to the Windy City Cycling Club's FB page.  Any updates?

David said:

Permalink Reply by jen on March 27, 2012 at 8:38am

I am a little confused why you are sending the petition to Amtrak. You should be talking to the Michigan department of trans reps. Amtrak signs yearly contracts with the state to provide state service. Currently in Illinois they have it written in the contract to allow bicycles. You should approach MDOT about them adding this into there contract with Amtrak. Amtrak is not going to offer a service the state is not asking for or willing to pay for.

Permalink Reply by Radfahrer on March 27, 2012 at 11:09am

Don't you think that Amtrak will pass this information along to MDOT if they get a petition with thousands of signatures asking for roll on/roll off bike accommodation?  True, the petition doesn't address MDOT directly, but word gets through I'd think.

jen said:

I am a little confused why you are sending the petition to Amtrak. You should be talking to the Michigan department of trans reps. Amtrak signs yearly contracts with the state to provide state service. Currently in Illinois they have it written in the contract to allow bicycles. You should approach MDOT about them adding this into there contract with Amtrak. Amtrak is not going to offer a service the state is not asking for or willing to pay for.

Permalink Reply by Radfahrer on March 27, 2012 at 5:50pm
Have you looked at the petition? It's sponsored by the League of Michigan Cyclists.
Permalink Reply by David P. on March 28, 2012 at 2:39am

Hi Rad,

No new info from me. I ran into Todd over the weekend but didn't ask him if he knew anything new about this since it wasn't on my mind.

David

Radfahrer said:

Hi David, just posted this link to the Windy City Cycling Club's FB page.  Any updates?

David said:

Permalink Reply by David P. on March 28, 2012 at 3:01pm

I asked Todd about this this morning, and he told me this seems to be the most recent news on it: http://www.m-bike.org/blog/2012/03/28/taking-the-bike-train-on-via-...

(go to the last graf, where there is mention of this and the MLive article.)

It seems that Amtrak's contracts with MDOT do, indeed, require roll-on service on two lines, but in practice this has obviously not been enforced and so it has dragged out. It does seem that MDOT does not understand the demand for it.

David

jen said:

I am a little confused why you are sending the petition to Amtrak. You should be talking to the Michigan department of trans reps. Amtrak signs yearly contracts with the state to provide state service. Currently in Illinois they have it written in the contract to allow bicycles. You should approach MDOT about them adding this into there contract with Amtrak. Amtrak is not going to offer a service the state is not asking for or willing to pay for.

Permalink Reply by David P. on April 24, 2012 at 12:37pm

Here's some more news that, if rather long-term, is at least sort of encouraging:

http://www.crainsdetroit.com/article/20120420/FREE/120429982/federa...

This won't affect the likelihood of roll-on service happening any time this year, though.

Permalink Reply by David P. on June 5, 2013 at 5:45am

Getting closer:

http://www.lmb.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&am...

(seen via Chicago Streetsblog)

Permalink Reply by Jordan Snow on June 5, 2013 at 6:22am

I was also part of this pilot back in May. I took the train from Union Station to Dowagiac. The racks were very nice but were also said to be a stopgap measure while brand new cars with custom bike racks are being built. Overall these racks will probably only be in service for a few years while newer cars with permanent racks get phased in. If I remember I will post a few pictures from the train and ride around Dowagiac. 

Permalink Reply by Jordan Snow on June 5, 2013 at 1:19pm

Here's a pic of my bike on the 7:30a out of Union. Funny that the guy that got on one stop after me for the pilot also had an IRO. 

My impression of the racks is that they are sturdy, allow for plenty of secure points to lock your bike, and are fairly easy to get the bike into. Only downside would be that on a crowded train it is tough to turn the bike back around to get it back to the vestibule exit. Also, stairs are fairly narrow which, in my opinion, would make it fairly difficult to haul heavier bikes onboard. 

Permalink Reply by Matt M. 18.5KM on June 5, 2013 at 1:43pm

Thanks!

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