Bikes On The T

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quadratdackel

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From the Bikes on the T email list, the contact for which is Joseph Cosgrove <JCosgrove@mbta.com>:

Joe Cosgrove said:
Bike & Transit Advisory Committee Members--

Some News Items:

MBTA is getting ready to debut its commuter rail bike coach this coming
weekend. Inaugural run will be special service Sunday, July 2nd for
the "Ride to the Races" event, a feature of the 47th annual Longsjo
Classic in Fitchburg. Check out the MBTA web page link at
http://www.mbta.com/insidethet/press_releases_details
for details. Many thanks to your chairman for taking on last-minute
modeling duties! See also related link at
http://www.longsjo.com/ride-to-the-races-2006.php

We are looking to go to press on updated Bikes of T brochure. Latest
mock-up draft is attached. We're looking at initial run of 10,000
copies. Please get me final comments by Monday, July 3rd.

Finally, save next meeting date of Friday, July 7th at noon. We'll get
out agenda and confirmation to you in the next day or so once we
finalize meeting room.

Regards,
Joe C.
Click to expand...
The first link is faulty; it should be http://www.mbta.com/insidethet/press_releases_details.asp?ID=1244

mbta.com said:
Introduction of New Commuter Rail Bike Coach
Ride To The Races On The T
Start Date: 6/23/2006 End Date: 7/23/2006 E-Mail: lrivera@mbta.com

Cyclist Boarding Newly Renovated Coach
Click to see larger view>>

Cyclist Securing Bicyle
Click to see larger view>>
MBTA General Manager Daniel A. Grabauskas today announced the first ever commuter rail coach equipped with 40 stationary bike racks. Renovated to accommodate the many bike enthusiasts who travel on the Gloucester commuter rail line throughout the summer, the new coach will debut July 2nd during the ?Ride To The Races? 47th Annual Fitchburg Longsjo Classic.

MBTA General Manager Grabauskas directed his staff to schedule an extra passenger train after organizers of the Longsjo Classic approached the MBTA. The passenger train includes a new renovated bike coach that accommodates 42 customers and 40 bicycles.

?The timing is perfect. With the bike car ready to roll, it only makes sense to debut it for a cycling event,? said MBTA General Manager Grabauskas. ?By giving people yet another reason to choose public transportation, we continue our efforts to attract more customers by making the system easier to use and a lot more convenient. This is what quality customer service is all about.?

On Sunday, July 2nd, an extra train to accommodate cyclists participating in the South Acton to Fitchburg race will depart from North Station at 10:50 a.m. arriving in South Acton at 11:45 a.m. The train will make all stops between North Station and South Acton. The train will then continue express to Fitchburg arriving at 12:20 p.m. For customers returning to North Station, a train will depart Fitchburg at 7:15 p.m., make all stops and arrive North Station at 8:40 p.m.

On Saturday, July 8th, the bike coach will be introduced on the Gloucester commuter rail line.
Click to expand...

bike%20rack_horiz_Lg.jpg


securing%20bike_Lg.jpg
 
Well, it's about time!

Though given the climate, not as helpful for about half the year in the Northeast.

I use the bike trains when taking CalTrain down the peninsula (toward San Jose) to hang with friends, rather than drive. One of my friends commutes to work from SF to Palo Alto this way.

Now if they could only do this on BART. You cannot bring your bike onto BART during rush hours--7-9:45am going into SF, and 4-6:45pm going to the East Bay. How stupid and counter-productive is that!?

(And look how clean those cars seem! And you can see out through the windows! Although is that rust on the baseboard grillwork behind the bike racks, or just a reflective discoloration?)
 
Yay, this is great! I was hoping the commuter rail would do something like this... now the car maybe completely eliminated for commuters who take the rail.
 
this seems like an icredible waste of space on the train for commuters who don't have bikes. Those trains get super packed at times.
 
Great idea. Anything to encourage people to bike is a good thing.
 
The T has put a poster on its website with the bike coach schedule:
http://www.mbta.com/pdf/Bike to beach.pdf

It will make two round trips to Rockport, summer weekends only:

Leave Boston - 10:15 am
Leave Rockport - Noon
Leave Boston - 2:15 pm
Leave Rockport - 5:10 pm
 
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