Surfliner bicycle policy

[D.P. Roberts]

You think this guy could get on Amtrak?

I think the bike is fine, but the rest of the getup might flag him as a security risk.

He is a security risk (unless he has an ID). He also looks uneducated (unless he went to Clown College).

 

[GG-1]

You think this guy could get on Amtrak?

I think the bike is fine, but the rest of the getup might flag him as a security risk.

Looks like a lot of guys I have worked with over the years :giggle:

Aloha

 

[hmy1]

The new bike reservation policy goes into effect tomorrow, Saturday 6/1/13.

To follow up on my earlier post, the former bike storage space on the lower level of the regular coach cars have been converted to luggage storage. They didn't even bother to remove the bike storage signs and simply installed luggage racks in that space.

The new bike storage area is now on the lower level of the cab/baggage car. Bikes are stored similar to the way that they are on Coaster trains -- on the floor with wheel straps and no more lifting to mount on a wall. I'm not sure about the total number of bikes. I thought I had counted 7, a conductor told me 6, but the Amtrak website allows me to reserve up to 8 in one reservation. Regardless, it's not much more than there was before per train, if at all, so demand will far exceed supply on many trains.

 

[CHamilton]

Roll on bike service for Amtrak trains?

Caltrain in the Bay Area and Capitol Corridor train between San Jose and Sacramento allow roll on service. That is, you can roll a bike onto the train without packing the bike into a box, nor is there any fee for this service....
This roll on service isn’t generally available on Amtrak trains, and some of my online bike hobo friends frequently press Amtrak on this issue. After years of asking, it appears there might be a little bit of traction from Amtrak.

From Adventure Cycling:



Imagine if you could roll your bike safely onto a train or into a cargo bay on a motor coach anywhere in the U.S. — just think of the travel options this would open up for bike overnights, weeklong trips or cross-country trips.



Amtrak, in particular, draws the ire of cyclists as it has cut back its roll-on services significantly over the last few decades.



But here’s the good news — Amtrak is showing signs of changing its mind when it comes to accommodating bicycles — and advocates and public officials are turning up the heat to speed the pace of change.


And from the League of American Bicyclists:



The Amtrak issue has perplexed cyclists for years. In the past, Adventure Cycling Association has had limited success engaging Amtrak officials, and state and local advocates have been stymied time and again by the fact that many of the rail cars are not made to allow roll-on accommodation. Stating safety concerns and lack of storage, the ability to travel by train with a bicycle is hindered by the design of the rail cars, the platform heights, lack of on-train storage and train schedules (stops can be less than 5 minutes in some cases).



But finally, a few breakthroughs are in the works. Amtrak officials are conducting a pilot plan for roll-on/roll-off services on the Capitol Limited Line between Washington and Pittsburgh. This will be an incredible service for people cycling the C&O Canal and Great Allegheny Passage. In New York, Vermont, and Michigan, Amtrak is working with bicycle advocates, rail passenger associations and rail authorities on roll-on/roll-off test runs.


Read more:

* Adventure Cycling: Exciting News about Better Bike Service on Amtrak.

* League of American Bicyclists “League News”: Amtrak — Let’s get rolling!.