In some recent posts, I have suggested that Amtrak might consider adding roll-on-bicycle service to more of its trains to make the long-distance train service more appealing to multi-modal commuters. For example, I frequently travel from Washington, DC to Baltimore, as well as from Washington, DC to Amherst, Massachusetts. In both cases, I would be far more apt to take Amtrak (as opposed to drive or fly) if I could easily bring my bike on board.
Though some Amtrak trains have already started to offer this service, a wholesale shift in Amtrak's policy would certainly have its skeptics. One of the main arguments against installing a small number of secure bicycle racks or hooks on each train, which I've already started to hear in the comment section of this blog, is that there simply isn't enough room.
That's a fair argument, but it certainly hasn't seemed to be the case when I've been aboard Amtrak. More important, however, is that the data doesn't bear this crowded-train argument out either. As the graph of capacity utilization (passenger miles divided by seat miles) below shows, Amtrak trains typically run at around 50 percent capacity.
With such sleepy ridership stats, you can see why some some Amtrak lines have already started installing racks. Some pictures, courtesy of the Bike Commute Tips Blog, of different rack designs are below:
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Comments
Great article!
This does not surprise me. Commuter trains should be at an average 50% capacity.
Why? Suppose a commuter train starts out empty at the end of the line, picks up passengers equally at all stops on the way, and arrives 100% packed full. Then, on the average, it was 50% full according to the criteria of passenger miles divided by seat miles.
You obviously don't understand the way trains (or any other form of transportation) work. A train can't run at 100% capacity the entire length of the trip. It will pick up and drop off passengers along the way. If the train ran full the entire route, there would be no room for passengers getting on and off.
Yes, there cool be more bike racks added, but as your pictures even show, the racks aren't full on Amtrak now. Additional racks would be great, as well as cars that just store bikes - but revenue seats are more important at the moment given the budget shortfalls.
That's a great idea (adding room for bikes). I hope they follow through with it. It would be kinda cool to allow Vespa Scooters, too... if they could create a car that could accommodate, it would surely become a metro hit.
Jarrod,
Since I obviously don't understand how trains (or any other form of transportation) work, do you care to explain what capacity a train ought to run at? Obviously, train can't run at 100% capacity all the time. But it seems that there may well be space enough to work with on most Amtrak trains if they are running at around 50 percent capacity overall. Most likely, certain routes are especially busy (DC to Boston for example,) while the rest of the routes have plenty of room for bikes. As far as revenue goes, I would assume that Amtrak would charge cyclists extra for this service. Perhaps they could even make some money off it.
As I have responded several times to the author
and been totally ignored, I shall retort yet again.
This author just thinks that Amtrak should bend over
backwards to please Anyone who complains loud
enough. Someone even commented in the blog that
it would be great if Amtrak allowed Vespa scooters.
What after that? Motorcycles? Segway's? Dirt Bike's?
If the author wishes to live in the absurd world then
consider the absurdity of your defense-----But I Dont
Wanna Box My Bicycle Up.....Do you truly believe that
the entire world should coddle you?
I hate to be the bearer of bad news Mr Author but you
are not special. I don't care how many times your mommy
told you that.
FYI the northeast corridor is my route, from Washington to New York.
Please show up to my or in fact any train departing Washington
with a bicycle. Then whine all you want to us in person and see where
that gets you.
To Amtrak Conductor,
It would seem you have some sort of deep seeded anti-bike sentiment that stems from your momma not raising you right. As far as I can tell, the writer of the blog has been proposing solutions to some serious problems we have in the world. An examination of transportation policy is exactly what this country needs right now. Yes, maybe some ideas are silly (like bringing Vespas on trains) but they need to be considered. Your inability to think outside your narrow experience reveals just how coddled you have been. If you truly are an Amtrak Conductor, which I doubt due to your unbelievable rudeness, then you would understand that customer service is VERY important factor when providing any service. Yet, your first response is to complain and whine when someone asks you to IMPROVE your standard of service. So for gods sake MAN UP and stop bitching. Maybe you should try and think about creative ways to improve ridership?
Continued from last comment:
Maybe instead of resorting to denigrating someone's Mom when you disagree with someone you should try and provide meaningful responses to concerns. From what I can tell you tried this, but your ill researched response about there "not being enough room" was clearly disproved so you resorted to name calling. Is this really the way we want to solve problems in this country? With "yo momma" insults? Seriously Amtrak Conductor, I would expect more of someone who is a public servant (yes you work for me, Amtrak is controlled and paid for by the federal government). Man Up and stop complaining, if there truly is a operational reason for bikes not to be on trains then EXPLAIN it. But, this name calling reveals your inability to form an argument and unwillingness to think critically about solving problems. So, please, MAN UP and join the discussion in a meaningful way!
Amtrak Conductor,
Just a bit of helpful information. Bicycles and mass transit (like trains) are some of the most energy efficient forms of transportation, and as such they're a pretty well matched pair. Bikes and trains dominate the transit systems in many parts of the world.
Trains are more energy efficient than aircraft, and probably still have lots of room for energy saving improvements.
Check out Dr. MacKay's book on sustainable energy. There are several chapters on transportation.
David J.C. MacKay. Sustainable Energy - without the hot air.
UIT Cambridge, 2008. ISBN 978-0-9544529-3-3.
Available free online from www dot withouthotair dot com
Finally, my Dad retired from Amtrak with 40+ years of railroad service. As such, I won't stoop to the level of silly insults. Before commenting in the future, I suggest you consider that the trains have allies in bicyclists.
Kae,
It's really not practical to permit ICE vehicles like Vespas to be carried onto trains for at least a couple of reasons.
Kevin got it right, although Amtrak trains run with a slightly different loading pattern. In the Northeast Corridor they carry their maximum load between Philadelphia and New York and between New York and New Haven on trains that run through to Boston. On many long distance trains the pattern is much more like Kevin described. Although the overall load factor may be 50%, over the segment of the route with the highest loads, the load factor is typically 90%. As a cyclist, and someone who used to work for Amtrak, I understand both sides of this issue. The economics of putting either a baggage car or a special bike handling car on every train (most trains do not handle checked baggage)would cost more than the additional ticket revenue to be made. On the other hand, I'd love to be able to take my bike. Maybe I should just pedal there!
Bike transport? YES - Absolutely! If I could take my bike on the train, I would cycle from home to the station and from the station to work. My car would stay in the garage.
The operative word in the article that started this discussion is EASY. Cyclist would prefer to ride with the bikes where they can see them. This would eliminate the need to lock up the bike while on the train which would facilitate faster loading and unloading.
Get with the trend AMTRAK. I can carry by bicycle FREE on transit busses and our subway system.
maybe some folks will enjoy this film.
The way it should be:
youtube.com/watch?v=kP1KxPjh4RM
I think some folks might enjoy this film. I wish trains could be this elegant and cycle friendly again...
www youtube com/watch?v=kP1KxPjh4RM
Good article. However, the authors statement that "some Amtrak trains have already started to offer this service" is not exactly true. The trains the author refers to are operated by Amtrak employees under contract to the California Dept. of Transportation, and Caltrans owns the rolling stock. These are really California's trains, not Amtrak's, and as the owner of the rolling stock California has the right to determine how it's used. Due to the widespread popularity of bike-riding in California (as well as to the wonderful weather that favors it), Caltrans had its coaches designed with space for bikes.
As train-riding continues to gain in popularity, especially among young people, expect to see more state DOTs insisting on bike space aboard the Amtrak trains they charter. California's chief export is trends. Whether it's food, clothing, cars, furniture, entertainment or other lifestyle choices, whatever they're doing in California today will be done in New York tomorrow.
See I have a folding Montague Swissbike TX, so although I fully support installing bike racks, I can luckily fold up my bike and carry it in the case onto any train or bus w/out hassle. The racks would be useful though on the occasional days I ride my non-folding bike for a change of pace. My folding TX is so convenient though. Check 'em out... www.swissbike.com
@Amtrak Conductor
If you were competing in a free market that attitude of customer spite would land your company in the failure bin. Yes, the fact that a lot of potential customers want something and are willing to pay the costs means you ought to provide it. Welcome to the consumer world.
I don't see what's so hard about creating space for odd packages and charging an appropriate price. Amtrak should establish if the demand is truly there and if they can capture it with their product.
Duh.
I think it would be cool to take my scooter from somewhere in the Midwest (college) back home with me on Amtrak. Autotrain accommodates car lovers for their convince. Come on why not bicycles. Cater to the customers, isn't that what they have done with outlets for laptops?
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