It has taken a long time to get here, but WMATA announced yesterday that they will lift the rush-hour restriction on bikes starting on Monday.
I'm personally surprised by how sweeping the change is. This is not a pilot, it is not limited to certain lines or in certain directions and bikes are allowed on all cars.
Metro customers will be able to bring their bikes with them on the train – at any time – as Metro ends a longstanding restriction that prohibited bicycles during rush hours.
Contrast this to the way that bikes were originally allowed on trains starting in 1981 (Metro's press release said 1982, but that's wrong). Then it was a pilot; those bringing on bikes needed a permit which required a $10 fee and 30 minutes of training, and the hours were limited to weekends, holidays and after 7pm. We've come a long way since then. Hours were expanded in 1994 and in 1998 the permits were dropped. Hours were expanded again in 2001. So just 37 years from David Strom (who I think still lives in the area) and the first bike to this.
The policy change, which takes effect Monday, is expected to make Metrorail a more attractive travel option for reverse commuters (i.e. customers traveling outbound in the morning and inbound in the evening) who want to take their bike to travel between the rail station and their workplace.
Metro reviewed its policy and determined that it could respond to requests from the bicycling community by ending the rush-hour bike restriction without significant negative effects. The review took into account that the majority of rush-hour trains are 8 cars in length (the longest possible), and that new 7000-series trains provide more open space.
“We received requests from Washington Area Bicyclist Association (WABA) and others in the bicycle community asking us to take a fresh look at our policy,” said Metro Chief Operating Officer Joe Leader. “We believe this change supports ridership growth by Metro and a commuting option for those who want to have a bike with them.”
The Post adds
Allowing bikes on trains was one minor recommendation in Metro’s ridership rescue plan, the internal document that provides a road map to rebuilding ridership for the agency that has struggled with steep losses in recent years.
“We’ve followed the experience of other transit systems that have similarly relaxed their bike policies without negative effect, and we’ve decided to do the same,” Stessel said.
First Ultima Thule, then this. 2019 is shaping up to be some year.
There will still be restrictions, but much more reasonable ones.
Standard-size bikes will be allowed at all times, on any car of any train, provided that space is available. Customers with bikes are reminded to use the doors at either end of the railcar – not the center doors – and to avoid blocking doors or aisles. Metro will monitor implementation of the new policy to determine whether any modifications are necessary. In addition, Metro reserves the ability to restrict bicycles on the rail system during major events drawing high ridership, such as July 4 fireworks and Inauguration Day.
Some people have freaked out about the bikes on rail policy change, but the Washingtonian reminds us that the real enemy is backpacks.
While you are allowed to fellow bikers, please please think about whether it is worth it to the world at large when taking your bike on a crowded rail car if you are reverse reverse commuting, aka, riding the same way everyone else is going.
Posted by: Richard B | January 03, 2019 at 09:02 AM
I think it falls into the general sphere of using common sense.
Posted by: Crickey | January 03, 2019 at 09:06 AM
@Crickey having biked around DC for 16 years, I can assure you that common sense isn't many bikers' strong suit (or drivers' or pedestrians' for that matter).
Posted by: Richard B | January 03, 2019 at 09:33 AM
Well, having biked around DC since the late 1970's, I think most people have common sense for the most part. If it becomes a problem, Metro will revisit. I suspect it will be used (i) for reverse commutes, as Washcycle says) and (ii) for people having mechanical problems.
Posted by: Crickey | January 03, 2019 at 10:11 AM
"I can assure you that common sense isn't many bikers' strong suit (or drivers' or pedestrians' for that matter)."
Doesn't sound very common then.
Posted by: washycle | January 03, 2019 at 12:25 PM
NYC has had this policy since the early 1990s, and it works just fine.
https://www.transalt.org/issues/bike/transit
Posted by: Jacob Mason | January 04, 2019 at 10:43 AM