In the coming months, VTA will purchase a new fleet of vehicles for the Valley Rapid service that will open in 2014. Among the issues currently being discussed by VTA staff is how to accommodate bicycle storage on the new vehicles. VTA’s current bus fleet features external bicycle racks on the front of the bus that can hold two bicycles, which is the maximum allowed for front racks by state law. The Valley Rapid vehicles would also be equipped with these racks, but is that enough bicycle storage to meet demand?
Cyclists have complained that the racks on VTA buses are often full, forcing them to wait for the next bus in the hope that it will have space for their bicycle. So, what are the options for additional bicycle storage and are they worth the tradeoffs?
Transit agencies in Everett, Washington and Eugene, Oregon have had success with bicycle storage inside their bus rapid transit vehicles. In both cases the transit agencies determined that external bicycle storage was not a viable option so they developed their own internal storage systems. The Swift Bus (Everett, WA) uses angled racks and a tension wheel (YouTube video) to hold bicycles in place and the EmX (Eugene, OR) uses anchored straps of three different lengths and a wheel rack(YouTube video) to keep the bicycles from falling over. Both transit systems require that bicycles are loaded through the rear door where they can be easily and quickly rolled into the racks/straps.
These systems are not without their tradeoffs. Both take up space that otherwise would be used for about six seats. The Swift Bus system is designed such that the rear wheel of stored bicycles partly blocks the aisle—a problem that has been remedied by installing a fold-up bench opposite the racks. When the bench is folded up, the aisle effectively jogs to the side, but at a cost of more seats. The EmX system can lead to double-parking of bikes when the owner of the bicycle anchored to the shortest strap needs to exit the bus before the owners of other bicycles, causing delays.
What do you think? Is the benefit of storing bicycles inside the vehicle worth the cost of seats? Why?
Swift Bus Rack (Everett, Washington)
EmX Rack (Eugene, Oregon)
Are there any existing measurements of how often the bike racks on buses are utilized? What is the cost of installing these once the buses are operational?
I have several thoughts about this:
1. Expanding the use of the BikeLink card by installing large bike parking facilities at major stations is a good idea; at large areas, a valet bike-parking room or full-service bicycle facility, as is present in force at King George Square station in Brisbane (albeit in the central city, not at an outlying stop to allow commuters to leave their bikes), or on a smaller scale at the Mountain View Caltrain. Bicycles create turbulence when on board transit vehicles, so providing options for people to leave them at their origin station is a good idea. Many people don’t feel comfortable leaving their bikes in an open rack, so it is important to provide secured storage.
2. In the photos above, all of the bike racks are in the rear portion of an articulated bus. This helps reduce congestion at the front door. When combined with off-board fare collection, all-door boarding, and level boarding, bikes can easily and quickly board.
3. I think that BART has a good policy on bikes, i.e. not allowing them at the most crowded times. While I support bicycling, if it’s taking a space where a person could be, that isn’t good. It’s good to note that the EmX rack style allows standees to occupy that space when there are no bikes on board; on the Swift-style racks, much of the space is taken up by the rack, even when they are empty.
4. If Swift-style racks were installed directly across the walkway from the rear doors, this could allow the aisle to jog into the entryway, rather than eliminating a seat. This does increase boarding turbulence; it’d be good to analyze how much a problem this would be. I also wonder how steep the Swift racks could be made before they became too difficult to load.
5. In any case, boarding could be sped by asking people to allow cyclists to disembark first (so that cycle movements don’t block the aisle) and asking cyclists to board last, so that they aren’t blocking the aisle while other people are moving. I think it’s OK if they’re still getting their bikes settled while the bus pulls away.
6. If buses similar to AC Transit 4-door Van Hool articulateds were purchased, the bike racks could be placed by the very rear door, and that door could be designated for bicycles only (during the hours when bikes are allowed aboard, if there is a restriction).
7. Bikes should never be allowed on crowded vehicles (as BART says), and the operator should have the right to refuse carriage to any cyclist if the operator feels the bicycle endangers or discomforts the other passengers.
I noticed yesterday on an older AC Transit bus that there was a front-mounted bike rack with space for three bikes. Is that no longer legal?
Given the increase in number of buses (and corresponding increase in number of bike racks), the current racks should be more than sufficient to meet demand.
First of all, one of our local representatives needs to do introduce a bill that would legalize 3-bike external racks.
Next, there should be more bike lockers installed–in locations such as the transit mall, 7th St, Alum Rock Transit Center, and Eastridge. I also wonder if any public transit agencies elsewhere offer single-use bike lockers, where one puts in a dollar or something, gets the key, and can use the locker for a day.
In articulated buses, I think there would be room to have one small bike area similar to the Eugene example. The “delays” caused by double-parked bikes in this manner are still less than the delay caused by a person getting a bike off the external rack in front. The Everett example is just an inefficient use of space, and unfair to non-bicyclists.
But even if we have the Eugene style racks, on very crowded buses, the driver must have the authority to block additional bikes from being brought in. When you have packed vehicles, it is absolutely NOT right to have bikes taking up space that otherwise could be used by humans. (And I say this as an almost-daily bicyclist) See some of the rush-hour Caltrain baby bullets…
Bikes are needed on buses – it helps to clear up the streets.
More bike lockers yes.
Why not bikes on the sides of the bus? Some fold down and fold up? Back of bus not good due to theft and damage issues.
Bikers are doing good things and there should be always – 10-20% space accomodation of bikes always. It is the future and it is California where we are lucky to be able to ride year round.
Other able riders should stand if bikes are needed to be carried. Maybe charge a little extra – like 30% of fare to bring a bike or any thing big on.
Thanks for working on this
Hi Mish,
VTA feels that the only safe places to store bicycles on buses is on the front external rack, where the driver can ensure they are loaded safely, and inside the bus. Rear external racks don’t allow the driver to see if someone is loading or unloading a bicycle and makes those bicycles subject to theft. Due to the width of the travel lane and the width of the bus, there isn’t any room to store bicycles on the sides of buses as they could bump into other vehicles, cyclists or pedestrians.
VTA Staff
Why not some kind of telescoping bike rack at the front that can accomodate up to 5 bikes (instead of current 2)?
Hi George,
Current California vehicle code places a limit on how far an external bike rack may extend from the front of the bus. Interestingly, the legislation identifies AC Transit as being the only transit operator who is not subject to this rule.
VTA feels that only two bicycles can be accommodated safely on the front rack. Other agencies, like the Los Angeles Metro, have tested designs that fit three bicycles in the same amount of space. In that design, the middle bicycle faces to the left, while the first and third bicycles face to the right. The problem we see with that design is that in order to remove the middle bicycle, the bicycle owner must stand to the left of the bus, likely in or very close to the adjacent traffic lane, which is not safe.
VTA Staff