Commuter Council rejects resolution
Norwalk Hour March 18, 2008 page 1, 6
Local activist pushes for bikes on Metro-North trains
By JARED NEWMAN
Hour Staff Writer
Richard Stowe has been a bicycle salesman, a writer, an environmental activist and a third-party candidate for first selectman of New Canaan, where he resides, and on Wednesday, he’ll take up the role of beleaguered bicyclist.
Stowe wants more bicycles allowed on Metro-North Railroad trains, a cause that he’s championed over the last few years. He is scheduled to speak to the Connecticut Rail Commuter Council Wednesday, when the advocacy group for Metro-North riders meets at Grand Central Terminal in Manhattan.
Hour photo/BEN GANCSOS
New Canaan resident Richard Stowe is trying to get designated spots for bikes on Metro-North commuter trains.
“I think with rising gas prices, there are more and more people looking for ways of travel other than just what was always the accepted American way,” Stowe said in an interview Monday.
Jim Cameron, chairman of the commuter council, said Stowe has spoken to the group numerous times, with “an entourage of bike enthusiasts” in tow.
“I think in the long run it’s something we could support as long as it’s not going to get into denying passengers’ seats,” Cameron said.
He expects the council to adopt some sort of broad resolution, calling for Metro-North to consider bike accommodations as new trains are introduced to the New Haven line.
Metro-North’s current policy allows bikers to buy permits, valid for their entire lives, allowing them to bring their bikes aboard for off-peak travel. Bikes are only allowed in the front and rear cars, and there can’t be more than two per car during the week and four per car on weekends, with exceptions for the occasional “bicycle train.”
Additionally, bikes aren’t allowed on board during holidays, and train conductors have ultimate discretion.
The only exception, according to Metro-North spokesman Dan Brucker, is if the bike is completely collapsible and can fit in an overhead bin.
Brucker said Metro-North has no plans to expand the hours for bike accommodations. “Here’s why, because our trains, especially on the New Haven line, are at capacity, and hence to have a bicycle in the aisle would be virtually impossible,” he said.
A fleet of 300 new rail cars are on the way, but Brucker said they won’t accommodate more bicycles either because they’ll still run with almost a full crowd of commuters.
“Also, as you may or may not know, train platforms are jammed, much less having a bicycle on there and people getting on and off,” Brucker said.
Two years ago, Stowe had the attention of state and rail officials. He spoke in favor of allowing bikes on trains before the Transportation Strategy Board — part of the governor’s Office of Policy Management — and in a report from the following year, the board recommended bike space on passenger trains at all times of the day.
Hour photo/BEN GANCSOS
New Canaan resident Richard Stowe is trying to get designated spots for bikes on Metro-North commuter trains.
Stowe also corresponded with Cameron, who told him that Metro-North was listening to Stowe’s proposal.
“We were just under the understanding that through the verbal communication with (rail) officials that this was proceeding in a manner that was parallel to our goals,” Stowe said.
Last month, though, Stowe learned that the design for the new M-8 rail cars didn’t include bicycle accommodations. He scheduled another meeting with the rail council to plead his case.
“We contend that this is the time to make the commitment to be inclusive of having bicycle parking space on these new train cars,” Stowe said.
A fellow bicycle advocate, Franklin Bloomer, who chairs Greenwich Safe Cycling and served a regional advisory branch for the Transportation Strategy Board, supports Stowe’s cause, but thinks that it’s too late.
“These cars have been designed, the orders have been placed and the trains have not been designed to accommodate bicycles,” Bloomer said, “but as the DOT ... moves forward in developing alternate modes of transportation, this is one of the really important things.”
Staff writer Jared Newman may be reached at (203) 354-1045 or jnewman@thehour.com
Local activist pushes for bikes on Metro-North trains
By JARED NEWMAN
Hour Staff Writer
Richard Stowe has been a bicycle salesman, a writer, an environmental activist and a third-party candidate for first selectman of New Canaan, where he resides, and on Wednesday, he’ll take up the role of beleaguered bicyclist.
Stowe wants more bicycles allowed on Metro-North Railroad trains, a cause that he’s championed over the last few years. He is scheduled to speak to the Connecticut Rail Commuter Council Wednesday, when the advocacy group for Metro-North riders meets at Grand Central Terminal in Manhattan.
Hour photo/BEN GANCSOS
New Canaan resident Richard Stowe is trying to get designated spots for bikes on Metro-North commuter trains.
“I think with rising gas prices, there are more and more people looking for ways of travel other than just what was always the accepted American way,” Stowe said in an interview Monday.
Jim Cameron, chairman of the commuter council, said Stowe has spoken to the group numerous times, with “an entourage of bike enthusiasts” in tow.
“I think in the long run it’s something we could support as long as it’s not going to get into denying passengers’ seats,” Cameron said.
He expects the council to adopt some sort of broad resolution, calling for Metro-North to consider bike accommodations as new trains are introduced to the New Haven line.
Metro-North’s current policy allows bikers to buy permits, valid for their entire lives, allowing them to bring their bikes aboard for off-peak travel. Bikes are only allowed in the front and rear cars, and there can’t be more than two per car during the week and four per car on weekends, with exceptions for the occasional “bicycle train.”
Additionally, bikes aren’t allowed on board during holidays, and train conductors have ultimate discretion.
The only exception, according to Metro-North spokesman Dan Brucker, is if the bike is completely collapsible and can fit in an overhead bin.
Brucker said Metro-North has no plans to expand the hours for bike accommodations. “Here’s why, because our trains, especially on the New Haven line, are at capacity, and hence to have a bicycle in the aisle would be virtually impossible,” he said.
A fleet of 300 new rail cars are on the way, but Brucker said they won’t accommodate more bicycles either because they’ll still run with almost a full crowd of commuters.
“Also, as you may or may not know, train platforms are jammed, much less having a bicycle on there and people getting on and off,” Brucker said.
Two years ago, Stowe had the attention of state and rail officials. He spoke in favor of allowing bikes on trains before the Transportation Strategy Board — part of the governor’s Office of Policy Management — and in a report from the following year, the board recommended bike space on passenger trains at all times of the day.
Hour photo/BEN GANCSOS
New Canaan resident Richard Stowe is trying to get designated spots for bikes on Metro-North commuter trains.
Stowe also corresponded with Cameron, who told him that Metro-North was listening to Stowe’s proposal.
“We were just under the understanding that through the verbal communication with (rail) officials that this was proceeding in a manner that was parallel to our goals,” Stowe said.
Last month, though, Stowe learned that the design for the new M-8 rail cars didn’t include bicycle accommodations. He scheduled another meeting with the rail council to plead his case.
“We contend that this is the time to make the commitment to be inclusive of having bicycle parking space on these new train cars,” Stowe said.
A fellow bicycle advocate, Franklin Bloomer, who chairs Greenwich Safe Cycling and served a regional advisory branch for the Transportation Strategy Board, supports Stowe’s cause, but thinks that it’s too late.
“These cars have been designed, the orders have been placed and the trains have not been designed to accommodate bicycles,” Bloomer said, “but as the DOT ... moves forward in developing alternate modes of transportation, this is one of the really important things.”
Staff writer Jared Newman may be reached at (203) 354-1045 or jnewman@thehour.com
Labels: bicycling, bikes-on-trains
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