Connecticut Rail Commuter Council strips resolution to improve bicyclist's access to trains

photo by BEN GANCSOS

Stamford Advocate Wednesday, March 26, 2008 Page B1,B2

Bicyclists seek more access on the rails
By Chris Gosier
Staff Writer

NEW YORK - The Connecticut Rail Commuter Council has endorsed more bicycle-friendly rail stations but stopped short of seeking more bike space aboard Metro-North Railroad trains.

The council last week partially endorsed a proposal by Richard Stowe, an activist from New Canaan who said the railroad should follow the lead of other transit systems that are more accommodating to bicyclists.

Stowe wants cyclists to be allowed to bring their bikes on trains during peak hours. Now they sometimes have to wait a few hours to make return trips because of rush-hour restrictions, Stowe said.

"There's many needs within the community of transit users," said Stowe, director of Rail*Trains*Ecology*Cycling, an advocacy group. "We would like to see the New Haven Line . . . be a leader on this."

But council members said his proposal may not work because there is so little space on trains.

"The only way we're going to do this is to take seats away from people," Jeff Steele of Fairfield, vice chairman of the council, said at its meeting Wednesday.

The council endorsed a statement Stowe submitted but struck the portion calling for "safely and securely accommodat(ing) bicycles on New Haven Line train cars."

The council endorsed the part calling for "safe, sheltered bicycle parking at stations along the New Haven Line."

The vote means the council will send a letter to Metro-North officials saying they would like more bike racks at stations, Chairman Jim Cameron said.

He described it as a formality, because most of the officials who would get the letter were at the council's meeting. But the council could send the letter to elected officials in cities along the New Haven Line where bike racks are in high demand, he said.

Bikes are often chained to fences and posts at the Darien and Noroton Heights stations because bike racks are full, he said. Bike racks are cheaper than adding new parking, he said.

"I think the towns should go out and take a look at their stations," he said.

Bike racks have been installed at 16 of the 36 stations on the segments of the New Haven Line, although most are not covered, said Judd Everhart, spokesman for the state Department of Transportation.

"It's kind of a mixed bag of bike facilities up and down the New Haven Line," he said.

On trains, seating for commuters must come before bicycle space, Cameron said.

"We have passengers that are paying for seats that don't get a seat," he said.

Finding more bike space on trains is possible long-term, he said.

Stowe said he isn't asking for train cars to be retrofitted with bike space. But bicycle space should be put on new train cars, or on cars that are being overhauled, he said.

"If you're doing something already, the incremental cost of creating a bike rack on the train is relatively close to zero," he said.

DOT is considering bike racks on at least some of its new M8 rail cars being developed, Everhart said.

All Metro-North stations in New York have bike racks, although they're not sheltered, Metro-North spokeswoman Marjorie Anders said. The rail line runs special weekend trains to bicycling areas and special events, she said.

"We are pretty bike-friendly, and have been rationalizing and liberalizing our policy as the years go by," she said.