mean.time at BARNew Haven, Conn., March. 30, 2010

BIKES AND TRAINS:MESHING THE GEARS OF TRANSPORT

From Automobile to Multimobile

Oil dependenceThe auto by itself poses irreconcilable problems and is unsustainable.

Heavy rail, light rail, bus, ferry, bicycle, and pedestrian transport are each valuable, but can not individually replace the auto.

Carbon emissions

Traffic

40,000+ fatalities

Multimodal Transport

××××

The Wholesome TrinityBicycles are:

Healthy

Useful

Fun

“Last Mile Challenge”

Transit-Oriented Development (TOD)Land around Metro North stations is among the most valuable in the state.

Transform from car parking to TOD!

Tax revenue Vibrant retail districts Improved walksheds Public health Sense of place

Bikes have come a long way since the “dandy horse” and the “boneshaker”

Bicycle policiesMetro North (weekday ridership: 281,000)

Folding bikes allowed on during peak hours

Regular bikes banned during peak hours

? Bicycle hook designs received; funding not yet allocated

Amtrak on the East Coast Bicycles on Amtrak must be

boxed

New M-8 railcars coming soon!

Rejected Design for Metro North

Too much lateral motion

BYOB

Metro North now reviewing four proposals for hook designs.

No funding source identified…

×

Caltrain (Bay Area) Ridership: 40,000

Ridership grew after the addition of a bike car to each train.

Cyclists now compromise roughly 7% of total Caltrain ridership.

photo credit: http://www.sfbike.org/?caltrain 

New Jersey TransitRidership: 276,000Tri-Rail (Miami)Ridership: 12,000

photo credit: Richard Stowe

photo credit: Richard Stowe

Metrolink (Los Angeles) Ridership: 40,000

photo credit: Richard Stowe

Pacific Surfliner (California Amtrak)

PEAK HOURS BAN2008: Governor Rell and Mayor Don DeStefano call for improved bicycle access to trains as an alternative to driving. Folding Bikes permitted during peak hours.

2009: Metro North permits regular bikes aboard 35 of the 49 reverse peak trains

2010: New Haven Line ridership is down 3.9% Metro North could win back riders by embracing cyclists.

“United We Stand, Divided We Fall”

Modes of transportation must be combined to have maximum effect.

Similar to the idea of a “flexible grid” for harnessing renewable energy sources

“Life is like riding a bicycle. To keep your balance you must keep moving.”

GET INVOLVED!

ElmCityCyclingwww.elmcitycycling.org

Second Monday of every month at 6 pm at City Hall

www.railtec.org