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For other newbies out there contemplating multimodal commuting, here is a video of how extremely easy it is to put a bike on the bus rack. It doesn't require ANY strength and only takes seconds; however, if you are a weakling like me, it helps to have a lightweight bike. http://bcgp.blogspot.com/
It actually does require some strength. You have to lift your bike onto the stand. If you can't, you're going to be in trouble, because at least in my city, the bus driver will not help you loading or unloading.
Yes, I did mention that a lighter bike is easier to lift. A twenty pound bike is a snap to lift and you only have to lift it about 18 inches off the ground. There are very few people who cannot lift that much weight for ten seconds.
Be sure to tell the bus driver BEFORE you load your bike, and again on your way off the bus, tell him/her you BEFORE you take the bike off.
One of the drivers on my commute always says "Bike!" in reply when you announce putting the bike on or taking the bike off, so you know he's acknowledging you and not just saying "ok" or "yes" to someone else on the bus.
If you catch a bus at a station or near a layover bay, ask the driver of an idle parked bus if you can raise and lower the rack for practice. If the driver of the parked bus has the time, ask him to tell you any tips he'd like you to know about riding with a bike. I got a great bike-rack lesson from a bus driver parked in a layover bay. I was so grateful!
Anyone thinking of commuting bus/bike, give it a try! It really is very easy. (and your bike will stay on the rack over bumps, really! though I did have my heart in my mouth the first time it happened!)
Edit to add: here's a video of the racks Seattle busses use (a little tiny bit different than the Maine ones). I think this is the video that shows a bus with two bikes slamming to a stop. The bikes rock rather wildly, but don't fall off. But I still worried the first time I took my bike on the bus! http://www.bicycleracks.com/busrack_video.asp (and I won't mention the time a truck ran a red light in front of my bus and my bike had a near miss)
Those are great, thanks! I've thought a couple of times about taking the bus to the next town (don't have too many occasions for it, but just in case), but partly I was afraid of looking stupid with the bike rack :rolleyes:
I had a lot of trouble the first time i used a bus bike rack (two good natured college students helped me get my bike on the rack!!!!) I even strained my wrist.
But now I'm an old hand at it :cool: here's my bike with something cute stuck on it...
Note Mimi's lovely demo of how you put a bike with fenders on the rack:
the arm goes on the TIRE, not on the fender. Part of what the arm does is lock the wheel, and it can do the job best while contacting the tire itself.
(did that cutie come with the bike, Mimi? ;))