Your city buses with bike racks?

[Tourbiker]

We have bike racks on the buses in Whistler (and Vancouver, as you all know by now).

Tip to cyclists in cities that are considering bike racks...
I've used the Vancouver ones occasionally, including when they originally installed as a trial. The bus drivers were initially against them - my friend is a transit supervisor and told me the attitude of the drivers who wanted the program to fail. The drivers were supposed to record in a log whenever a cyclist used the rack so most didn't. Therefore, I used the racks many times and made a note of whether or not the driver made a note in his log. I then submitted the list to BC Transit and Cycling BC, politely noting that I realize that many drivers want to sabatosh the program. Fortunately, for whatever reason, the bike racks were eventually added to all buses although it took many years. So, if your city is going through this process, let those responsible know that you appreciate their efforts and provide helpful feedback.

[shootingstar]

The bus drivers were initially against them - my friend is a transit supervisor and told me the attitude of the drivers who wanted the program to fail. The drivers were supposed to record in a log whenever a cyclist used the rack so most didn't. Therefore, I used the racks many times and made a note of whether or not the driver made a note in his log. I then submitted the list to BC Transit and Cycling BC, politely noting that I realize that many drivers want to sabatosh the program. Fortunately, for whatever reason, the bike racks were eventually added to all buses although it took many years. So, if your city is going through this process, let those responsible know that you appreciate their efforts and provide helpful feedback.

Whereas in Eugene, Oregon when we were vacationing there for a few days last year, bus drivers help cyclists put bike on bus rack --if necessary. Even explain certain things to newbies.

By the way, welcome to TE forums!

[Groundhog]

For my first time loading a bike on the Seattle-area Sound Transit bus, I was having a hard time and the nice (woman) driver came out to help me. I felt pretty stupid but she said that all the racks are different and some are really hard to use and that I shouldn't feel bad. I haven't had any trouble after the last time. Good thing because not all drivers are nice.

[badgercat]

Interesting to hear about drivers getting out to help--in my cities, I've always heard/seen (from the transit company website, etc, not from a huffy bus driver) that drivers are not allowed to exit the bus to help. A couple times, I've seen drivers try to shout instructions through the windshield, which wasn't terribly effective.

[northstar]

Jumping in-

We have them in Minneapolis. The drivers help load them for you.

Not to digress, but I know there is also a voucher program available - so if you bike to work and get rained out, you can hop on a bus with your bike, free of charge. I'm not sure how it works as I commute a different direction than downtown, where it would be convenient to use, but it sounds pretty darn cool.

[uk elephant]

European experience --- a few buses here in Aberystwyth, tiny town on the edge of Wales, have bike racks. But I have not yet worked out which ones. It seems random, but could be particular routes I suppose. I've never seen them on the buses that go out to the village where I live so I haven't been able to take advantage of it. I'd love a bike friendly bus service for those days when it's nice to cycle in the morning, but then torrential rain when heading home after work.

Also didn't see bike racks on any of the buses around Essex (north of London) when I lived over there. Bikes were allowed on trains (though no racks to put them in) but restricted to folding bikes only within the main commuter belt for London during peak times.

[korora]

Our bus services are provided by private companies under contract to the regional council. This year, for the first time, they're making bike racks on the buses a condition of the contracts (a handful of routes come up for contract renewal each year).

I'm part of the local bike-advocacy group that has been lobbying for this change, and I'm one of the people who'll be trying to work with the regional council (where they seem to have only vague notions of why anybody would want to ride either a bike or a bus) and the bus companies on the implementation of the plan.

Negotiating this kind of bureaucracy on the one hand makes me want to claw my eyes out with a blunt pencil, but on the other hand it's a potentially very positive step because the hills in this town deter a lot of potential bike commuters. Wish me luck--and if you have advice or experiences to share, I'd like to hear them.

[korora]

Apparently it's illegal under New Zealand law for buses to have bike racks. I believe cycling advocates have prompted a reconsideration of the law, but nothing has actually happened yet. And bus companies in our town are private (with public subsidy), so presumably they won't install bike racks unless they want to or local ordinances require them to.

In short, I'm not holding my breath. But it certainly would be nice to skip the headwind on the 10-mile ride into town once in a while!

[uk elephant]

Mentioned this discussion to another friend here in Wales. Apparently the long distance buses did have bike racks, but drivers were not allowed to instruct or help in their use and passengers were only allowed to use them at end-point stops (meaning you can get on the bus here in Aberystwyth, but you won't be able to take the bike off again until you get to Bangor and then only if you know how to use the racks without the help of the driver). Needless to say the bike racks were never used and have now been mostly removed from the buses.