Your city buses with bike racks?

[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.

[MillieNZ]

The bus in Honolulu have racks on, about half of the fleet have space for two, most of the new buses have racks for 3, a lot of the time all of the spaces are taken which is great

[shootingstar]

Probably any jurisdiction that doesn't have bike racks on buses, means it would have been illegal...though I am uncertain if our motor vehicle legislation defines what type of apparatus would be attached to a vehicle/bus..

If Honolulu has racks on bikes, this should give even more incentive for something similar in Australia.

[kcmpls]

Northstar, I've never had a Minneapolis bus driver help me load my bike on a rack.

But, we have two racks on every bus and VERY often they are full. Especially on the buses that run between Minneapolis and St. Paul. Sometimes, if there is room, the driver will let you bring the bike on the bus, but it is rare when there is room.

I've seen people wait for two or three buses come by before there is room for a bike on a rack during rush hour.

[redrhodie]

RIPTA buses have 2 bike racks on them, which I've only used a couple of times. The first time, the bus driver mentioned the new racks are much better than the old racks, and hardly any bikes fall off anymore . He happened to say this while we were going over the bridge, which is really bumpy because of the expansion joints. I suspect he didn't like having the racks there. I have to say, the bumpiness made me very nervous for my bike, and I spent the ride worrying I had not secured it properly (since the driver didn't help), and that I left my saddle bag open (which I didn't, but wouldn't be unlike me ).

The other thing is that they get used a lot, so there's a chance I could not get a space, which would leave me waiting for more than an hour for the next bus, with no alternative since the bridge is non cycling. I decided it wasn't worth the wear and tear on my bike, the stress of imagining it falling off, or the chance of not getting home for hours, to take the bus on a regular basis. The bus is also more expensive than driving, even with the bridge toll. I drive to the park and ride instead.

It is good to have the option for when my car is in the shop, though.