hey ride

last summer i rode the c-train a couple times from kensington north to the end of the line. my gal and i would ride our cruiser bikes downtown (from silver springs) and after cruising around downtown, princes island, picnic-ing etc we would ride the train back north.

generally i would say we had no problems and really liked having the option of riding the train home - especially after a hard day of cupcake eating, park lounging and wine drinking.

the only issue we came across was that it was very difficult to get onto and off of the train because of the narrow-ness of the train door - and the wider handlebars we have on our bikes. beyond that, the only other thing i'd say is it can be tough to get out of the downtown area if there is a football game on - lots of people riding the train to the game (which is a good thing).

we enjoyed our new-found transportation option so much that we are already planning a few train rides to the south end of the city this summer and will hopefully utilize the train more often.

as a side note - i have a buddy who is a bike courier and during the winter months he would use the train to get home often - but had to wait until after 6pm - which would make for a very long day in the saddle.

If more people could commute by bike, that would have a pronounced effect on parking & congestion, but few people have the flexibility of starting & ending their work-day outside the blackout periods.

Generally, when I have the opportunity to use the train as part of my trip, people don't have any issues with my bike, but I totally understand that people don't like being on crowded trains with bikes that might get grease on their clothes.

It seems to me that the better solution would be to designate one car of the train (say, the first or last) a "bike-friendly" car and remove the blackout period. A Bike-friendly car could also permit bikes at any door.

If you're wearing Armani (or you just don't like those "cyclists"), don't get on the "Bike" car.

I haven't seen any buses near my place with bike racks on them, so obviously getting more racks on buses would be nice (although I'm only 5 km from the c-train station, maybe that has something to do with it)

I noticed that I can ride to and from work faster than Transit can carry me and my bicycle. unless, I'm feeling really lazy, or the road conditions are unsafe, I doubt that I'll use transit.

1. Have you ever used, or tried to use, the bikes-on-buses program here in Calgary? Have you found the service to be reliable, or are there frequently racks missing from bus routes that should have them?

Never used it. In fact, I rarely see buses with racks.

2. If you've used the service, which route(s) have you used? The full list of routes available is here. Is it easy to use the CT website to determine which routes are bike-rack equipped? And, does CT appear to be encouraging cyclists to use this program?

n/a

3. If you haven't used the bikes on buses program, why not? Is it because there is no equipped bus route near your commute route, or because you prefer to ride actively than passively? Or maybe it's the expense of the bus?

The bus routes near me are slower than simply riding my bike to almost any destination I can think of. I have no need for the bus-bike program as I have no need for the bus.

4. If you like the idea of bikes on buses, but the existing routes don't suit you, what routes would you like to add to the existing rack-equipped ones?

n/a

5. And, as for the C-Train, have you ever put your bike on the C-Train? How was the experience? Would you use it more often if the blackout period were reduced? Did you know that you can put up to 2 bikes into the end doors of each car? (so, 4-car trains can carry up to 8 bikes off-hours).

I last used the train to transport my bike >10 years ago. It worked well enough, but the restrictions on peak use made it a non-starter for commuting. If I had to travel through the downtown core [i.e. Brentwood to Fish Creek], it would be significantly faster to go by bike only.

6. Have you ever used the bike-lockers that are located at some C-Train stations? What did you like (or not) about that service?

n/a

7. If you've used a bikes-on-buses program in another city, what was that like? What aspect of that program would you like to see adopted in Calgary?

n/a

8. And lastly, have you ever carried a folding bike onto a bus, or the C-Train, with it hidden in a bag? Have you gotten any flack over that?

n/a

HHCMF!!!

1. Have you ever used, or tried to use, the bikes-on-buses program here in Calgary? Have you found the service to be reliable, or are there frequently racks missing from bus routes that should have them?

Never have used a bus bike rack, have hardly used the bus. I am stupid when it comes to schedules and just don't find Calgary Transit bus system to be useful when compared with cycling, walking, or driving. Can't say I have given it a try recently though.

2. If you've used the service, which route(s) have you used? The full list of routes available is here. Is it easy to use the CT website to determine which routes are bike-rack equipped? And, does CT appear to be encouraging cyclists to use this program?

n/a

3. If you haven't used the bikes on buses program, why not? Is it because there is no equipped bus route near your commute route, or because you prefer to ride actively than passively? Or maybe it's the expense of the bus?

A combination of scheduling, route planning and cost of taking the bus. In general I can get to any destination within 10km faster, easier, and cheaper on my bike than by using the bus in almost any kind of weather or situation. For distances greater than 10km or when I need to carry lots of stuff I would drive. I gave Calgary buses a try when I first came here in '97 but quickly found that cycling and c-train was much easier. Haven't given the bus system a good try lately.

4. If you like the idea of bikes on buses, but the existing routes don't suit you, what routes would you like to add to the existing rack-equipped ones?

n/a

5. And, as for the C-Train, have you ever put your bike on the C-Train? How was the experience? Would you use it more often if the blackout period were reduced? Did you know that you can put up to 2 bikes into the end doors of each car? (so, 4-car trains can carry up to 8 bikes off-hours).

Yes. I used to commute from Westbrook to the airport each day. On the way there I would ride downtown and hop on the c-train at the west end of downtown and take it all the way to Whitehorn, then ride from there to the airport. One way trip took about 45 minutes. I was lucky that my start time was rarely during the blackout times at rush hour. On the way home I would usually ride the whole way, or else take the same c-train route in reverse.

Occasionally use the c-train if going far along the line with my bike, might as well get a ride some of the way. Have used the Zoo station as a starting point often both by bike and as a staging point for the car.

I think the blackout period is important for safety reasons, and also for the convenience and efficient movement of the majority of users during rush hour periods. There are blackout times on most major transit systems during rush hour. For an experiment though perhaps the end door of the last car (only) on a train could be designated a bicycle zone at all times of day. This means cyclists would get on last, but get off first and hopefully get out of the way of the crowds during busy times. Access for bicycles is still limited during the blackout giving preference to the main body of users (pedestrians) but also the option is there for those who would really find it useful.

6. Have you ever used the bike-lockers that are located at some C-Train stations? What did you like (or not) about that service?

No.

But large public bike lock ups should be encouraged at many places, transit hubs, malls, downtown. Theft can be a problem but if you don't ride a particularly expensive bike then you are not at much risk. (I'm sure someone will want to debate this) There are free and extremely cheap bikes everywhere, even in our city. People steal expensive bikes and expensive and easy to remove parts because they can sell them easily. People rarely need to steal a bike just to get something to ride, especially if it is locked securely. Sturdy, comfortable and fairly cheap bikes are perfect for a short ride to the train station or store where they will be locked up for long periods in public.

7. If you've used a bikes-on-buses program in another city, what was that like? What aspect of that program would you like to see adopted in Calgary?

Have experience using the TTC (Toronto transit) and their system is much easier to use, although there are a lot more people. There are blackout periods during rush hours, but otherwise you can take your bike on trains and buses. For years you were allowed to use the rear door of the bus for boarding as the buses then had a huge standing room area at the rear. Now they have moved to the bike rack system. Subway travel is more difficult because it is almost all underground so you have to carry your bike up and down stairs a lot. However the train goes a long way very quickly so combined with a bike your traveling power is huge, and street level transit is very frequent for transfers and connections.

8. And lastly, have you ever carried a folding bike onto a bus, or the C-Train, with it hidden in a bag? Have you gotten any flack over that?

No.

But a big backpack or a full tool belt get their fair share of frowns.

1. Have you ever used, or tried to use, the bikes-on-buses program here in Calgary?

Never tried. I live close to the #1 bus route so keep watching for a bus on a bike but I've never seen one. I don't really feel comfortable asking a bus driver to show me how to load a bike onto the rack or wait while I do it.

5. And, as for the C-Train, have you ever put your bike on the C-Train? How was the experience?

When I was starting to ride I took my bike on the train quite often. I had a job at the UofC for a year so would bike to the Hillhurst/Sunnyside station then jump on the train up to the Banff Trail station. It was a great way to avoid the hill.

I'm hoping to start taking my bike on the train again later this spring. One of my current jobs is down in the SW and I work until 9 pm so I'm thinking about biking to work, then biking to the train after work.

As a messenger that commutes daily up and down center street hill for the last 3 yrs Ive had my fare share of encounters with rush hour gone mad bus drivers. I have been squeezed to the side of that extra large lane many a times by, cars that shouldnt even be in the lane during 330- 6, but almost always by buses. The favorite approach by them is to pass a cyclist half way and then pull over forcing us to slow right down or be assaulted by a bus. I ride too fast for the pathways, and apparently too slow for the roads (even though I end up passing every vehicle by 16ave north cause they are sruck stressing in rush hour traffic) so I am going to stick to the roads cause thats where bicycles belong.
One other repetitive problem I have experienced on the road in Calgary is; when waiting at a red light(yes messengers do this when theres nothin hot in thier bag) I am required to be on the right side in the right hand lane, which is the bus lane. If a bus comes from behind it tries to pull as close as it can to beside or behind, and then either lays on the horn or passes like a madman yelling to get off the road or something equally intelligent. If you were to start with the bus at a red light there would be no room to pull up on the right cause they dont leave it. If everyone on the road just drove where they were going and not try to correct others small mistakes there would be less hostility and I more room on the road for cyclists.

I lived for a year on Heritage drive and when my car broke down I was forced to rely on transit at the time. The time of year was winter and I had my daughter most of the time so relied on the transit. I needed to take a bus to the train and then another bus to Deer Run. On weekends, when I finished work, the transit had stopped so I would be forced to walk to the train and then after the train, walk home. In sub zero temps this was painful. I would be off work at 9:30 and get home at midnight often and sometimes with mild hypothermia setting in. Hard to expose a child to that. Many of those days I would loved to have had my bike but there was never a bike rack. Ever. Since that day, I have been looking at bus's all the time and to this day have yet to see a bike rack on one. I know they are there but I havent seen one. Just how many are there? I think there should be one on EVERY bus rolling personally. It puts more money in CT's bank instead of the gas stations.

Bottom line... an extra train car for cyclists only should exist. A rack on EVERY bus should exist. This takes care of prime time problems not allowing bikes on the trains also. Its done in many countries where they remove seating in one car and its for cyclists only. Anybody found in that car without a bike gets fined. Simple as that.

http://scottewing.wordpress.com/ My Bohemia Blog

1. Have you ever used, or tried to use, the bikes-on-buses program here in Calgary? Have you found the service to be reliable, or are there frequently racks missing from bus routes that should have them?

I haven't used bikes-on-buses here, but I have in other cities. Because of the front rack on my touring bike, the arm to secure the wheel did not rotate far enough to properly secure the bike, so I had to use a bungee cord to secure the bike adequately. The first time this occurred, fortunately the driver was patient. So it's important to anticipate any such situations due to unusual gear, tire size, etc. Very good idea in principle, though I don't actually see many bikes on buses in Calgary.

2. n/a

3. If you haven't used the bikes on buses program, why not? Is it because there is no equipped bus route near your commute route, or because you prefer to ride actively than passively? Or maybe it's the expense of the bus?

The need has not arisen to date. The C-Train generally gets me close enough to places I can't reach directly by cycling. Buses usually get close enough to start and end points that thus far it's been simpler to walk.

4. n/a

5. And, as for the C-Train, have you ever put your bike on the C-Train? How was the experience? Would you use it more often if the blackout period were reduced? Did you know that you can put up to 2 bikes into the end doors of each car? (so, 4-car trains can carry up to 8 bikes off-hours).

I probably take the bike on the C-Train once or twice a month on average. I would do so more often if the afternoon blackout began at 4 instead of 3.

6. Have you ever used the bike-lockers that are located at some C-Train stations? What did you like (or not) about that service?

No.

7. If you've used a bikes-on-buses program in another city, what was that like? What aspect of that program would you like to see adopted in Calgary?

See my answer to 1 above. As near as I can tell, all the Bay Area buses have racks, and this simplifies planning if you always know you'll be able to find one. They seemed to be well used.

8. And lastly, have you ever carried a folding bike onto a bus, or the C-Train, with it hidden in a bag? Have you gotten any flack over that?

No.