i got word that there will be a meeting of the mta regarding allowing bicycles on the subway in october, i believe. i fee that a ruling against bikes on the metro may, in the future, garner support against bikes on the buses, and so on/so forth. blah blah blah... infringements on the rights of cyclists in los angeles, the forging of anti - bike laws and what not. in leiu of the recent arrests at critical mass in new york... i'm thinking that the the mta is not quite 'public' transportation, and although it's available to the public, it is a private corporation. it may be a stipulation of the bus contracts to provide bike facilities on buses. if the bus and the trains are owned by the the same company, what's to stop them from re-working their current busing rules? i agree that there is a difference between manuvering a bike through the metro crowds and plopping a bike on the front of a bus, but i know how public support of a private endeavor can sway the opinion of lawmakers in general. what do you say?
hester
08-07-05, 11:01 AM
by the way, i fully intentd on attending that meeting and ask anyone available to do the same. info soon.
Laika
08-07-05, 11:02 AM
in nyc, which as i'm sure you know has a huge subway system, the rules are pretty simple. you're never forbidden to bring a bike on the subway, but you are discouraged from doing so during rush hours. it's really just common sense and etiquette, more than regulations.
Placid Casual
08-08-05, 04:51 AM
Metro is not a private corporation. It is every bit as public as the school district. Where did you hear about this meeting, and is the idea of banning bikes on the trains explicitly on the agenda?
hester
08-08-05, 02:18 PM
a friend of mine was recently given a pamphlet/flyer by a metro cop while riding with his bike. he said it was an announcement about an upcoming meeting regarding banning bikes on the metro. whether it's an outright ban or more strict limitations, i don't know. could even be a call for bike permits to ride... i haven't seen the flyer yet and it's difficult to find upcoming information on the web. there is a general meeting of the mta at the end of the month which i guess i'll attend to find out if there is any validity to this claim. a knee jerk reaction, is all. this is an issue that worries me.
wsexson
08-08-05, 03:28 PM
Since bicycles are not allowed on most of MTA rail during rush hour as it is, as far as I am concerned they are essentially already banned.
joelpalmer
08-08-05, 03:55 PM
on BART (sf area light rail) bikes are specifically banned during commute hours in the commute direction (Weekdays approximately 7:05 to 8:50 am and 4:25 to 6:45 pm.) after many months of riding i have yet to figure out why the commute is bigger in the afternoon. all i know is it sucks cause i have to get up for work at 445am, because i have to leave my office by 330 to make the train to get home, its that or im stuck here until 645.