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I was sitting on a train heading to Connecticut from Manhattan last week wondering why it wasn't moving. Then I heard the conductor on the PA saying>
"Remove your bike from the train. The train will not move until your bike is no longer on it. If you are still on the train when I get to you, I will call the police."
Metro-North clearly doesn't believe that bikes and public transit are natural partners.
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That is total BS. If you bought and paid for a valid Metro North bike permit you have every right to take your bike on the train.
I would have demanded to know why he was kicking you off. Was it a crowed rush hour train? If not it doesn't sound right to me.
I hope they did call the police. It would be a great opportunity to educate them as to the rights of cyclists.
That is total BS. If you bought and paid for a valid Metro North bike permit you have every right to take your bike on the train.
I would have demanded to know why he was kicking you off. Was it a crowed rush hour train? If not it doesn't sound right to me.
It was probably during rush hour. Even if he didn't have a permit, they would have charged him $5.00 but still allowed the bike on the train.
I've never been kicked off any MetroNorth train during the weekends. Never.
That is total BS. If you bought and paid for a valid Metro North bike permit you have every right to take your bike on the train.
I would have demanded to know why he was kicking you off. Was it a crowed rush hour train? If not it doesn't sound right to me.
He wasn't kicking me off, some guy in another car.
He wasn't kicking me off, some guy in another car.
Some guy in another car with a bike that you don't know anything about, and circumstances of the incident that you don't know anything about. Perfect scenario for BF Henny Pennys to wail about the evildoers and their nefarious evil deeds.
I hope they did call the police. It would be a great opportunity to educate them as to the rights of cyclists.
I think he left the train. BTW Cyclists do not have the right to take their bike on a Metro North train during rush hour.
I hope they did call the police. It would be a great opportunity to educate them as to the rights of cyclists.
I think he left the train. BTW Cyclists do not have the right to take their bike on a Metro North train during rush hour.
As I posted, the vague scenario in the OP was perfect bait for a deluded know-it-all to furnish a know-nothing answer/solution.
Was that the point of the OP?
Was that the point of the OP?
To make jack-asses ask questions. It looks like it worked, because you asked one.:rolleyes:
To make jack-asses ask questions. It looks like it worked, because you asked one.:rolleyes:
No questions necessary for smug know-it-alls, eh? They can start spouting off the morally/ethically pure solution with no idea of the problem, even if there even is no problem, eh?
So what's your instant know-nothing/Henny-Penny answer to the know nothing aboutProblem?
...smug know-it-alls...
Pot v. Kettle
To make jack-asses ask questions. It looks like it worked, because you asked one.:rolleyes:
Pot v. Kettle
Now, now, gentlemen. In the interest of keeping the peace I suggest you simply put him on ignore.
In fact, this forum should have a sticky instructing all newcomers to put ILTB on ignore. Can anyone make that a reality?
hitler *****3z.... :o
good idea. I hope the hitler mention kills this thread.
good idea. I hope the hitler mention kills this thread.
My point exactly: The Thread was DOA given that there was insufficient information provided to support any intelligent comment. Not that that hinders the Henny Pennys from declaring their outrage, they can always ignore reality, or make it up to fit their rhetoric.
ILTB, I agree that this thread seemed pretty pointless as soon as I read that someone was made because a cyclist got in trouble for violating the rules. But, you could of just hit the "back" button like everyone else in their right mind instead of blabbing out the mouth and being a freaking goof-ball like you seem to have to do in every other thread.
Now go ride your bike, maybe it will take some of that stress off of you for getting picked on as a child, having girlfriends cheat on you, or not having friends in your adult life. Or whatever else causes you to be the way you are.
And oh yea, HITLER. Maybe 3 strikes and the thread is out :)
it's a permanent pass for off-peak trains to bring a full size bike on the Metro North, can't take them on peak... Folders are Kosher 24/7 W/O the bike pass, also if you're in a bind and are stuck with a non folder but take the wheels off you might get away with it on peak, I've done that before... strangely though there's no rules against bass violins and tubas, all of which I've seen on the metro north and subways. I'm Outraged!!!!
http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1062/698582167_77dbad4eb2.jpg
ILTB, I agree that this thread seemed pretty pointless as soon as I read that someone was made because a cyclist got in trouble for violating the rules. But, you could of just hit the "back" button like everyone else in their right mind instead of blabbing out the mouth and being a freaking goof-ball like you seem to have to do in every other thread.
But that's just it, JackO, the car free bunch "right mind" is typified by the typical usual suspects with the same dingy mad as hell attitude as the OP ("the MAN is picking on us again"). Fools who immediately posted the party line in response. To point the foolishness out, raises the hackles of the dingy know-it-alls even more; some of whom want to ignore any thought that stresses their tender sensibilities/delusions
But that's just it, JackO, the car free bunch "right mind" is typified by the typical usual suspects with the same dingy mad as hell attitude as the OP ("the MAN is picking on us again"). Fools who immediately posted the party line in response. To point the foolishness out, raises the hackles of the dingy know-it-alls even more; some of whom want to ignore any thought that stresses their tender sensibilities/delusions
Actually I (the OP) am not mad at all. My office is a mile from the nearest Metro-North station so I can use my feet to assist in my car free commute. Others of course are not so lucky like the guy forced off the train. Many offices in Westchester and Connecticut are not within walking distance of a station. Anyone working in those offices who does not happen to live near enough to ride will have no choice but to drive. This will include Manhattan residents too of course. I used to drive to work from Manhattan myself because the commute by train was an extra 15 minutes (coincidently the time it takes me to walk that mile from the station) and I was already paying $440 to park the car.
The reason for the bike ban is the trains barely have enough room for the people who use them and certainly can't afford the space for bikes. The Metro-North line into Connecticut is the least subsidized in the country and one of the most expensive to use (Stamford to Grand Central is $264 a month). The rolling stock is falling apart and they often have to run short trains because not enough working rolling stock is available. Anyone living in Connecticut who is interested in promoting alternatives to commuting by car (everyone living in CT should be, the congestion is horrendous) should write to their state representatives. Anyone living in New York who has the misfortune to need to use the New Haven line will just have to tolerate the situation.
Everyone else will wonder why this concerns them. I think it is an interesting illustration of just how far this country has to go in reducing its dependence on automobiles and foreign oil. The New York metro area has some of the best rail based mass transit in the US but it is not exactly car free friendly. 20 years ago I used to commute to work in the UK by train and bike. UK trains used to have one car dedicated to bikes and other bulky items.
I think he left the train. BTW Cyclists do not have the right to take their bike on a Metro North train during rush hour.
Why didn't you say it was rush hour to begin with? The guy should get a folding bike, those are allowed.
Although, to be completely honest I really don't think folding bikes should be allowed during rush hour either; At least not the ones with 20" wheels, they're not really any smaller than a regular bike...just more square. The MTA needs to figure out a way to attach bikes between rail cars or something along those lines.
But that's just it, JackO, the car free bunch "right mind" is typified by the typical usual suspects with the same dingy mad as hell attitude as the OP ("the MAN is picking on us again"). Fools who immediately posted the party line in response. To point the foolishness out, raises the hackles of the dingy know-it-alls even more; some of whom want to ignore any thought that stresses their tender sensibilities/delusions
Why shouldn't we be mad as hell when the train stations have entire lots dedicated to potentially bomb-carrying autos, but no proper bike lockers due to "terrorism"? There is no excuse for this kind of prejudice. Although, I doubt someone as dense as you has tender enough sensibilities to be bothered by something like that.
Why didn't you say it was rush hour to begin with? The guy should get a folding bike, those are allowed.
Although, to be completely honest I really don't think folding bikes should be allowed during rush hour either; At least not the ones with 20" wheels, they're not really any smaller than a regular bike...just more square. The MTA needs to figure out a way to attach bikes between rail cars or something along those lines.
Probably should have. That said, off peak transportation of bikes is really only useful to weekend day trippers. Rush hour is a lot longer than an hour. FWIW I have only seen one person take a folding bike on a Metro-North train during rush hour. I did see her a few times though.
The MTA needs to figure out a way to attach bikes between rail cars or something along those lines.
I think the issues with that are mainly that it would take longer to load a bike and then board the train, and it encourages people to go into the space between the cars, which would seem inherently dangerous without a LOT more safeguards than what they currently have.
We're allowed to take bikes onto our local light rail trains even during rush hour...
We're not supposed to interfere with other passengers boarding the train... but the only place we're allowed to be is DIRECTLY in front of the doors on the ends... So it's impossible to not interfere.
Never really had any problems with doing it, though.
Now, now, gentlemen. In the interest of keeping the peace I suggest you simply put him on ignore.
In fact, this forum should have a sticky instructing all newcomers to put ILTB on ignore. Can anyone make that a reality?
I actually don't mind ILTB's posts as much as I once did. He's not easy to agree with, but neither is he an idiot. He sometimes has poor social skills, and is totally full of sh*t at others, but he does provide the useful service of keeping the rest of us from getting too sanctimonious, for which we should all be privately thankful. Without people like ILTB, as irritating as they sometimes can be, we'd be in serious danger of becoming another A & S, whining about "cagers" all the time, and then turning on anyone who didn't completely agree with us in all things...
The train (CalTrain) here in San Francisco actually has a special car for bikes where you bungee your bike to a rack and then sit in the seats in the back or overhead. It's kind of a pain in the butt though - the bikes get up to 4 deep so you have to label your bike with a destination and hope that other riders are considerate enough to look at the labels when loading their bikes. I tried taking the train to work (I work 25 miles south of the city) but on the way home I got bumped several times when the bike car was full and had to wait another 45 minutes for the next train. Since the train already took twice as long as driving when you include riding to and from the station, I gave up and bought a motorcycle. It's sad really, I could move closer to work but then I'd be in the burbs where it is very boring and not bike friendly. At least when I get home I can park the motorcycle and ride my bike everywhere...
I actually don't mind ILTB's posts as much as I once did. He's not easy to agree with, but neither is he an idiot. He sometimes has poor social skills, and is totally full of sh*t at others, but he does provide the useful service of keeping the rest of us from getting too sanctimonious, for which we should all be privately thankful. Without people like ILTB, as irritating as they sometimes can be, we'd be in serious danger of becoming another A & S, whining about "cagers" all the time, and then turning on anyone who didn't completely agree with us in all things...
I must say you're right. But Specialized Fan is better suited to the roll of token-naysayer, without being a total troll. $0.02
it's a permanent pass for off-peak trains to bring a full size bike on the Metro North, can't take them on peak... Folders are Kosher 24/7 W/O the bike pass, also if you're in a bind and are stuck with a non folder but take the wheels off you might get away with it on peak, I've done that before... strangely though there's no rules against bass violins and tubas, all of which I've seen on the metro north and subways. I'm Outraged!!!!
http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1062/698582167_77dbad4eb2.jpg
I too recommend a folder, if you're trying to get around NYC with a bike on public transport; I do it a lot and have never had a problem.
Thanks for the picture of the stainless double bass! I want that.
I actually don't mind ILTB's posts as much as I once did. He's not easy to agree with, but neither is he an idiot. He sometimes has poor social skills, and is totally full of sh*t at others, but he does provide the useful service of keeping the rest of us from getting too sanctimonious, for which we should all be privately thankful. Without people like ILTB, as irritating as they sometimes can be, we'd be in serious danger of becoming another A & S, whining about "cagers" all the time, and then turning on anyone who didn't completely agree with us in all things...
"We'd" be in serious danger of becoming a community of whining, sniveling, insecure, sanctimonious experts on what is wrong with everybody else, as well as car less financial wizards lecturing about the costs of automobile operation; with a smattering of mental defectives pratteling on about the evils of cagers and whatever else is rattling around upstairs? Ya think this list is about such a community? Now who wudda thunk??
I suppose exercising good social skill for the some of the emotional BF types in search of reasssurance and group hugs is singing Kumbaya with"community" members of similiar thought patterns and ignoring everything/everybody else not so enlightened.
The train (CalTrain) here in San Francisco actually has a special car for bikes where you bungee your bike to a rack and then sit in the seats in the back or overhead. It's kind of a pain in the butt though - the bikes get up to 4 deep so you have to label your bike with a destination and hope that other riders are considerate enough to look at the labels when loading their bikes. I tried taking the train to work (I work 25 miles south of the city) but on the way home I got bumped several times when the bike car was full and had to wait another 45 minutes for the next train. Since the train already took twice as long as driving when you include riding to and from the station, I gave up and bought a motorcycle. It's sad really, I could move closer to work but then I'd be in the burbs where it is very boring and not bike friendly. At least when I get home I can park the motorcycle and ride my bike everywhere...
Yeah, I've seen the bike car on CalTrain. The problem is that it takes up passenger space. Trains need something that utilizes unused space like those brilliant bike racks on the fronts of buses.
Yeah, I've seen the bike car on CalTrain. The problem is that it takes up passenger space. Trains need something that utilizes unused space like those brilliant bike racks on the fronts of buses.
I think I recall seeing an article from a Fort Worth newspaper dated around 1903 that described local trolley cars with four bicycle racks on each side. I knew I should have saved a copy.
Now, now, gentlemen. In the interest of keeping the peace I suggest you simply put him on ignore.
In fact, this forum should have a sticky instructing all newcomers to put ILTB on ignore. Can anyone make that a reality?
True, but people quote him in responses, so on ignore or not, you still get to see most of his posts.
True, but people quote him in responses, so on or ignore or not, you still get to see most of his posts.
Why do you think I'm trying to encourage more people to use the "ignore" feature?
Why do you think I'm trying to encourage more people to use the "ignore" feature?
Didn't look at it from that angle. Great idea.
Why do you think I'm trying to encourage more people to use the "ignore" feature?
Because you are an insecure egoist incapable of handling discussion that casts doubt on your pet theories? That's the positive spin on your nut case efforts and digital output. Obsession with control issues is the dark and more likely reason.
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