[veggie_lover]

According to their website , it has to be fully bagged and can not block aisles? So does that mean you can not put it next to you? Does it have to be in a bag?

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[whitesox]

You can bring a non folding bike on Metra, just not on the early morning or early evening trains. What Metra line are you thinking of taking? I will find the Metra schedule and post it, and it will tell you what trains you can take your bike on.

I have brought my bike on Metra many times.

[veggie_lover]

This would be saturday from Joliet to Chicago. For your non-folding bike it says you have to 'secure' it with bungee chords and you have to stand with it the whole time, is that correct?

[whitesox]

This would be saturday from Joliet to Chicago. For your non-folding bike it says you have to 'secure' it with bungee chords and you have to stand with it the whole time, is that correct?

so I assume you are taking the Rock Island line?

you might have to strap it to something on the train. I never have... but it's best to bring two small cords in your bag in case the conductor holds you to the rules, but I have yet to see a bike strapped down. Most people just sit with their bike and hold it.

There are certain cars on the metra that have a wide adjustable seating area for bikes and wheelchairs. If you are not familiar with metra it will be hard for you to know which cars these are (until you get on the train). Sooo... when the train stops, the conductor will get off and he'll wave you down to the car where you are supposed to go, where you are supposed to get on. You just get on with your bike and move it in the car. It will be easy to see where you are supposed to sit and hold your bike (or strap it) because the seating area is wide open and the seats are facing a totally different way than the rest of the car. The conductor will help you.

Just be sure when you get off the train downtown, don't ride your back at all in the station :( I've seen punk kids do this and the conductors get ticked off, and all is does is ruin it for the rest of us.

So have fun!! All trains on the weekend will take your bike... so no worries there. Just bring your bike, two cords, and be nice to the conductor(s) and all will go well:D (and walk your bike through the station ;))

[dosle]

I took my non-folding fuji on the metra across town, just so happened to be during the end of the cubs game. While it was pretty tight (i just stood up the bike) i was able to get by without issue

[John Wilke]

There's 5 or 6 of us from work who are planning, sometime this summer, on taking the train from Kenosha down to somewhere in Chicago land ... and then have a group ride back. Should be fun! (pics? of course!)

[duppie]

This would be saturday from Joliet to Chicago. For your non-folding bike it says you have to 'secure' it with bungee chords and you have to stand with it the whole time, is that correct?

We took our bikes on the train for the first time a few weeks a go. Boarding and exiting was a non-issue, but the conductor made us secure our bikes. Since we did not have a bungee cord with us he made us lock our bikes to the side rail.
Lesson learned: Always bring a bungee cord or two

Duppie

[Mayonnaise]

I'm an expert Rock Island bike commuter. I do it 5 times a week. I've become friendly with all the conductors.

Always use a bungie, whether they check or not (lots of stupid drunks on the train and you don't want your bike flying into them after a sudden jolt)

Check the blackout dates. For crowded events in the city Metra doesn't allow bikes on trains. Dates are posted on their website. Believe me, it's a drag to get there and someone says "No Bikes, Gospel Fest" or something else you never even thought to think about.

Get there on time, the train waits for no one.

[devildogmech]

Too bad you cant take bikes on the south shore line.... I live in NWIN, and would have to DRIVE my bike up in the van..... Or I could just ride :D

[timmyquest]

They have a bike limit on their trains. I think they should have the specifics on their website
www.metrarail.com

[laryanshabaz]

I have seen someone bring a big old folder in a bag many times on the bike-exempt train times. This is north pacific kenosha/chicago line.

I have also never seen conductors require that a full-size bike be strapped to the seats, though that is the "rule". You do not have priority over handicapped persons though.

Be careful that the trains you're using aren't massively crowded! (Weekends) I saw a guy almost get booted out because the whole train was maxed. We had about 10 people standing in that car instead to keep him on.

[veggie_lover]

I tried it this weekend and my folding bike seemed to fit well in my seat as shown in the picture. I had no problem with legspace. The train did fill up in the afternoon so was lucky to get a seat . I suppose I could try carrying it upstairs and putting it on the rack. BUt that seemed like a lot of work...