Folding Bikes - Montague and/or S&S couplers on NYC Bus

As the thread title states, does anyone have any experience with taking either of the two on an NYC bus?

The bike would be single speed. If I had SS couplers I would use slider dropouts and a QR so I could even remove the rear wheel if necessary, but I want to do some research before plunking down all that cash for a frame like that.

The MTA site links to a site which links to Montague, so I imagine that that in some way endorses this size.

Yes I am aware of 20" wheels.

Thanks a ton in advance

Isnt Montague just a 26" wheel frame..? not 20"

Isnt Montague just a 26" wheel frame..? not 20"


bike friday has a well developed 20"wheel bike..

He is hoping to avoid us suggesting a folding bike with 20" Wheels.

You could do this (SS) - but I don't think it's a good idea. Coupling/uncoupling the SS daily or more frequently probably isn't inline with the product's design. If doing it this often, it will be hard to keep the threads clean, which is going to be important for long term reliability. Regardless you'll have a >=26" bike which still is large for a bus. Yeah, you could remove the other wheel, but what will that do for the total size? Where will it go? And you want to hold that mess together on a bus? How?

I don't often use public transport with folders, but I would imagine that folding bikes are equated with maximum 20" wheels. So even for the bus drivers that are keen on folding bike policies, you may run into trouble.

I think SS couplers/26" folding bikes have a place, I have a few. But I don't think it's gonna work. Try taking a full size bike on a bus and remove the wheels and see how you're treated. The Total package size isn't that different.

What works in Travel , airplanes and Interstate busses and trains ,
may be a No-Go in Metro NYC.

I don't live there .. give it a try and report back ..

our busses have a 2 bike rack, on the front..

we have the front bike racks on our buses here in Vancouver. i usually put my dahon jack on the front rack, but wil carry on my mu SL. the one time the front racks were full, i folded my jack and brought it on board, and even though the bus was half full, the bus driver mumbled something like "that's a pretty big folding bike, thats what the bike racks are for." i glanced out at the full racks and then back at the driver, but i didn't back talk, and he did let me on anyways.

on board, i parked it in the disability/seniors area where the strollers/wheelchair riders would normally sit. didn't seem to bother anyone on the bus.
interesting was the bikers who were on the bus thought it was pretty cool they would not have to keep watch of their bikes on the racks for fear of someone stealing them.
but again, i would not normally bring my 26 inch jack folded on board. just a bit too clumsy/large for the confined space.