Utility Cycling - Taking your cargo bike by train

Hello friends-

A few months ago I wanted to take my bike to Portland, checked out tickets on Amtrak and read that my bike was over the weight limit. Apparently I'm not the only person who has been stopped in their tracks (too hard to resist that one) by this regulation.

Anyway, Travis at TRANSPORTland has sent a letter to Amtrak hoping to start conversation and maybe a trial period to see how Amtrak could adjust to coping with us cargo cyclists. If you would like to join the conversation and add your input, send in a message to Amtrak voicing your opinion or just see whats going on I invite you to visit the blogs listed below. Wouldn't it be awesome to travel with out bikes of all shapes and sizes!

http://youaintgotjack.blogspot.com/2012/03/cargo-bikes-by-train.html

http://transportland.org/2012/03/open-letter-to-amtrak/

Cheers!

50lb limit for all packages on Amtrak. Any more and there would be liability for employees hurting themselves.

Reserved a bike spot on a Boston to Portland,Maine Amtrac commuter on a weekend run.
The reserved spot is used to store wheelchairs on the car during the week I guess.

50 lb limit to roll something around. crazy. ups puts stickers on packages after 70 lbs and they have to lift and carry everything.

Hello friends-

A few months ago I wanted to take my bike to Portland, checked out tickets on Amtrak and read that my bike was over the weight limit. Apparently I'm not the only person who has been stopped in their tracks (too hard to resist that one) by this regulation.

Anyway, Travis at TRANSPORTland has sent a letter to Amtrak hoping to start conversation and maybe a trial period to see how Amtrak could adjust to coping with us cargo cyclists. If you would like to join the conversation and add your input, send in a message to Amtrak voicing your opinion or just see whats going on I invite you to visit the blogs listed below. Wouldn't it be awesome to travel with out bikes of all shapes and sizes!

http://youaintgotjack.blogspot.com/2012/03/cargo-bikes-by-train.html

http://transportland.org/2012/03/open-letter-to-amtrak/

Cheers!

Dude! This is the internet and as such it's easy to find out who the CEO & other Amtrak officials are so you can communicate directly with them instead of a lame ass blog entry that won't do squat for your cause.

If you're the least bit serious here's the info to get you to the right people...........

http://www.lead411.com/company_Amtrak_Boardman_16904.html

http://www.lead411.com/Joseph_Boardman_1163577.html

Dude! This is the internet and as such it's easy to find out who the CEO & other Amtrak officials are so you can communicate directly with them instead of a lame ass blog entry that won't do squat for your cause.

If you're the least bit serious here's the info to get you to the right people...........

http://www.lead411.com/company_Amtrak_Boardman_16904.html

http://www.lead411.com/Joseph_Boardman_1163577.html


Thanks Dude.

50 lb limit to roll something around. crazy. ups puts stickers on packages after 70 lbs and they have to lift and carry everything.

exactly! Ive decided we'll just rent bikes when we travel, easier.

Reading the baggage policy on amtrak's site (http://www.amtrak.com/servlet/ContentServer?c=AM_Content_C&pagename=am%2FLayout&cid=1241267293829) the checked baggage cannot exceed 50lb EACH. If you had a bi-partable frame with S&S couplers, this could work out for most cargo bikes, dividing the bike into two packages, with allowance for one more checked luggage item. Of course that doesn't help you presently...

Hi, folks.

I'm one of the people who followed up on Travis' suggestion/request to write to Amtrak (I'm in SF and have dealings with cargo bike people in Portland). After a long delay, I received a form reply that basically said. . . nothing.

If anyone wants to communicate with real decision-makers, I think Nightshade's suggestion is the right way to go.