JugglerDave

Normally I commute from Philly to Paoli with my folder but today I had a mtg in New York so I was on Amtrak headed for Penn Station (sans bike).

I was surprised, but on both the morning and afternoon train I saw a folder!

In the AM (7am out of Philly to NYC) a guy w/ his Brompton, helmet-mounted lighting and all. at NYC he said he goes to Grand Central then takes Metro-North into Westchester.

In the PM (5:10pm out of NYC) a saw a guy get off at North Philadelphia with a Dahon.

Don't know if either of you are on the forum, but it makes me happy to see others with folders on Amtrak.

v6v6v6

I'm not sure how accommodating your train is, but I rode Amtrak recently from LA to San Diego and was pleased with how much room there was. Each car had a bike rack to stow your bike. It turned out that I never had to fold my bike once during any part of my commute.

Galls

Long Time Lurker...

Amtrak California (funded by California) has bike racks on the lower level of some of their Bi-Level Surfliner equipment.

All trains here on the NE Corridor are single level, sparing LIRR and NJT cramped bi levels, due to some very small tunnels and while some trains have bike racks, most do not even have checked luggage. Folders are allowed as one of two carry ons but as I said, most of our, very, very frequent amtrak regional trains do not even have checked luggage, as they would need a dedicated luggage car.

Dahon.Steve

I've taken my folder on Amtrak and you're right, we are in the minority. Then again, with Amtrak's prices, most of those using the system wouldn't be caught dead on a small wheel bicycle.

Galls

Well I have taken it cross country before, and outside of the North East Corridor it is very cheap. NY to Little Rock was cheaper than a bus ticket and a much better trip.

tulip

I take Amtrak alot and have never seen another folding bike, but maybe there was one in a suitcase.

folder fanatic

While I am happy to see the increase frequency of folder sightings around Southern California, I do have some reservations about too much of a good thing. If a majority of people discover folding bikes on public transport of any kind, then this will call attention of "do gooders" and their uptight laws. Like banning of folding bikes on certain times or routes, kicking someone off a train/bus when the bike or large folded parcel is spotted, demand of and attention calling for more bike theft/jacking, you name it. Personally I am happy the way things are right now.

Lake_Tom

Are you saying that someone boarded with the bike and carried it into the passenger compartment? I did not know that was "legitimate".

JugglerDave

I agree to a point. On my Amtrak trains there is "legal" room for perhaps 3 to 5 folded bikes per car. That is the very narrow 'coat closet' and the 'oversized luggage' rack at one end of the car. That space is, of course, shared with oversized luggage. I can always find a spot but I'm not traveling on the Northeast Corridor much. If folding bikes became very popular, the only solutions would be keeping you off the train, or modifying cars to increase bike/luggage space at the expense of revenue-producing seats. The former is much more likely until we're like Europe & there is enough public demand for more bike space.