NJ Transit has a change of heart about bicycles

[neilfein]

Does that mean that Hoboken station is now un-useable by cyclists? Damn.

[indyfabz]

Conductors on SEPTA have done this for me from time to time, but usually when I have a loaded touring bicycle. It's probably not practical for them to do this all the time; conductors have a lot to do and not much time in which to get it done.

And I am pretty confident that the risk management department doesn't want them helping people.

[Dahon.Steve]

Good news!

It looks like NJ Transit is going to reverse their policy on low platforms AND give cyclists MORE access!! HOLY COW! I guess my angry letter did the trick! LOL.

http://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/201..._access_t.html

[neilfein]

Good news!

It looks like NJ Transit is going to reverse their policy on low platforms AND give cyclists MORE access!! HOLY COW! I guess my angry letter did the trick! LOL.

http://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/201..._access_t.html

Great news! I'll remain skeptical until I see written policies, but it looks like they want to find a way to make this work.

[indyfabz]

"The committee also recommended ways to increase the number of bikes stored on bi-level cars and proposed having cyclists obtain a one-time "permit," which would give officials an idea of how many people bring bikes on the train as well as a way to communicate with them."

This could cause a problem for the one-time or occasional user if those "permits" are not easily obtainable. For example, what if one who otherwise never uses the train finds the need to take one due to a mechanical issue? If the necessary permit cannot be purchased at the time the ticket is, would the would-be user S.O.L?

As one who is often given to skepticism in situations like these, I have to wonder whether the thought is to charge a fee for a permit and make it so one needs to have one for a "what if" situation like the one described above.

BTW...PATCO (high speed commuter train between S. Jersey and Philly), which was bike friendly before it was green to be, used to require a permit in order to get a head count but eventually scrapped the requirement. Now you can take a bike on 24/7.

[Dahon.Steve]

Great news! I'll remain skeptical until I see written policies, but it looks like they want to find a way to make this work.

Well, it's official. NJ Transit will allow FULL SIZE bicycles on all trains. The limitations are the same as before but the reversal of the old policy went through.

http://chatham.patch.com/articles/nj...lists-4ed7e7f9

[Dahon.Steve]

I also want to add they changed the rules regarding weekend bikes. This is the change.

<<<On weekends: Bicycles are not permitted on inbound trains to New York between 9 a.m. and 12 p.m. Bicycles are not permitted on outbound trains from New York between 5 p.m. and 8 p.m>>>

Looks like if you want to come into the city with a bicycle, you'll have to wait until the afternoon. Bummer.

[neilfein]

^

Seriously? Damn. Do you have a link for this?

[Dahon.Steve]

^

Seriously? Damn. Do you have a link for this?

I gave the link on my prior post.

Below are the highlights of the revised policy:
•Collapsible bicycles are accommodated on all NJ TRANSIT trains at all times.
•Standard-frame bicycles are permitted on the Atlantic City Rail Line at all times and on other rail lines at all times with the following exceptions: •On weekdays: Bicycles are not permitted on inbound trains that end in Hoboken, Newark or New York between 6 a.m. and 10 a.m. Bicycles are not permitted on outbound trains that originate in Hoboken, Newark or New York between 4 p.m. and 8 p.m. These trains are indicated by a Q in public timetables.
•On weekends: Bicycles are not permitted on inbound trains to New York between 9 a.m. and 12 p.m. Bicycles are not permitted on outbound trains from New York between 5 p.m. and 8 p.m.
•On the following holidays as well as the business day before these holidays: New Year’s Day, Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Presidents’ Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day, Day After Thanksgiving, Sunday After Thanksgiving and Christmas Day. Bicycles are not permitted on the day before Rosh Hashanah or day before Yom Kippur, but are permitted on the prior business day and day of the holiday itself.
•Other times: Bicycles are not permitted on substitute bus service during rail service outages.


The revised policy will be available on njtransit.com on July 1.

[opal]

So here's my question - the weekday policy specifically calls out Hoboken, Newark, New York while the weekend policy only mentions New York. Does that mean, on the weekend, you can take bikes on Hoboken and Newark trains?

[Dahon.Steve]

So here's my question - the weekday policy specifically calls out Hoboken, Newark, New York while the weekend policy only mentions New York. Does that mean, on the weekend, you can take bikes on Hoboken and Newark trains?

The weekend limitation is only for trains going INTO Manhattan so Hoboken might be OK. Good point. Keep in mind, they might say all INBOUND heading toward New York city are off limits in the morning. (Saturday/Sunday/Weekdays). We'll find out soon!