Anyone take the Metro from Downtown Riverside to L.A Station (Riverside/Purple)
 

I was just wondering how pack it gets in the morning and if there are a lot of bikers? I plan to bike to the train station in Downtown Riverside and get there by 6 and get off at Ontario East and bike to work.

I heard there is only 2 bike racks per train car, and I need to bring my own cord? I don't want to bike there and get rejected and have to wait for another train and be late for work. Anything I need to know? I have never ridden the trains before, so do I just walk in and toss the bike somewhere? I don't want to look like an idiot too trying to figure out how to secure the bike and hold up the line and train or worst yet, knock everyone's bikes over!


I switched jobs and I am still figuring out the best way to get to work without driving my car in traffic. Not sure if I can tackle those hills in Riverside yet by just riding straight. My commute is about 26 miles each way.

If the Riverside train is anything like the Antelope Valley train (which it probably is) there are metal tabs and clips for the front wheel to prevent tip over, as well as a modified seat belt to secure around the bike frame. However, most bike commuters, as do I, carry around a bungee cord just in case.

If my bike is on the inside (against the wall) and a second bike commuter comes in right before my stop, I often walk over and move my bike to the outside so that he/she doesn't have to secure the bike twice. One time, I was preoccupied with my phone and didn't notice a bike commuter secure his bike. I asked him nicely that I had to get off and he threw a hissy fit. But, with the exception of that guy, most bike commuters are very courteous and friendly.

I ride the Orange County line from Oceanside to Irvine. Like Yellow Wolf said, you do not need to have your own bungies but they are a good thing to have. They hold two bikes per car "as designed", but by ignoring the built in clips (you will need the bungies for that) and staggering the bikes as you stack them head to tail, you can easily get three or four bike in the space.

If you do it a lot you will get to know the regulars. Communicate, and get to know the conductors too. Most are very tolerant of bikers getting creative on loading bikes. Also some trains have a car with the bottom deck dedicated to bike storage.

I've been riding almost daily for the last to years. It's a relaxing alternative to driving, and a good way to make friends.

Edit; If Riverside downtown is the first station on the line it is unlikely that there will be a lot of bikes. the trains fill up as they progress down the line. The train I take leaves Oceanside (end of the line) less than 10% full. The population on the train grows as it hits more stations, until Irvine, where I get off and a large crowd gets on pushing the load to well over 50% capacity. People tell me it's pretty full when it reaches Union Station. If you are only going to Ontario, I doubt you will have any issues.

Thanks for the info guys! I am going to give this a try tomorrow, wish public transportation more like other places.

picture of bike car south bound from Irvinehttp://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=311321

How close do you sit to your bike?

Oh wow, thanks for the picture! Been looking all over the net for some pictures too of how everything works. Looks awesome. I would hate to be the guy that ends up knocking everyone's bike over trying to get my bike out :twitchy:

I sit as close as possible. Theft is not what I worry about, it is more a common courtesy to other bikers because the bikes may need to be shuffled at the stops and I hate having to move someone else's bike when they should be helping. I only leave my bike to go to the upper deck if mine is on the bottom of the stack.

I have never heard of a bike being stolen off a train. The stops are too short, and the demographic riding this type of transit is not prone to theft.

Thanks. One of my bikes has 2 bags on it which are pretty much permanently mounted.

They're not always that plentiful and robust.
Some of them only permit two bikes to a car, like the Coaster between San Diego & O'side.
http://www.calamarichris.com/images/...ikes-train.jpg

Yes, this is the more common. I just didn't have a picture of it handy. Only about half of the Metrolink trains have the bike cars. The cars are pretty much the same. You can see in this photo the bulkhead straps at the real wheel position, and longer straps where the front wheels are. I do not like using them and usually bungee to the legs of the fold up bench. Also, you can get more bikes on if the bike closest to the wall had the front wheel to the bulkhead. This lets the handle bar nest into the window recess. The next bike goes into the space as it is aligned here-rear wheel to bulk head. You can get four bikes on easily this way, until the guy with the beach cruiser and longhorn handle bars gets on and insists on using his kickstand.:roflmao2: