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bikes on the bus?

Old 10-15-06, 07:58 PM
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bikes on the bus?

so, i'm thinking of going to visit my parents on thursday, my birthday, in the suburban wasteland right outside of boston. unfortunately for me, i can't find a ride & i don't have a license or a car. my question for you all is this: would it be an absolutely foolish idea to take my bike on a greyhound/peter pan bus as is, or should i strip it down & box it up? that seems like an annoyance to me, especially since the trip is only for the day. i guess i just don't really know how bus lines treat bikes - do they just throw them in the cargo space or what?

i should probably know the answer to this question.. i guess i don't leave home very frequently, and when i do, i can usually find a ride. thanks.
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Old 10-15-06, 08:00 PM
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In Toronto, you can take bikes on the transit/buses during non rush hour times only and anytime during weekends. I'd hope it'd be something similar if not better for Boston.
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Old 10-15-06, 08:11 PM
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Originally Posted by stephenhatesyou
would it be an absolutely foolish idea to take my bike on a greyhound/peter pan bus as is, or should i strip it down & box it up? that seems like an annoyance to me, especially since the trip is only for the day. i guess i just don't really know how bus lines treat bikes - do they just throw them in the cargo space or what?
i took my bike on the greyhound once and it had to be boxed. and yes they go in the cargo space. i'm pretty sure greyhound will make you box it.
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Old 10-15-06, 08:16 PM
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where are you leaving from?
happy early b-day
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Old 10-15-06, 08:22 PM
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Check to see if you have urban bus service for the trip. Many cities' buses have racks for bikes on the front of the bus. If you are doing a "Charlie on The MTA", you did say Boston, see if the MTA has a bike policy. In LA you can take bikes on the last car of a subway - light rail train during off-peak hours. Would your parents let you bring along a biking friend who has a car that can carry bikes?
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Old 10-15-06, 08:39 PM
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they might just throw it in the cargo space if you wanted them to and it'd probably be fine.. but more than likely they'll tell you there's some rule about only accepting boxed bikes

trains always seem to me to be friendlier and less regulatory towards bikes...
is there a commuter rail or amtrak line that goes by there ? if you're on your bike you can always ride to make up the gap...

probably there is a website or phone number somewhere that can help you out more than me

https://massbike.org/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Minuteman_Bikeway
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Old 10-15-06, 08:48 PM
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my best friend from home goes to school in amherst, and he always takes a bus when he comes to visit me in boston. i'm pretty sure there's no train service (someone feel free to prove me wrong)

i'll ask him what their policy is on bikes and try to get back to you by thursday

ps. if this is the stephen i think it is, we met on saturday... i'm john, if the user name wasn't an obvious enough tipoff
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Old 10-15-06, 09:03 PM
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john, it was good to meet you -- if you're riding on thursday night, i'll probably be there.

thanks everyone for the insight --- i probably should've checked the peter pan website:

Originally Posted by peter pan bus
Q: Can I bring my bicycle on the bus?
A: Bicycles (Unpackaged or Packaged) are part of the Free Baggage Allowance; if the number of bags with the bicycle exceeds the allowance, the customer is charged for each item exceeding the allowance at current carrier rates. Unpackaged bicycles are only to be transported in an empty cargo bin on a space-available basis. If an empty bin is not available, the customer must wait and try the next available schedule, or purchase a bicycle box to take the current schedule. Bicycle boxes can be purchased at most Peter Pan/Bonanza terminals for $15.00. Terminal Storage Charges are waived for customers who have already paid for Xcess, Oversize, Overweight baggage, or a Bicycle Box.
seems logical enough. i guess now my worry is whether or not the bike would bounce around to the point of doing damage or not if i didn't bother boxing it up...

anyway, western mass has a great public transit system - bike racks on the front of every bus & free rides for those who have a student ID, even if you're like me and haven't had a VALID student ID for five years.

john, who is your friend who goes to school here? maybe we've met.
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Old 10-15-06, 09:58 PM
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just ride there.
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Old 10-15-06, 10:10 PM
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Originally Posted by john_and_off
my best friend from home goes to school in amherst, and he always takes a bus when he comes to visit me in boston. i'm pretty sure there's no train service (someone feel free to prove me wrong)
You're right... farthest west the commuter rail goes from boston is worcester.


I'm with jason... just ride there.
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Old 10-15-06, 10:10 PM
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Originally Posted by stephenhatesyou
john, it was good to meet you -- if you're riding on thursday night, i'll probably be there.

thanks everyone for the insight --- i probably should've checked the peter pan website:



seems logical enough. i guess now my worry is whether or not the bike would bounce around to the point of doing damage or not if i didn't bother boxing it up...

anyway, western mass has a great public transit system - bike racks on the front of every bus & free rides for those who have a student ID, even if you're like me and haven't had a VALID student ID for five years.

john, who is your friend who goes to school here? maybe we've met.
awesome, i'll definitely be there on thursday!

my friend's name is zach patten, in case you're still wondering. the last time i saw him, he had a lumberjack-style beard, but from what i gather, he is looking like this these days: https://myspace-176.vo.llnwd.net/0123...39013176_l.jpg
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Old 10-16-06, 06:33 AM
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Originally Posted by john_and_off
my best friend from home goes to school in amherst, and he always takes a bus when he comes to visit me in boston. i'm pretty sure there's no train service (someone feel free to prove me wrong)
Amtrak goes from Boston to Amherst. ~$32
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Old 10-16-06, 10:50 AM
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The amtrak ride from Springfield <-> Boston is rediculously long if I recall when compared to the bus. And the bus is cheaper too.
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Old 10-16-06, 11:44 AM
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Greyhound will make you box your bike. Amtrak won't.
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Old 10-16-06, 01:27 PM
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it seems that peter pan won't, either. and they can even get me there earlier than 6:30pm!!
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Old 10-16-06, 01:56 PM
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greyhound and peterpan both tried to make me box my bike and I flipped a **** at the lady and went to speak to the manager and the driver of the bus and they finally let me and my girlfriend's bikes on the bus without a box. My girlfriend was embarassed because I was cursing at the lady in spanish.hahah it was pretty awesome.
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Old 10-16-06, 03:00 PM
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I just took my bike on a greyhound Ft Lauderdale to Orlando. I folded up a box and carried it with me, greyhound does make you use a box AND they charge you $20-30 each way! I actually got away not paying, on the way the lady wieghed the box and let it go for free as it was well under their 50 pound allowance, she did not know it was a bike. On the way back the guy tried to charge me (he knew it was a bike, saw me put it in the box). I put up a stink said noone told me there would be a charge on the way there so I logically assumed there was no charge on way back(which was bs). His called his boss who eventually let it go. The bike got a real nice scratch when soemone tossed a very heavy bag onto my bike box also. Next time I go peter pan or Amtrack.
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Old 10-16-06, 03:04 PM
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Stephen, if you're planning on making the trip out to Boston frequently, Nashbar has a cheap transport bag that may be worth checking out. Not sure how much it'll do for preventing dings/paint chips though. Or you could buy one of the transport bags from Freight.

Last edited by pixel; 10-16-06 at 03:10 PM.
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Old 10-16-06, 03:16 PM
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I live in Amherst, as well. The train can get your from here to Boston, but it is a stupid long ride. Most no one I have known does it. The buses running from Amherst to Boston are usually fairly crowded, especially as you get close to the weekend. I doubt they will let you take a bike on unless you want to buy it a few seats.

I am going to assume you are at UMass. Is there a ride share board or something? Craig's List? There must be tons of back and forth Amherst-Boston student traffic. Someone must want to split gas.
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Old 10-16-06, 06:08 PM
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Originally Posted by barba
I live in Amherst, as well. The train can get your from here to Boston, but it is a stupid long ride. Most no one I have known does it. The buses running from Amherst to Boston are usually fairly crowded, especially as you get close to the weekend. I doubt they will let you take a bike on unless you want to buy it a few seats.

I am going to assume you are at UMass. Is there a ride share board or something? Craig's List? There must be tons of back and forth Amherst-Boston student traffic. Someone must want to split gas.
we should ride sometime. actually, a handful of friends & i - not a big group, maybe 4-7 kids depending on the night - ride pretty frequently, every other night or every third night or whatever. later on tonight, some of us might be riding around to the colleges, trying to find a track. you're welcome to join us if you should ever want to..! also, there's a race on friday night that some of us are entering. i'm sure we'll have our asses handed to us by umass roadies, but it'll be fun nonetheless.

oh, and -- i don't go to umass. i did, but haven't in a good while. still get into movies for cheap because of it, though.

aaron - while drunk at work (today was my last day), i bought that transport bag. i figure, it'll increase the chance of my bringing my bike along when on tour...!
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Old 10-16-06, 06:22 PM
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I cut through amherst to get to mount holyoke in early september to visit a friend and I saw like 4 fixies in the time of one red light by the bank of america.
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Old 10-16-06, 06:24 PM
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Originally Posted by stephenhatesyou
aaron - while drunk at work (today was my last day), i bought that transport bag.
alcohol + eCommerce = fantastic!
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Old 10-16-06, 07:43 PM
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Originally Posted by pixel
alcohol + eCommerce = fantastic!
yeah, that's how once upon a time i ended up with a stack of "million dollar bills"
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Old 10-16-06, 08:11 PM
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Originally Posted by stephenhatesyou
so, i'm thinking of going to visit my parents on thursday, my birthday, in the suburban wasteland right outside of boston. unfortunately for me, i can't find a ride & i don't have a license or a car. my question for you all is this: would it be an absolutely foolish idea to take my bike on a greyhound/peter pan bus as is, or should i strip it down & box it up? that seems like an annoyance to me, especially since the trip is only for the day. i guess i just don't really know how bus lines treat bikes - do they just throw them in the cargo space or what?

i should probably know the answer to this question.. i guess i don't leave home very frequently, and when i do, i can usually find a ride. thanks.
steve , they will let you place it in the cargo hold yourself if you take the peter pan from amherst. iggy didnt have to box his when he came for a visit and he travelled on friday and sunday.. really busy times for that bus.

sorry i cant go out tonight with you guys. my left leg is still in rough shape.
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Old 10-16-06, 08:32 PM
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lily!!!!

i think my plan is to have this transport bag that i bought today IN my bag, so that if i have to, i CAN break it down, but i'd definitely prefer not to.

i think it's just dalia & i riding tonight. lauren's having some issues with her seatpost & chris is studying. we'll find the **** out of a track, though, and we can all benefit from that. and we'll probably kill this giant bottle of sangria that i have been drinking all day.
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