Comments on: Metro-North Railroad President’s Forum

By: Dave H.

Dave H. — Mon, 14 Apr 2008 01:15:35 +0000

Well, since Metro-North is currently ordering new cars, small design changes should presumably cost very little. We haven't confirmed it yet, but I think the change has already been made: some kind of bike storage (even if it's not much) is going to be included on the new cars.

But, yes, more bike parking at stations is a great idea. The thing is that the towns are responsible for parking at stations, not the MTA. In New Haven, we have indoor bike parking for regular commuters (though not enough!) and we're working on getting more. Other cities/town have no accommodations for bikes at all.

By: Joby Jacob

Joby Jacob — Mon, 14 Apr 2008 01:05:09 +0000

Just curious, but wouldn't it be cheaper to mandate that MN /CT DOT install cheap-but-secure bike parking at the stations?
Even if that doesn't address everyone's needs (for instance ppl who need to bike at point-of-origin and point-of-destination) it would encourage more ppl to bike to the actual stations, and the ppl who just want their bike not to get stolen and therefore lug it would no longer have this issue.
if this is already the case, i apologize i dont ever take MN and plead ignorance.
-joby

By: Dave H.

Dave H. — Sun, 13 Apr 2008 14:21:03 +0000

Kevin,

The idea is actually to have two bike tie-downs in cars that can be converted into seats (by folding them up). MN is really crowded at rush hour on trains going into Grand Central, but the real need for bicycles is for people traveling within Connecticut. Most Connecticut cities are not anywhere near as walkable or well-served by transit as New York (in fact, none is). Moreover, most of the trains within Connecticut are not packed full at rush hour.

Anyhow, it seems Metro-North is listening. I do agree that bike parking at stations is probably a more effective way to go, longer term. But if we want to change the design of the M-8 cars to be at least slightly more accommodating to bikes, it has to be done now.

By: Kevin

Kevin — Sat, 12 Apr 2008 19:05:47 +0000

As much as I enjoy dumping on the Department of Tar, in this case the cyclists are being anti-environmental and selfish. For the forseeable future, there is unlikely to be spare capacity on MN during rush periods. As a result, allowing bikes on trains during these period will increase the number of people driving, which I think everyone agrees is a bad thing. There is also an equity issue. Allowing bikes on trains during rush periods will necessarily increase the subsidy provided to MN riders, who are on average better off than CT taxpayers as a whole. While I agree that other modes of transportation are subsidized, increasing the subsidy in this way does not help build the political base needed to re-orient the state's transportation policies.

On the other hand, I think MN could do a far better job of providing bike parking at stations.

By: DowntownNewHaven

DowntownNewHaven — Wed, 26 Mar 2008 17:46:39 +0000

Great news!

By: Dave H.

Dave H. — Tue, 25 Mar 2008 05:18:25 +0000

It's great this is posted. ConnDOT has promised bicycle storage on the M-8's throughout the design phase but when designs were announced, surprise, no bicycle storage.

We have yet to hear a satisfactory reason for this omission. This meeting represents the last chance for Connecticut and Westchester communities along the New Haven Line to ween themselves off auto-dependency by combining, in a serious way, bicycle and rail travel. It's also very inconvenient for most of us living in those communities - a 5 o'clock meeting in New York means having to get off work around 2:00 for those in New Haven. Anyone who can come will be very appreciated - and wear a bike helmet!