Let's get bikes on the South Shore Line this summer!

This record-cold weather has us dreaming of summer — and maybe a nice bike ride along the Indiana Dunes.

Unfortunately, that dream won’t be attainable even this summer, at least not by train—unless the South Shore Line, the commuter rail connecting Chicago to Northwest Indiana, changes its policies.

That’s because the South Shore Line is one of just two of the nation’s 23 commuter rail systems that still doesn’t allow bikes on trains.

That’s right. Of the nation’s 23 commuter rails systems, fully 21 already allow bikes on their trains — including both Metra and many Amtrak lines — but the South Shore Line isn’t one of them.

It’s time for the South Shore Line to follow suit. Please help us get bikes on the South Shore Line as quickly as possible.

Two years ago, Active Trans and other non-profit organizations began pushing NICTD (Northern Indiana Commuter Transportation District) to allow bikes on the South Shore Line.

NIRPC (Northwest Indiana Regional Planning Commission) has agreed to fund a feasibility study on accommodating bicycles. This will be an engineering study that will look at requirements, opportunities and barriers as well as multiple options for allowing bikes.

We don’t want another summer to go by without Northwest Indiana residents being able to finish the last mile of their trip to Chicago by bicycle . . . without Chicagolanders being able to explore by bike the Indiana Dunes or South Shore beaches.

Help us urge the South Shore to allow bikes on trains in time for this summer. But you must act within the next week. 

To weigh in quickly, we have some comments you can easily submit. Comments are also being accepted during the next week via email, Facebook, Twitter, phone (219)763-6060 ext.160 and standard mail (6100 Southport Road, Portage, IN 46368).