Metra changes bike policy to increase access

After hearing from a growing number of bicyclists who ride Metra, Metra leadership took positive steps to better accommodate bicyclists today with changes to its bikes on trains policy.

Starting October 6, bikes will be allowed on some early morning trains and they will no longer be banned during special events.

The change allows passengers to bring their bikes on early morning rush hour trains that arrive downtown at or before 6:30 a.m (16 trains total across 9 lines). Under the current policy, bikes are banned from all trains arriving in Chicago before 9:30 a.m.

Additionally, Metra will eliminate bike blackout periods during special events such as the Taste of Chicago, Lollapalooza and the Chicago Air & Water Show.

Passengers will be permitted to bring their bikes on trains during those events, but will be cautioned that crowded conditions could prevent bicycle access for the rider’s initial or return trip. These “warning dates” will replace blanket blackout periods from the previous policy during which bikes were banned on all trains in both directions for the entire weekend of special events.

“We believe these changes will provide better service to bicyclists in a way that is safe for all passengers and onboard personnel,” said Metra Executive Director/CEO Don Orseno in a news release from Metra about the change.

Metra’s bikes on trains policy is a topic that comes up frequently in our conversations with Active Trans members and supporters, and we regularly talk with Metra leadership about ways the policy can be improved. In 2005, we helped convince Metra to expand bicycle access from one train per week to daily off-peak accommodation.

This summer, we approached Metra after hearing from many supporters frustrated by the blanket blackout periods during special events and the bike ban on early morning trains, even when trains are nowhere near full capacity.

We’ll continue to talk with bicyclists who ride Metra and agency leadership to identify more potential improvements.

Meanwhile, we remain committed to working with other non-profit organizations to push the Northern Indiana Commuter Transportation District to allow bikes on South Shore Line trains. A feasibility study is currently underway on accommodating bicycles on the South Shore Line, one of the few remaining major commuter lines in the country that bans bikes.

UPDATE (10/3): With the new policy set to take effect next Monday October 6, we sent a letter to Metra expressing our support and our desire to continue discussions about how to improve bicycle access on Metra trains. Contact Campaign Director Kyle Whitehead if you have any feedback on the new policy.