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News & ArtsTuesday, July 28, 2009
Transportation Too Hot to Ride?
Posted by Gillian Anderson on Tue, Jul 28, 2009 at 10:46 AM
Put your bike on the bus! Maybe you knew this already, but I didn't. Metro has changed its rules so now you can load your bike on the bus in the Ride Free Area and in the bus tunnel. From the Metro guidelines:
Bicycles may be loaded and unloaded anywhere in the Ride Free Area (RFA) during off-peak hours. The only restriction for bicycle loading on surface streets in the RFA is Monday through Friday during peak hours (6 - 9 a.m. and 3 - 6 p.m.).
This is good news. To catch the 2, I used to have to ride my bike past the downtown library, up that steep-ass hill, and wait on the freeway overpass for the bus. No more!
1
I wouldn't load my bike in the bus tunnel until light rail goes a good six months without bumping into the back of a bus. :(
2
See, I avoid all that hassle by driving everywhere I go with the AC all the way on so my baby seal seat covers don't get too hot.
5
The more you use it, the more they'll expand bike facilities and include them in future planning.
The next critical mass needs to go on the light rail line and the city streets - unless you're CHICKEN ...
The next critical mass needs to go on the light rail line and the city streets - unless you're CHICKEN ...
6
I'd hate to say this but I biked last night home from work and am planning on doing the same tonight. Yeah it's fucking hot out but at least riding you get some air circulation with most of our busses don't have.
7
This change has been a long time coming, too long. Hooray for a the correct decision being made by metro!
8
@6 I'm with you. It's hot, but when I get home I just get naked anyhow. Built in party time for me and the cat.
11
@10:
In 9/2008 they started allowing people to put bikes on the racks at any bus tunnel station at any time.
In 2/2009 they updated the street Ride Free Zone bike rules (to what was listed in the post).
@1:
Are you aware of how the buses and Link interact in the tunnel? You're unlikely to see any bumping as they are kept pretty separated. (Which in turns is kinda annoying as buses now have to wait for Link to clear the platform before they can move to the platform area.)
In 9/2008 they started allowing people to put bikes on the racks at any bus tunnel station at any time.
In 2/2009 they updated the street Ride Free Zone bike rules (to what was listed in the post).
@1:
Are you aware of how the buses and Link interact in the tunnel? You're unlikely to see any bumping as they are kept pretty separated. (Which in turns is kinda annoying as buses now have to wait for Link to clear the platform before they can move to the platform area.)
12
I still think the no loading during rush hour is stupid. The first stop for my bus home is in the ride free area and then gets on the viaduct. I would have to ride all the way from downtown to the Liquor control board to be able to ride my bike more.
13
I'd rather ride uphill through gridlock in 90% humidity that get stuck on the bus on a hot day. At least you get a breeze going that way.
15
Yeah, i think I was aware of this the day it went into effect. My bus driver still wasn't even aware but luckily i printed out the official flyer from the metro website and showed it to him so he let me remove my bike in the tunnel.
17
@14
either the 121 or the 122 is what I ride. I was unaware of the last stop point, but then..I don't get a good seat :)
either the 121 or the 122 is what I ride. I was unaware of the last stop point, but then..I don't get a good seat :)
18
@17: For those routes it looks like the first stop to load heading away from downtown is at Columbia St (10 feet east of 2nd Ave).
Here's a handy PDF chart listing all the routes and their last/first load stops:
http://metro.kingcounty.gov/tops/bus/Fir…
Here's a handy PDF chart listing all the routes and their last/first load stops:
http://metro.kingcounty.gov/tops/bus/Fir…
19
Yes, that is nice and all. But as I said, that requires me to ride all the way down to 2nd and Colombia (which is fine) but seems ridiculous when I grab the bus at 3rd and Bell (and work mere blocks away)
You can't tell me that allowing someone to load a bike (and it could only be three max) in the RFA backs up the bus anymore than the mass of people do at each stop. In fact, I would think that one could load the bike and have it secured before the line is done loading the bus. It just seems silly to limit it.
You can't tell me that allowing someone to load a bike (and it could only be three max) in the RFA backs up the bus anymore than the mass of people do at each stop. In fact, I would think that one could load the bike and have it secured before the line is done loading the bus. It just seems silly to limit it.
20
@19
The idea of if you have a huge group getting on while you load your bike makes perfect sense. You bring up a very good point
The idea of if you have a huge group getting on while you load your bike makes perfect sense. You bring up a very good point
21
@14 / 17 / 18: You can also load at the first stop in the ride free area. For the 121/122, the first stop is outside the RFA at 7th & Bell.
24
Remember, it's the first & last stop in the RFA. Every route schedule has a map. And every map has to bicycle symbol next to those stops. And don't get pissed at the driver, for these rules, we just follow our rules. Its posted info, so don't blame us. For all who wonder why these rules are in place, it's because the RFA is a busy place, with hundreds of buses. The big problem is our trolley buses, and hybrid coaches. They don't idle forward like most cars, so they can roll back easy. Metro doesn't want buses rolling backward and crushing you. The rules are there for your safety. Know where you can, and where you can't load/unload bikes. If you don't know ask, and be prepared to ride your bike to where you can load it. Same rules apply for CT, and ST routes. Also remember most are the same for both local & express routes, except outbound (2X @ Virginia, 2 local @ Bell), (17X @ 3/Bell, 17 local @ 5/Virginia), (21X, 56X, 1/MArion 21,22,56,57 local @ 1/JAckson) ALSO on Stewart St, you can load/unload at 9th & 7th, because they are not RFA stops.
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