Caltrain’s bike car has been getting crowded during peak commute hours. This is a good sign of a lot more people riding the train – and a problem that needs solutions.

In response to the problem of crowding, however, the agency has proposed banning all bikes with attachments on all trains, including bikes with baskets, pannier, and child seats. 

That means parents who drop a child off at school before biking to work would be out of luck. So would anyone who carries work gear or groceries by bike.

Caltrain shouldn’t drive away people who use bikes for everyday transportation with an overly restrictive bike policy.

We believe Caltrain can manage bike car capacity with more targeted solutions that allow for more flexibility on less crowded trains, while reserving the strictest rules for the most crowded trains. We’re asking the agency to consider smarter solutions:

• Apply the strictest rules only to peak hour, high-demand express trains, while allowing family bikes and bikes with attachments on local trains and off-peak trains.
• Track bike bumps and bike capacity over a 6 month evaluation period, then report back on whether further adjustments are needed.
• Publish real-time data on bike car capacity so riders can plan ahead
• Actively promote BikeLink lockers and and Bike Share for riders who can use them — freeing up space for those who can’t

These solutions can help address the crowding problem. A blanket ban on bikes with attachments is the wrong approach.

The item will be discussed at the Caltrain Bicycle and Active Transportation Advisory Committee on March 19 at the meeting starting at 5:45pm. The agenda with zoom information is here. If you can make it, let them know your thoughts about practical solutions to bike car crowding. 

And please send a quick letter today to Caltrain’s Bicycle and Active Transportation Advisory and Board. Tell them to fix the crowding problem with smarter solutions, not by banning bikes.