Fred Hansen wrote me a letter telling me they've committed to "testing the triple-bike racks concept recommended by the Citizen's Advisory Committee on the Budget. Installation of two racks on TriMet's diesel-electric hybrids will be referred to TriMet's Bus Change Review Committee."

So.... be patient. Sounds like they're going to test them out.

Triple racks on buses are a good thing, and it's not really rocket science.

Not much else that can be done beyond that with buses, is there?

Similarly, for light rail, the current vertical-hook thing on MAX seems to be pretty much the ultimate solution for bikes on that mode.

HOWEVER:

This may seem silly now, because they only run in a downtown area where bicycles are probably about eight times as fast when you count wait time. But, once they begin making a Lake Oswego or Eastside run, it may become relevent:

Bikes on Streetcar?

In addition to MAX-style vertical hooks... would it be possible to put bike racks on the front and/or back of the streetcar, like on a bus? I know their bumpers conceal the coupler, but could the rack conceivable sit just above the bumper in a way that would be non-threatening to motorists unless it was actually in use with bikes on it?

I'm not sure it's an issue for Eastside, since a bike is still faster than Streetcar in circulator service. But I'll make sure the question gets brought up in the LO discussion.

Not much else that can be done beyond that with buses, is there?

Is there some reason bikes can't be on the back of the bus? I suppose security might be an issue, but that is something that could probably be dealt with with.

I would think driver visibility would be an issue. I'd hate to have the bus drive away as I was loading/unloading my bike.

There are further problems with bikes on the rear than simply security concerns. Note that in order for someone boarding a bus with a bike that he would have to wait at the stop, then when the bus pulls up, run to the rear, mount the bicycle on the rack (out of the driver's vision, who would therefore not be able to see if the person had problems mounting the bike, changed their mind and left, got injured, etc.), and then run to the front door to board and pay his/her fare. All this while the passengers already on the bus are groaning at having been delayed. It is quite possible that such a degradation in service would drive away more non-bicycle customers than the two or three further that it would accommodate.

I am not against bikes on buses; on the contrary, I am all for them. However, a better solution must be found.

I'd hate to have the bus drive away as I was loading/unloading my bike.

Not as much as you would if you were standing in front of the bus. I see the point although I wonder if that isn't solveable as well.

Not as much as you would if you were standing in front of the bus.

Indeed, that's why the protocol is to make eye contact with the driver before loading your bike and as you exit the bus inform the driver that you're unloading.

Perhaps that could be done from the rear with a signaling buzzer and closed circuit video, but it's more complicated.

In some parts of Asia I understand that they throw bikes on top of the bus...

One other thing about bikes on MAX. I've seen people bring velcro straps to attach multiple bikes to the bike rack areas. These ares then easily (without any danger) fit 3 and sometimes even 4 bikes without encroaching on standing space. This is something Tri-Met should seriously consider. All it would take is a few hours, a welder, and some more hanging bars/racks to add to the existing ones.

This would be a very easy solution to add bike space to these LRVs. As for the high floor cars I'm sure there is a way to add rack space without spending large sums of money.

The busses on the other hand, about every thing I can think of has been covered with those in previous discussions here.

As for the streetcar, that is a good question. Downtown, as pointed out previously, is rather irrelevant. If you're on a bike you're already on the fastest mode of transit downtown.

For the trip between LO & DT - what are the exact speeds that are being considered anyway. I don't recall seeing much higher than 40mph on the Streetcars. If that is the case, there could be roller cars attached between LO & Gibbs that could easily carry 10-20 bikes. Just weld some solid racks to something like the current generator roller car that the 50s era Streetcar uses now. It seems a bit crazy but could be attached and detached for southbound & northbound trips in all of about 1-2 minutes (or less even).

...anyway, just my two cents on a financially sound and easy solution to racking up a bunch of bikes for the LO to Gibbs/PDX Streetcar extension.