Caltrain Bikes On Board
Since 1992 Caltrain has provided its onboard bicycle program which allows passengers to bring bikes on the train.
This service has become so popular that the demand routinely exceeds the available bicycle capacity of the train. This results in bicyclists being unable to board their train (which has come to be known as "bumped"). Bumped bicyclists must wait for the next train (and hope there is space) or lock their bikes up at the station to take a later train, or in many cases, go home and drive their car.
Every train has one bike car while about half have two. The older Gallery bike cars can hold 40 bicycles; the new baby bullet Bombardier cars hold 24 bikes. The current over all bicycle capacity is 6%.
Updates
May 2010
Caltrain Draft Comprehensive Access Program:
Caltrain is developing a new Comprehensive Access Program. Its goal is to encourage more use of bicycles, public transit and walking while reducing auto usage and parking constraints to access its stations.
Read the Caltrain Document at:
Read our response at: http://bikesmc.googlegroups.com/web/BikeSMCResponseCaltrainComprehensiveAccessProgramApril2010.pdf?hl=en&gda=wnE6QXAAAACg1pabsADdRay6TgHqZ6zYfJptJQSVXzvyNqBbrMvXFHCsICqHeUlF_rlwyEZmn9oB7EMM_Nc_b3hbdpGbvwr6MKl77_7779VPLYzBr3qo0uQFxOEbCbXGD_qCTqoTW1htxVPdW1gYotyj7-X7wDON
October 2009
In 2006 when bumping became common, the Gallery cars had a capacity of 32 bikes and the newer Bombardier cars carried 16 bikes. A few trains had two bike cars, but most had only one. Bike capacity could vary from 16 to 64 which led to uncertainty and unreliability because there was no guarantee that any train would always have the same number of bike spaces on any given day.
At the February 5 2009,JPB meeting, Caltrain agreed to modestly increase bike car capacity and to date all 27 of the Gallery bike cars now 8 more bike spaces (40 bikes per car). Seven Bombardier cars have had 8 additional spaces added. With the conversion of these 34 cab cars, 272 spaces have been so far added. Caltrain has published a list of the trains that carry 2 bike cars and so far that has been accomplished about 95% of the time. There are 3 more Bombardier cars, including cabs 117 and 118, to be converted (with 24 spaces each), so all 5 Bombardier train sets will have two bike cars this fall. This will provide for bike capacity of 40, 48 or 80 bikes per train.
The SFBC Sponsored BIKES ONboard team has updated their proposal for improving consistency in bike capacity, see their updated proposal at: http://www.sfbike.org/?caltrain_bob_propose. This proposal is also printed below.
Background Information
In 2006, Caltrain received a $250,000 grant to develop a Caltrain Bicycle Master Plan. In public meetings and surveys, Caltrain made it clear that its Bicycle Master Plan would not increase onboard capacity. Instead the plan would focus on improvements in bicycle parking and station access.
After public criticism of the narrow scope of Caltrain's Bicycle Master Plan, Caltrain changed the name to Bicycle Access and Parking Plan (BAPP). The Caltrain board adopted the BAPP in October 2008, with no funds available for its implementation. The BAPP can be found on Caltrain's web site (see web links below).
In response to Caltrain's lack of planning for its onboard bicycle service, a group of concerned bicyclists formed the BIKES ONboard team. BIKES ONboard is made up of bicyclists from all three counties served by Caltrain, and sponsored by the San Francisco Bicycle Coalition (SFBC).
The BIKES ONboard team authored a Plan for Bicycle Carriage on Caltrain to fill the missing piece in Caltrain's Bicycle Master Plan. This plan was presented to the Caltrain board in August 2008. See web links below for a link to this plan.
In response to strong public interest, Caltrain staff agreed to study a "modest" increase in onboard bike capacity, to be implemented by spring 2009.
The following is the BIKES ONboard Proposal for Improving Consistency in Bike Capacity on Caltrain. This was updated September 2009.
We support their proposal.
Our goal is to meet current and latent demand for onboard bike capacity while minimizing impact to all other passengers. Our analysis of Caltrain ridership shows consistent 80 bike spaces per train are needed to eliminate bumping. This updated proposal reflects recent capacity increases being implemented by Caltrain, and offers additional recommendations to improve consistency in both bike capacity and bike car locations.
Bombardier Cars are newer cars with the single-step entrance and two doors.
Gallery Cars are the older cars with the three-step entrance and one door.
Caltrain runs five Bombardier train sets and fifteen gallery train sets.
We recommend:
Bombardier train sets all have three bike cars for a total capacity of 72 bikes per train. Each bike car has a capacity of 24 bicycles. The three bike cars will be the cab car (northernmost car), and the fourth and fifth cars from the cab car.
Gallery train sets all have two bike cars for a total capacity of 80 bikes per train. Each bike car has a capacity of 40 bikes. The two bike cars will be the cab car and the fourth car from the cab car.
Implementation Phase One
Caltrain has already agreed to the following increases with planned completion in fall 2009.
Add 8 bike spaces to gallery bike cars to increase bike capacity from 32 to 40 bikes. - Completed
Add 8 bike spaces to Bombardier bike cars to increase bike capacity from 16 to 24 bikes. - Completed
Convert three Bombardier non-bike cars to bike cars with 24 bike spaces. - Not started
After these increases, all Bombardier train sets will have two bike cars and about half the gallery train sets will have two bike cars. Bike capacity will be 40, 48, or 80 bikes per train.
Implementation Phase Two Recommended completion by spring 2010.
Convert five Bombardier trailer cars to bike cars. This would allow all Bombardier train sets to have three bike cars for 72 bikes per train.
Convert five gallery trailer cars to bike cars, and put two spare bike cars into service. This would allow all gallery train sets to have two bike cars for 80 bikes per train.
After these increases, all Bombardier train sets will have three bike cars and all gallery train sets will have two bike cars. Bike capacity will be 72 or 80 bikes per train.
A few simple refinements should be included.This increase in bicycle capacity will increase ridership, attracting new cyclists who will be unfamiliar with the procedure for bringing their bikes on board.
Post instructional signage and brochures on bike boarding, racking, and exiting.
Provide destination tags on the trains.
Give priority boarding at the bike cars to bikes-on-board passengers, and add signage to request walk-on passengers to sit in other cars. This will minimize boarding time and allow bicyclists to sit in the bike car to guard against theft.
At terminal stations, conductors hold unloading of bikes-on-board passengers until the majority of foot traffic has passed by the bike cars. This will ensure a smooth traffic flow on the platform.
Operational Advantages of Improved Service Consistency
Reduce dwell time, because cyclists can board at more doors (two on gallery trains and six on Bombardier trains).
Less demand on conductors' time, because there will be sufficient bike capacity on all trains to avoid bumping, hence less need to monitor the bike car load.
Minimize platform conflicts, because cyclists will know where to stand on the platform when trains have a consistent number of bike cars.
Why Bikes on Board and how Bikes on Board Benefits Bicyclists and Non-Bicyclists
Bicycle carriage on the train is a simple but powerful concept. Passengers who live, work, and shop beyond a reasonable walk to and from Caltrain stations now have the ability to engage in a healthy commute, while reducing air pollution and relieving traffic congestion by leaving their cars at home. They do not require the expensive infrastructure of parking lots, or publicly subsidized busses and shuttles. In fact, they exactingly fulfill the mandate given by the San Mateo County Transportation Authority to reduce the number of daily automobile trips. This is an air quality as well as a transit issue. It is also a health issue.
Financial
All Caltrain passengers are subsidized, because fare box revenue covers only 40% of operating costs. Most Caltrain users require some additional transportation to and from the station. Bikes on board users require only a space for their bicycle; they do not require a parking space, bus, or shuttle service. When all costs are considered, bikes on board provide one of the most cost-effective methods available. This table from BIKES ONboard's Plan for Bicycle Carriage on Caltrain illustrates subsidies; see the Plan for references.
Travel mode to station
|
Travel mode to destination
|
Subsidy
|
walk
|
walk
|
$5
|
walk
|
bus
|
$10
|
walk
|
shuttle
|
$11
|
bike*
|
bike
|
$13
|
bike*
|
bike
|
$5
|
bus
|
bus
|
$16
|
bus
|
shuttle
|
$16
|
shuttle
|
shuttle
|
$17
|
drive
|
walk
|
$25
|
drive
|
Bus/shuttle
|
$31
|
*Bikes on board cost of $13 is exaggerated, as this subsidy is based upon the bicyclist taking a seat from a paying passenger. This rarely, if ever, happens. Almost all trains have many empty seats, so the true subsidy is only $5.
Reduces Demand for Automobile Parking Space
Caltrain parking lots are filling up and may soon require additional capacity to meet demand. Parking lots are expensive, a recently completed BART parking garage (Pleasaton/Dublin) with a capacity of 1,200 cars cost $42 million. This is a cost of $35,000 per parking space. Bicycle commuters do not need expensive parking space.
Environmental
Cities are under increasing pressure to reduce both greenhouse gas emissions and other forms of air pollution. The most effective way to reduce these emissions is to reduce or eliminate the need to drive. Per Caltrain's February 2008 passenger count, there were 2382 bike boardings per weekday. For an average three-mile bike trip per boarding, this works out to 7,150 fewer automobile miles per weekday or 1,860,000 miles per year. This also represents 1000 tons of CO2 emissions not produced. It is estimated that Caltrain is currently losing 1000 bike boardings per weekday due to insufficient bicycle capacity on board trains. If capacity were increased to meet today's demand, this would be 10,150 miles not driven per weekday or 2,640,000 miles per year and 1500 tons of CO2 not produced.
Reduced Traffic Congestion
Traffic congestion is an ever-growing problem which increases commute time, frustration, gas consumption, and harmful air pollution as well as a general decrease in livable communities.
Healthier Neighborhoods and Healthier People.
Reducing traffic congestion, traffic noise, and air pollution and proving for quieter and safer streets has huge benefits for all residents. The quality of life is improved, kids might be able to walk safely to school, and the air will be cleaner. In addition bicycling is good exercise leading to more active and healthily life styles, which is both good for the bicyclist as well as helping to reduce heath care costs which we all share in.
Provides a cost effective commute for lower income workers
By eliminating the need for either driving or taking additional public transportation, significant cost savings can be realized. For many lower income workers these savings could easily be $20 per week or more. In addition to the cost savings this opens up the ability to travel to worksites not accessible or well-served by public transportation. This can open up additional employment opportunities for lower income workers who can not afford an automobile.
Caltrain's Future
Caltrain hopes to be electrified by 2015. The exact type of car or train has not been determined, but electric trains can reduce trip time with faster accelerations out of the stations. Information on electrification is available at: http://caltrain.org/project_factsheet_G_rail_electrification.html. One of the goals of the SFBC sponsored BOB team is to ensure adequate on board bicycle capacity with the new cars required with electrification.
History of Bikes on Board
Coming soon, a history of how this program got its start and the past heroes who made it possible.
Decisions on the future of Caltrain's Bikes on Board service are being made NOW. If you want to see this program continue and grow, now is the time to get involved and make your views known.
A good place to start is with the SFBC BOB team which can be reached at http://www.sfbike.org/?caltrain
Web Links
http://www.sfbike.org/?caltrain SFBC Sponsored BikesONboard (BOB) team website
http://www.sfbike.org/download/actions/caltrain/Plan_Bikes_on_Caltrain_SFBC.pdf SFBC sponsored BOB team Plan for bikes on board (SUGGESTED READING)
http://www.caltrain.com/bicycle_access_and_parking_plan.html Official Caltrain site for Bicycle Access and Parking Plan and related information
http://www.caltrain.com/pdf/Caltrain_bike_plan_DRAFT_09-29-08_BODY.pdf Caltrain Bicycle Access and Parking Plan
http://www.caltrain.com/images/Bike%20Plan%20Aug%20board%20meetingFinalSCC.ppt Caltrain presentation on Bicycle Access and Parking Plan
