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Bikes on Buses

Last spring the region’s local transit service, TCAT, installed bike racks on every bus in Tompkins County…well, on almost all of the buses. (The midday Cornell-to-downtown shuttle busses, Route 10, are too narrow to accommodate the regular racks. Redesigned racks are supposed to be mounted on these busses sometime this spring. This will mean that riders on the hill can bike downtown, shop, enjoy lunch, and take the bus back to Cornell at 15-minute intervals between 10:00 am and 2:00 pm, for just 25 cents.)

The racks accommodate two bicycles on a first-come, first-served basis. There is no charge for using the bike racks, just the normal bus fare for the ride. Before putting their bikes on the bus, bike riders are asked to inform the bus driver that they intend to use the rack; then they may mount their bikes on the bike rack according to the instructions printed on the rack. It’s easy. Just lay the bike in the grooves, and lower an arm that traps the bike’s front tire.

 Bike riders may get on or off the bus at any regular bus stop. This makes it especially convenient during the spring, when bicyclists may not yet be able to get all the way from downtown to Cornell by bike.

 Through last October, 1,145 bicyclists throughout the county had taken advantage of this opportunity. Plus, as more people find out how convenient this service is, usage will undoubtedly increase.

 I say "thanks" to TCAT for their willing-
 ness to embark on this experiment, and to see it through to this success. By the way, funds for the equipment and installation came from the county’s original ISTEA grant, which is also
 the source of the money to pay for Ithaca’s current bike-plan study.

 David L. Kreinick, BAC member