June 2004

 

News

Bikes Allowed Onboard Vancouver Rapid Transit
Trial period sees 300,000 cyclists, minimal problems

Stephen Thomson
The Peak, Simon Fraser University

BURNABY, BC (CUP)—Cyclists in
the Vancouver area may now bring
their bikes onboard the region's rapid
transit system, bringing it in line with
those in several North American
cities.

After an.ever 10-month trial pro-
gram, the regional transportation
authority, TransLink, has committed
to permanently allowing bikes on the
SkyTrain. The board unanimously
approved the new policy on May 19
upon the recommendation of a
report, which hails the experiment as
a success.

As of June 1, bikes will be permit-
ted on the SkyTrain all day on week-
ends and holidays, and from 9:30am
to 3:30pm, and 6:30pm to closing,
on weekdays.

“By and large, the pilot went very
well;” said Ken Hardie, TransLink
spokesperson. “We had initial prob-
lems with people complying with the

 

 

rules. As they became more familiar
with them, though, that compliance
seemed to be good. We had very, very
few comments or complaints from
the rest of the customers on the
SkyTrain.”

The report estimates that out of
approximately 55,000,000 passen-
gers, 300,000 bikes were carried onto
the SkyTrain over the past year. And
with no serious problems, feedback
for the program has generally been
supportive.

Hardie said that the large volume of
cyclists during the pilot program,
while unexpected, indicates that there
is a demand for bringing bikes on the
SkyTrain.

“Certainly, the cycling community
has been asking for a very long time
to have access to SkyTrain,” he said.

The provincial government
approved the pilot program, which
began on June 1, 2003, on the condi-
tions that there would be continuous
assessment and efforts to educate the

public. Safety on the trains and in the

stations is a major concern.

“Very clearly, what you don’t want
are situations where bikes become
dangerous projectiles in the event of
an emergency stop on the train,”
Hardie said.

The report details a period of the
pilot program during which, out of
over 200 reported injuries, only two
minor incidents related to bikes on
the trains.

Lisa Selley, a cyclist and transit user,
likes the program because it makes it
easier and cheaper for her to visit her
friends.

“T think it’s a lot quicker having my
bike,” she said.

Christian Volkow hops on the
SkyTrain with his bike when he wants
to go for a ride at the skateboard park.
Although he is happy with the speed
of travel, he would like to see the
restriction of two bikes per train
changed.

“I ride with a big group of friends,
and every now and then we like to go
places together—one or two more

bikes on board would be good,” he
said.
Vancouver's transit system is not the
first in Canada to allow bikes on its
rapid transit lines. There are similar
programs in Montreal and Toronto,
as well as cities in the United States.

“We recognize that people do com-
mute and use the transit system as
part of their travel on bicycles,” said
Mike DeToma, spokesperson for the
Toronto Transit Commission.

“If TransLink’s introduced bicycles,
I think that’s a great idea,” he added.
Hardie believes that cyclists are privi-
leged to bring their bikes on the
SkyTrain, and he encourages them to
continue their efforts toward making
the new program run smoothly.

“Public transit really is, in a sense, a
cooperative between many people
who don’t know each other. We put
ourselves in close proximity with oth-
ers, and that really requires a certain
measure of respect and considera-
tion.”

 

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