 overview background bicycles on busses bicycles on trains bicycle parking |
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In 1991, the transit agency in Phoenix, Arizona decided to experiment by putting racks that could carry two bicycles on the front of their buses. Three bus routes serving the Arizona State University were picked for the six-month experiment, during which time more than 5,500 bicycles were carried along with their passengers. The experiment proved that combining transit and bicycling could work and the City quickly approved the installation of bike racks on all its buses.
Less than ten years later, the Federal Transit Administration estimates that as many as one-in-five transit buses nationwide have since been equipped with bike racks, including entire bus fleets in large cities such as Seattle, Portland, Tucson, Miami, and San Jose. The Seattle system now carries 60,000 bicyclists a month.
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Most communities use racks that carry two bicycles. Bikes can be quickly loaded and unloaded from the bus without causing delays, and rack designs have been modified to ensure bus headlights remain visible and other operational problems do not arise. Potential objections from bus drivers are often overcome when union officials and drivers view a video developed ...
A number of transit agencies have developed and installed their own racks, while many use commercially available racks that are constantly being improved and updated based on feedback from users and transit agencies. Sportsworks is one such manufacturer.
Bicycles in Busses
A smaller number of transit agencies allow bicycles to be brought inside their buses. This is usually allowed at the driver's discretion, based on available space, and may be in addition to the availability of racks on the front of the buses. Examples include the Dallas Area Rapid Transit system and the Sacramento transit agency.