There have been various incidents with bikes falling off the triple racks and Metro is taking this very seriously. Here's the text of the notice:
----- Start of Metro's statement -----
CYCLIST ALERT-Updated Jan. 4, 2008
Starting Saturday, Jan. 5, 2008, bike racks will not be available on some Metro Transit routes and trips.
Some bike racks are being removed due to rack-operating concerns, and will be replaced in the coming weeks as they become available.
This change affects all bus trips on routes 1, 2, 3, 4, 10, 12, 13, 14, 36, 49 and 70, and some trips on routes 7, 43 and 44.
The concerns regard bikes remaining tightly secured to the 3-position bike racks. Metro is working with the manufacturer to resolve the issues. In the meantime, all 3-bike racks are being removed. The goal is to temporarily replace them with 2-bike racks, but there are currently not enough of the 2-bike racks to equip every vehicle in Metro’s fleet.
During the transition, it is possible that some buses may or may not have racks when or where cyclists expect them. It is not possible for Metro staff to know ahead of time if a bus has a rack. Cyclists are reminded that rack use is first come, first served, and, with the exception of bikes that fold safely, bicycles may not be carried inside buses.
Metro appreciates your patience while this issue is being resolved. Please check this site for updates.
------- end of Metro's statement -----
ripper
Posted: Sat Jan 05, 2008 8:28 am
evilmikeJoined: 19 Apr 2006Posts: 640Location: Capitalist Hill
I was wondering when this was going to happen. There had to be a point where the solution was "no more bikes on busses" over "we're working to fix the problem"
the funny news: no more bikes on the 49 and only sometimes on the 43 -- how will people get their track bikes from capitol hill to the uni d?
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bott
Posted: Sat Jan 05, 2008 9:59 am
will kill you in your sleepJoined: 27 Jul 2005Posts: 868Location: Landlandia
i wonder if it will be easier to fit a 29er on the new racks...
surlykat
Posted: Sat Jan 05, 2008 1:55 pm
Joined: 05 Jul 2007Posts: 658Location: in the CD
ripper wrote:
the funny news: no more bikes on the 49 and only sometimes on the 43 -- how will people get their track bikes from capitol hill to the uni d?
or worse, how will those of us who live on the hill get home when we're feeling utterly shitty? I was banking on bussing it home today... guess I'll see what's up with the 43. Though I put my bike on a 49 yesterday, and it was just a normal double rack...
DJStroky
Posted: Sat Jan 05, 2008 3:52 pm
Joined: 25 May 2007Posts: 356Location: Downtown Tacoma
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Heaven Is A Halfpipe
Posted: Sat Jan 05, 2008 10:37 pm
Joined: 03 Aug 2007Posts: 47Location: floating
ripper wrote:
the funny news: no more bikes on the 49 and only sometimes on the 43 -- how will people get their track bikes from capitol hill to the uni d?
I guess they might actually have to ride it... it's never really been a problem for me (i've got a brake). My friend used to ride it brakeless and it wasn't a problem for him either.
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pete jr
Posted: Sun Jan 06, 2008 12:56 pm
Joined: 13 Dec 2005Posts: 1930Location: balls deepx
ripper wrote:
the funny news: no more bikes on the 49 and only sometimes on the 43 -- how will people get their track bikes from capitol hill to the uni d?
come on, it's a serious problem!
Oldmesenger82
Posted: Sun Jan 06, 2008 5:04 pm
Joined: 30 Jun 2006Posts: 204Location: Fremont
Metro should just get the 3 bike racks that Sound Transit has, I've never had a problem with ST and I've taken many trips to Issaquah to go mountain biking. I heard that fenders cause problems.
Oldmesenger82
Posted: Sun Jan 06, 2008 5:06 pm
Joined: 30 Jun 2006Posts: 204Location: Fremont
bott wrote:
i wonder if it will be easier to fit a 29er on the new racks...
Was thinking of getting a 29er but I didn't think it would fit. Have you tried it on ST racks?
bott
Posted: Sun Jan 06, 2008 5:37 pm
will kill you in your sleepJoined: 27 Jul 2005Posts: 868Location: Landlandia
Oldmesenger82 wrote:
Was thinking of getting a 29er but I didn't think it would fit. Have you tried it on ST racks?
I have a 29er with non-suspension corrected fork and 2.0 tires.
If I am really tired and/or hung over (I ride the bus at 5:50am to go to aikido then bike my day from then on) it can be a bit of a task to get the arm on. Its a tight fit but i have been getting it done all winter while the Kelly is my wet ride.
Alex
Posted: Sun Jan 06, 2008 6:26 pm
Joined: 18 May 2006Posts: 3128Location: Roosevelt
Oldmesenger82 wrote:
Metro should just get the 3 bike racks that Sound Transit has, I've never had a problem with ST and I've taken many trips to Issaquah to go mountain biking. I heard that fenders cause problems.
Those racks cost about 60% more and are much wider so they block the headlights on some of the bus models that Metro uses. The width also doesn't let them work on some tight corners on city streets. Sound Transit just has express routes, so they don't need to negotiate the tight corners.
Today I was told by a driver (on the 48) that they aren't supposed to let bikes on which have front racks anymore. I need to look into this since all of my bikes have front racks. I understand disallowing front racks (like the Nitto one) that don't allow the wheel hook to work, but my front racks are specifically designed to work with the bus hooks.
alex
Alex
Posted: Sun Jan 06, 2008 6:35 pm
Joined: 18 May 2006Posts: 3128Location: Roosevelt
Oldmesenger82 wrote:
bott wrote:
i wonder if it will be easier to fit a 29er on the new racks...
Was thinking of getting a 29er but I didn't think it would fit. Have you tried it on ST racks?
The plastic Metro 3-bike racks were designed for 29ers. They don't fit well on the older 2-bike racks or the ST 2-bike racks. Even 40mm tall 622mm tires can be difficult.
Oldmesenger82
Posted: Sun Jan 06, 2008 8:39 pm
Joined: 30 Jun 2006Posts: 204Location: Fremont
[quote="Alex"]
Oldmesenger82 wrote:
Today I was told by a driver (on the 48) that they aren't supposed to let bikes on which have front racks anymore. I need to look into this since all of my bikes have front racks. I understand disallowing front racks (like the Nitto one) that don't allow the wheel hook to work, but my front racks are specifically designed to work with the bus hooks.
alex
You can't expect the driver to know which front rack will work.
DJStroky
Posted: Sun Jan 06, 2008 9:54 pm
Joined: 25 May 2007Posts: 356Location: Downtown Tacoma
Oldmesenger82 wrote:
You can't expect the driver to know which front rack will work.
True dat. Last night I rode on a Pierce Transit operated Sound Transit Bus (ie route 594 from Seattle-Tacoma-Lakewood) and it still had the new plastic rack. I asked the driver which one he thought I should put it on and he said the middle one. But I've had a King County Metro driver tell me to put it on the very front rack cause the front one was the most dangerous in their opinion.
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vaticdart
Posted: Mon Jan 07, 2008 6:14 am
Joined: 02 Aug 2007Posts: 649Location: Inside a Bell
Alex wrote:
Those racks cost about 60% more and are much wider so they block the headlights on some of the bus models that Metro uses.
alex
Vancouver BC Metro made exactly this mistake when they "upgraded" their bike racks. As of last summer they couldn't carry bikes on the buses with the new racks after dusk. You either had to bike home or pray for a bus with the older rack.
No wonder there's no Point83 up there.
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Alex
Posted: Mon Jan 07, 2008 7:30 am
Joined: 18 May 2006Posts: 3128Location: Roosevelt
[quote="Oldmesenger82"]
Alex wrote:
Oldmesenger82 wrote:
Today I was told by a driver (on the 48) that they aren't supposed to let bikes on which have front racks anymore. I need to look into this since all of my bikes have front racks. I understand disallowing front racks (like the Nitto one) that don't allow the wheel hook to work, but my front racks are specifically designed to work with the bus hooks.
alex
You can't expect the driver to know which front rack will work.
No, but they should be able to know that if it the hook is at the 12 o'clock position or farther back that it is okay, and that if it is forward of that then it is not.
alex
ripper
Posted: Mon Jan 07, 2008 9:31 am
evilmikeJoined: 19 Apr 2006Posts: 640Location: Capitalist Hill
[quote="Alex"]
Oldmesenger82 wrote:
Alex wrote:
Oldmesenger82 wrote:
Today I was told by a driver (on the 48) that they aren't supposed to let bikes on which have front racks anymore. I need to look into this since all of my bikes have front racks. I understand disallowing front racks (like the Nitto one) that don't allow the wheel hook to work, but my front racks are specifically designed to work with the bus hooks.
alex
You can't expect the driver to know which front rack will work.
No, but they should be able to know that if it the hook is at the 12 o'clock position or farther back that it is okay, and that if it is forward of that then it is not.
alex
Aye. Since I just put the m12 I got on my daily rider bike, it looks like I'll have to rebuild my janky, flexy puch as my daily commuter. Non-issue, really, but I like my heavy-duty bike.
_________________ Some of us like things. Some of us are just joyless, bitter assholes.
Alex
Posted: Mon Jan 07, 2008 12:21 pm
Joined: 18 May 2006Posts: 3128Location: Roosevelt
I talked to my contact in the county who is involved in the bike rack program. She says that if the cargo rack or basket doesn't interfere with the hook location then it is okay to have one.
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