Metra delivers on new bike policy and suburbanites reap the benefits
“If you build it, they will come.”
Taking a cue from the baseball film “Field of Dreams,” Metra’s new Bikes on Trains policy manifests the same theme: 146,000 bikes in the first six months of 2024, 38% more than the corresponding period in 2023, and nearly double 2019’s pre-pandemic January-June total of 76,000.
Metra delivered a new bike policy Feb. 1, and since then converted 88 existing railcars to handle all those cyclists that did come. Diagonally oriented racks holding up to four bikes replaced three bench seats in retrofitted cars.
Per Communications Director Michael Gillis, all 88 are in service on five of Metra’s 11 lines: Milwaukee District West, Milwaukee District North, Union Pacific North, BNSF and Rock Island, and are destined for other lines, though no timeline is set.
“We’re extremely pleased about the bike ridership increase,” Gillis said. “It affirms we were correct to expand our Bikes on Trains policy.” By comparison, overall Metra ridership was 11% higher than January-June in 2023.
Metra’s new policy made permanent its COVID-era program allowing bikes and scooters, including e-bikes and e-scooters, on all trains either in the priority seating areas of ADA-accessible railcars or in railcars with new bike racks.
Prior to that, and since 2005, bikes were allowed in the ADA priority areas only on non-rush hour trains. Even then, crew members, applying discretion, could refuse bikes if passengers with disabilities required the space. Such individuals retain that same priority under the new policy.
Expanded bike capacity
With the new racks, Metra now offers more capacity to bike and scooter riders, a plus for commuters like Evanston cyclist Michael Kroll. A Union Pacific North line regular, 10 to 15 times monthly, Kroll said, “I mostly use it for first- and last-mile transportation, where taking transit is slower, less reliable or outright nonexistent.”
“I will also use it to go to and from bike paths, for example, take the UP-West line to Wheaton, bike the Prairie Path to Elgin, take the Milwaukee District West back.”
Converting 88 existing railcars, versus 50 as originally planned, was due to demand, Gillis said. “Because of the positive feedback from riders and crews and record number of bikes that we are carrying.”
Plans for more? Yes, but there is no timeline.
Metra distinguishes “version 1.5” retrofits from its original “bike car 1.0,” first piloted in November 2020 on the Milwaukee North District line. With 16-bike capacity, version 1.0 required all seats removed in half the car. These cars still operate.
“We’re basically using those for special events, such as ‘Rails, Trails and Ales’ on the Heritage Corridor line,” Gillis noted.
Starting Sept. 7, for six Saturdays, this program offers special weekend travel between Joliet and Chicago’s Union Station. Metra’s announcement provides details: metra.com/newsroom/rails-trails-and-ales-returns-heritage-corridor-fall.
Commuting and adventure
Like Kroll, other suburban cyclists leverage Metra’s new policy for both commuting and pleasure. Wheaton resident Bob VanValzah, an active cyclist and Wheaton Bicyclist and Pedestrian Commission member, commutes via scooter and rails every other day.
“It's two miles to the Wheaton Metra station,” he said. “It's another mile from Ogilvie Transportation Center to my office downtown. That's six miles per day when I'm smiling. I arrive at work or at home without working up a sweat or freezing.”
Still others, like Glenview’s Joe Moses, often ride Metra with their bikes, albeit not weekly. For frequent medical appointments, Moses e-bikes from Union Station to Northwestern Hospital, afterward pedaling from the Glencoe station to his Northbrook office.
While Hoffman Estates resident Tom Lucas doesn’t commute, he and cycling buddies, Palatine’s Al Olson and Park Ridge’s Jim Kirby, enjoy venturing to different venues and traveling back with Metra. In July, they cycled to Woodstock’s farmers market, sipped breakfast coffee, then bungeed their bikes securely in an ADA-designated car on the Union Pacific Northwest line for the trip back.
“Don’t be afraid to try it,” Lucas said. “Be sure to view the video to get a sense of what to do (youtube.com/watch?v=owuQfoTmSHw). Make sure you have at least a bungee cord or two.”
Also recommended pre-adventure is checking schedules for alternate train options when homeward bound.
Bill Kragh of Arlington Heights doesn’t just take advantage of Metra’s bike policy. He combines Metra and Amtrak for cross-country bike travel. His 2023 bike tour on Missouri’s historical Katy Trail State Park encompassed Metra downtown, Amtrak to St. Louis and back, and Metra back home.
Besides vacations, Kragh organizes frequent trips to historical Chicago cemeteries, Wrigley Field and the 606 Trail for Arlington Heights Bicycle Club members.
‘Let’s Ride, Illinois’
In its fourth year, the Let's Ride, Illinois program, sponsored by Ride Illinois, promotes free local community rides statewide before summer officially ends.
From Sept. 6-22, clubs, bike commissions and other community groups are hosting over 20 events — historical tours, family outings and breakfast rides. Included are mountain bike rides courtesy of the Chicago Area Mountain Bikers in Yorkville at Saw Wee Kee (Sept. 9, 16), Carpentersville at Raceway Woods (Sept. 10, 17), and Hoffman Estates at Paul Douglas Preserve (Sept. 12,19). Check individual ride listings for departure venues and times.
The Wheaton Bicyclist and Pedestrian Commission presents an eight-mile casual tour of eight city parks starting 2 p.m. Sept. 21, from the Wheaton Public Library. Providing commentary is longtime Wheaton resident and amateur historian, Bob Goldsborough. He led the “Great Fires of Wheaton History” tour (2022) and “Famous Women of Wheaton” tour (2023).
• Join the ride. Contact Ralph Banasiak at alongfortheridemail@gmail.com.