From: JDL
Sent: Sunday, April 19, 2009 3:40 PM
To: Metro Customer Relations
Subject: Locking Bikes on Buses
Hello,
I write to you over a concern I have as a frequent bicycle commuter who combines cycling with bus riding, necessitating me to often put my bike on the front bus rack. I've been concerned for some time now that my bicycle could be stolen off the front bus rack: recently a fellow bicycle commuter told me that this happened to him. He had wanted to lock his bike but was yelled at by the driver, who apparently didn’t have time to wait for the locking procedure. When the bike was stolen, the driver told the cyclist-passenger that he should have kept an eye on his stuff.
I feel that one solution to this type of unfortunate situation would be increasing the drivers’ dwell time at each stop and sending out a memo MTA-wide instructing drivers to allow cyclists to lock their bikes to the front rack, also announcing this protection for cyclists at metro.net and on signs in buses. A simple combo lock or key lock would probably take the cyclist who uses locks frequently only about 10 to 20 seconds to complete. And not all cyclists will do so, plus sometimes they’ll be able to complete the locking while other passengers are still getting on the bus; or cyclists won’t feel the need to lock their bikes if they will be hopping off the bus soon and will have a chance to watch their bikes during a short bus ride. In short, I think allowing cyclists to lock their bikes will only be a minor overall increase in dwell time at certain stops, yet it will give peace of mind to cyclists, and decrease conflict between cyclists who currently seek to lock their bikes to bus racks and the drivers’ who’ve not been instructed to allow such delays.
Bus riders in wheel chairs take much more time at stops to have the bus machinery accommodate them (the ramp getting on the bus and the movement of seats for positioning the wheelchair). Perhaps current dwell times are enough, since they include time allotments for wheelchairs: time for locking bikes to bus racks could simply be included in the current allotments for extra dwell times at stops.
I would ask please help cyclists help Los Angeles be less traffic and pollution-filled, and please help Los Angeles be more bike friendly by instituting the simple common sense reform of allowing bus riders with bikes to lock them to the racks.
Thank you for your time.
Sincerely,
JDL
P.S. Please feel free to contact me to discuss this, or alternatives, further. I appreciate MTA's efforts in keeping L.A. moving forward!
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RE: Locking Bikes on Buses
Customer Relations <
CustomerRelations@metro.net>
Sent: Wednesday, April 29, 2009 11:34:26 AM
To:JDL
Dear Mr. L,
Bicycle use is promoted by Metro and we appreciate your comments. And, we certainly regret that a commuter's bike was stolen from a Metro bus. We suggest that passengers traveling with a bike, sit or stand near the front of the bus to keep an eye on his or her bike.
Locking bikes on our buses is not a practical option for Metro. This practice would result in added dwell time at bus stops. And, while some passengers would be able to lock and unlock their bikes in a few seconds as you indicate, other passengers would require far more time. On some of our rather lengthy routes, this could result in adding considerable delay time to a given route and would result in added operational costs. Additionally, patrons often forget their bikes on our buses. A forgotten bike would have to be removed by Vehicle Maintenance Staff when the bus pulled into the Operating Division at the end of the day. Not only would this add operating cost, but the bike rack would not be available for use by other passengers during the period of time the bike was locked on the bus.
As a precaution patrons may wish to lock their bike wheel before placing it in the bike rack. If taken, this would prevent a person from easily riding the bike away from the bus.
Thank you for taking the time to share your concern with us and for this opportunity to respond.
Metro Customer Relations
