Easing its bicycle policy, Metra is making it more convenient for customers who ride as part of their commutes or when special events are held Downtown, officials said Tuesday.
The first change will allow commuters to bring bikes on early morning trains. The second lifts the existing ban on bicycles during exceptionally busy periods, such as Taste of Chicago or Lollapalooza.
"The issue of bikes on trains has come up from time to time and we are trying to be responsive to our customers," Metra spokeswoman Carolyn Tucker said. "There is a growing population of commuters out there who enjoy their bikes."
Instead of a blanket prohibition on bikes when special events are taking place, Metra is designating "warning periods" during which bicycles will be allowed if train crews determine that conditions are safe.
Customers also will be allowed to bring bikes on trains that arrive downtown at or before 6:30 a.m.
The changes will take effect on Oct. 6, Metra said.
Metra's policy bans bikes on all peak-hour trains. The new policy will continue to permit bikes on weekday trains arriving in Chicago after 9:30 a.m., and leaving before 3 p.m. and after 7 p.m.
Bicycles are allowed on non-peak trains unless the crew determines those trains are too crowded to safely accommodate bikes.
During warning dates, Metra will advise passengers through alerts, announcements and its website of the possibility that bikes cannot be accommodated due to expected higher than normal ridership.
The policy change was welcomed by bicycle enthusiasts. The Active Transportation Alliance, formerly known as the Chicagoland Bicycle Federation, said it has been working with Metra for months to reconsider the policy.
The blackout policy "didn't make a whole lot of sense to us" because it barred bikes on all trains when special events were held, said Kyle Whitehead, campaign director for the alliance.
The ban also applied to low-ridership outbound trains on days when city residents might want to take their bikes for a ride on suburban paths, he said.
The alliance questioned why commuters couldn't bring their bikes on early-morning trains with relatively few customers, Whitehead said.
The new policy "definitely is an improvement for riders looking to bring their bikes to work," Whitehead said. "We've had a productive conversation with Metra, and we're encouraged they are taking steps to allow more cyclists."
During non-rush hour periods and weekends, up to five bicycles are allowed in the priority seating areas on each disabled-accessible car. The bikes are accommodated on a first-come basis and are subject to the discretion of crews, Metra said.
Small folding bicycles in protective covers are allowed on all trains, Metra said.
The alliance is working with the Northern Indiana Commuter Transportation District to lift a ban on bikes on South Shore trains, Whitehead said.
