Caltrain Adds Third Bike Car

Thanks to years of advocacy and the dedication of Caltrain as a bike-friendly transit system, all Caltrain train sets now have over 70 bike spaces, starting today, increasing on-board bike capacity, decreasing the chance of being bumped, and offering additional transportation options. This is a win for everyone!Following a concerted campaign, last January, Caltrain’s Joint Powers Board (JPB) voted to add a third bike car to Bombardier train sets, bringing the total bike spaces on those trains from 48 to 72. The Gallery train sets will remain unchanged, with two bike cars and 80 bike spaces. Check out the configuration of the Bombardier train sets online (the bike cars on Bombardiers will be the first, fourth and fifth cars from the north - see diagram).Our joint survey with San Francisco Bicycle Coalition found that 50% of respondents bring their bike on Caltrain and that if they couldn’t do so, 45% would drive to their destination. Adding on-board bike capacity ensures that more people are able to consistently have a place for themselves and their bike on the train and reach their final home, job, or other destination in a timely manner.On Monday, April 4, SVBC Executive Director Shiloh Ballard spoke at the official launch of the new Bombardier configuration. She joined Joel Ramos, Transform staff member and Caltrain JPB member; Wes Brinsfield, Chair of Caltrain’s Bicycle Advisory Committee; and Catherine Young, San Francisco Bicycle Coalition’s representative to Caltrain’s Bicycle Advisory Committee. Together, they celebrated the debut with a ribbon-cutting. April 4 also marks a schedule change for Caltrain, check their website for details.On-board bike capacity is only one issue that SVBC is working on with Caltrain. We are also working to increase the number and variety of bike parking options at Caltrain stations. We will be participating as a member of Caltrain’s Bike Parking Management Plan Technical Advisory Committee over the coming year to inform the types of bike parking that is most attractive and useful to people biking to Caltrain. We will use the data gathered in our survey and make sure to check back in with you, our members, to find out what changes you would like to see.Have you tried out the third bike car? Is it reducing the amount of times you are bumped from Caltrain? Let us know in the comments.