Messages

1

General Discussion / Re: Maximum Tire With on Amtrak

« on: July 26, 2024, 09:23:27 pm »

PDX, here is an example of why I don't like Amtrak's policies.   

It's adventurepdx, not PDX. I don't shorten your handle, please don't shorten mine, thank you.

I was commenting on the Ludlow to Needles post and we talked about taking the train.  While, as of the time of the writing, you can reserve a bike space from Los Angles to Kansas City, you can not book a bike space from Barstow to Needles on the exact same train.  This is probably because of the type of stations in Barstow and/or Needles but to me, if a passenger can get on, their luggage (including bikes & luggage car) should be able to get on also.

Yes, that is unfortunate. But I'm guessing it's because either station (or both) do not have baggage service. On Amtrak's long distance trains, bikes are stored in the baggage car, so if there is no baggage handler, there is not a way to load/unload your bike. Yes, I wish this wasn't the case, but that is how it is right now.

I just feel a bit frustrated that with all the money Amtrak is given, they can not make it easier to accept passengers whether due to lack of personnel to load/unload luggage at all stations, not accepting bikes or bikes with wide tires, etc.   

Amtrak does not get a lot of money. Sure, the amount of money they get is "a lot" compared to my salary, but compared to, say, what airports get? It's a pittance. They've had to beg for scraps for a half-century. They are starting to get more money, but it's going to take a while before we see the effects. And if you want to see it get easier for us cyclists on Amtrak, meaning the ability for us to wheel our bikes on and off at any stop, the only way that's going to happen is for new equipment, which requires more money.

Bus companies can so why not trains in the USA?

Comparing trains to buses is like comparing apples to oranges. Trains have their own set of rules, plus there's unions. You're not going to have the engineer of a train go to the baggage car to grab your bike.

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General Discussion / Re: Maximum Tire With on Amtrak

« on: July 17, 2024, 06:09:29 pm »

To me the website is not very good because, whenever I need an answer, the website rarely makes it easy to find.  The 4" tires for instance is buried under electric bikes.  I personally would think the 4" exception would apply to any bike so it should be shown under the general heading if that is the case.  If not, then state this 4" is only for ebikes.

I agree that burying that info in one section isn't the best. But there's only one specific line that offers hooks big enough for 4 inch wide tires, so if you are touring anywhere outside of the San Luis Obispo to San Diego corridor, that info isn't helpful. So I don't fixate on that, when they make a lot of other stuff pretty clear. And it wasn't always this way.

Other times, the website does shows bikes allowed on the train but then does not allow you to purchase (at a baggage checked station). 

There is the very real possibility that all the train spots are booked for that segment.

There have been other times when I have called the Customer Service to inquire about something and they say it can/can't be done while the website says the opposite. 

I will agree that Amtrak's phone customer service can be pretty useless, and I've gotten my share of bad info from them. I guess that most of the people on the phone have never ridden a train before. That's why if I have some specific questions that can't be answered on the website I talk to the ticket agents at my local station. I realize that not everyone has that option.

Then you get the stupid case of where a train going from A to B shows two "routes" even though they are identical except for the price.  Of course, the higher price is the only one that accepts bikes again, even though it is the exact same train.

Do you have a specific example of that?

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General Discussion / Re: Maximum Tire With on Amtrak

« on: July 17, 2024, 05:34:35 pm »

What is interesting is that Amtrak, or at least some cars, have the ability to do wider tires as shown on the link above and then click on the "Electric Bikes and Scooters" section.  It shows that specific California routes accept up to 4" tires. 

Well, one specific Cali route, the Surfliner, which runs between SLO and SD. The two other state-funded lines in the Golden State can only accommodate tires up to 2.5" wide. I'm guessing that there's new cars on that route that have bigger hooks.

Now the question is, is this 4" rule only for eBikes or all bikes since it is buried under the eBike section since it should not matter if the bike is an eBike or not.

It shouldn't.

The two big things with e-bikes is a) the bike fits in Amtrak's parameters as "...electric bikes and scooters powered by lithium-ion batteries and certified by a nationally recognized testing laboratory. Accepted e-bikes are low-speed with fully operable pedals, a motor that produces less than 750W (1.01hp) of continuous power and a maximum speed of 20 mph (32km/h) when powered only by the electric motor."

The other big one is weight. Amtrak has a 50 pound limit on bikes of any type, and I know that some e-bikes are heavier than that. While this weight restriction may seem, well, restrictive, I understand their perspective, as trainside checked service (where one brings their bike to the baggage car) often means lifting the bike about five feet from the ground--those old school baggage cars have high platforms. And the baggage handler would also have to lift that bike into the hook. You may be able to "get away" with a heavier bike if you use the self-service hooks, like on those California services mentioned above since Amtrak personnel aren't handling your bike. But if you get used to that, then a leg of your journey uses trainside checked, you may be unpleasantly surprised when the baggage handler refuses your bike because it's too heavy.

  Amtrak really does not do a good job with their website. I still say it would benefit ridership if they allowed bikes on all trains and offered wider hooks. 

How does it "not do a good job" with their website? They clearly list their policies on the page listed above, and go into further detail here: https://www.amtrak.com/onboard/bring-your-bicycle-onboard/bike-faqs.html

I do wish that Amtrak will have bikes on all trains at all stations. I think that will happen at some point. And it sounds like their will be hooks for wider tires. But I can see there being issues with the big hooks--how would a bike with 32mm tires fare on a hook designed for a four-inch wide tire? I can see some sort of multi-fit hook could be a solution. Or straps instead of hooks, though the extra time to do that may get grumbles from the train personnel. But unfortunately there's not a "one size fits all" solution to bikes on Amtrak, as there's many different styles of cars and trains.

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General Discussion / Re: Maximum Tire With on Amtrak

« on: July 14, 2024, 08:58:11 pm »

Totally agree.  I wish Amtrak would be a bit for customer oriented.  For instance, I live in Oklahoma and only OKC is serviced by Amtrak.  However, they do not accept bikes at all.  I would have taken Amtrak probably a half dozen times or more now except for this.

In defense of Amtrak in this case, the Heartland Flyer (Oklahoma City to Forth Worth) is a state funded service, and a lot of times the amenities Amtrak can provide on these trains is dictated by the state(s) priorities and funding. I'm guessing that neither OK or TX care that much about providing bicycle service on this train.

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Pacific Northwest / Re: Biking from SF to Eugene Oregon - Seeking other cyclist(s)

« on: May 10, 2024, 11:36:31 pm »

I agree with you 100%. However as I have to leave for RAGBRAI just a few short days after the orientation, regrettably, I do not have the luxury / ability to ride from north to south.

Good luck. If it were me, I'd choose a different time to do that route, especially since you'll be on the road during Independence Day. And you may have a tough time finding any takers.

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Pacific Northwest / Re: Biking from SF to Eugene Oregon - Seeking other cyclist(s)

« on: May 10, 2024, 06:33:22 pm »

Word to the wise: Going north along the Pacific Coast will pretty much guarantee a good headwind the whole time. This is why the majority of cyclists tour the Pacific Coast from north to south. You might luck out with a day or two of light/no wind, but every tour report I've seen about someone cycling "the wrong way" constantly mentions the headwind and how much of a chore riding is. If this is your first time touring the coast, it may not be a great introduction.

Even without the headwind, the ocean is always going to be on the wrong side of the road. Plus, when ODOT or CalTrans has to choose between putting a bike lane on the northbound or southbound side of US 101/CA 1, they will always choose the southbound side.

Perhaps a better strategy is to fly in with your son and wife, attend graduation, and bike to San Francisco?

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General Discussion / Re: Purchasing Maps?

« on: March 04, 2024, 08:44:37 pm »

Thanks!  But when I try to purchase, as a nonmember, it wants my membership info.
Not sure why

That's odd. I tried to buy a map on my unlogged-in browser window, and it simply brought me to a checkout page, no member number asked. Are you buying it through this page?
https://www.adventurecycling.org/product-category/route-maps-2/

I'd also clear out your browser, and maybe use a different browser if possible.

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General Discussion / Re: Purchasing Maps?

« on: March 04, 2024, 08:24:51 pm »

Do you need to be a member to buy maps?

No. But you'll pay more than a member will. Members get about 25% off each map. That savings can add up if you need multiple maps.

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General Discussion / Re: Amtrak lounge access with a bicycle

« on: March 01, 2024, 01:10:20 pm »

Sometimes you have to wait at the baggage car for awhile before they take your bike.  Depending on the station some will have you go to the train a little earlier so you can load the bike before everyone else is called to the train.  (Someone is usually available to immediately load your bike.)

One of the big advantages to the Lounge is, that since you are either in a sleeper or business class, you'll get priority boarding. So you'll be able to get it to the baggage car before others.

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General Discussion / Re: Amtrak lounge access with a bicycle

« on: February 29, 2024, 07:16:47 pm »

Does anybody have experiences about entering one of these lounges in big stations with a bicycle?

I've used a few of these lounges. I have the most experience with Portland as it's my home base, and I usually bring a bike with me. With this lounge, I've been able to bring either my "big" bike or a folder into it with no problem.



When we used the lounge in Los Angeles, the lounge attendant has us bring the bikes down the hall, into the baggage area. And that's despite them being folding bikes.

So, it depends. Every lounge is different and reflects more the station than Amtrak as a whole. If you are in NYC you can drop by Penn Stn. in advance and ask. Otherwise, when you arrive the lounge attendant will let you know where you can put your bike.

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General Discussion / Re: Bike rentals for one way tours

« on: February 13, 2024, 01:38:25 am »

I agree. Im trying to locate a bike for my friend who is traveling from Germany. Shes experienced a lot of hassle importing/exporting her own bike. Good news! A friend might loan us a bike. Woot!

Sorry to hear about that. Moments like this make me thankful that I bought a Brompton. Folding bikes are great for overseas travel, I just brought mine to Tokyo.

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General Discussion / Re: Bike rentals for one way tours

« on: February 13, 2024, 01:12:34 am »

Lake Michigan to Portsmouth. Anyone ever use a bike rental service for a one way trip? Does this exist? Could rent anywhere from Chicago, Wisconsin shoreline cities, or Ludington, Mi

I have not heard of one-way bike rentals, and doubt that such a service exists. Think about it this way: One-way car rentals are possible though often difficult, and the only reason why they can happen is because of a specific network. You can find Avis, Hertz, Enterprise, UHaul, etc. all around the country. But bike rentals are generally done by small, independently owned shops or services. You rent a bike from one shop and return it to the same shop. There's no national bike rental company. And I really doubt that there is any demand for such a service to exist.

Perhaps you can rent a bike from a shop, do a tour, and ship it back, but a) I'm sure the bike shop really wouldn't like that and b) you might as well have figured out a way to bring your own bike. (And by the way, why can't you bring your own bike?)

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General Discussion / Re: Stealth Camping? Sleep Site!

« on: February 05, 2024, 04:43:14 pm »

Usually on most any road or trail you might take that crosses into USFS or BLM land there will be prominent and hard-to-miss signs telling you when you are entering and leaving.

I definitely have seen signs for entering/exiting USFS territory, but I've rarely seen them for BLM.

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General Discussion / Re: Stealth Camping? Sleep Site!

« on: January 04, 2024, 06:47:15 pm »

I'm curious to hear about these rumors...

Both second hand stories I heard.

In September 2018 I rode from Olympia to Crescent City.  In Brookings I ran into some other cyclists who told me that some folks had their bikes and (nearly?) all their gear stolen from the hiker/biker camp at Harris Beach State Park.

This tripadvisor review also implies that Harris Beach is not a great hang:

https://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowUserReviews-g51780-d145586-r838473638-Harris_Beach_State_Park-Brookings_Oregon.html

That's a definite bummer, and sad to hear that Harris Beach campground has gone downhill. But it sounds like it's thievery in general there than targeted specifically at cyclists. (And I can do without that reviewer's editorializing.) I know they are not common everywhere yet, but I definitely use the lock boxes provided in some hiker/biker sites. They are there more for animal protection, but a padlock will at least be a deterrent for would-be thieves.

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General Discussion / Re: Stealth Camping? Sleep Site!

« on: January 03, 2024, 07:40:56 pm »

There is also the "sketch factor".  Some hiker/biker sites (like Riley Creek at Denali, Camp Four at Yosemite, and Partnership Shelter on the AT) are infamous for thefts and sometimes other crimes.  I've heard rumors of thefts at other hiker/biker sites in OR and CA as well. 

I'm curious to hear about these rumors. I've been bike touring around Oregon for almost 20 years (only toured CA once, can't speak much about it) and I've only heard one story about theft at an Oregon hiker/biker. This happened maybe 15 years ago at Devils Lake in Lincoln City on the coast. I was working at the Hawthorne Hostel at the time and someone said they were at the end of their tour and got their bike stolen from there. When I finally checked out that campground a year or so later, I saw that the hiker/biker was a wide open spot on a city street, less than a block and in plain view of US 101. When I stayed there, I opted for a regular campsite instead, which was a bit more secluded. Paying a few more bucks was worth the peace of mind.