Reposted from the League of Michigan Bicyclists
Currently in Michigan, bikes are not allowed on board Amtrak trains, nor as checked luggage. Urge Amtrak to allow bikes on Michigan trains. Click the image to sign the petition.
LMB is extremely pleased that the recently published Michigan State Rail Plan makes clear recommendations that bicycles need to be accommodated on Michigan passenger trains. LMB thanks the Michigan Department of Transportation for recognizing this need. We also thank all of our supporters who responded to our call to submit comments to the rail plan this past year.
We now are asking for your help again to ensure that these recommendations are acted on promptly. Please sign our petition urging Amtrak to implement roll-on bicycle service on all Michigan service routes as they have already done in other states.
Currently in Michigan, bikes are not allowed on board Amtrak trains, nor as checked luggage. On board accommodations for bicycles will make seamless multi-modal connections possible by allowing passengers to bicycle to train stations, ride the train, and then conveniently bicycle to their final destinations within the community.
Our state is home to a number of bicycle tours in or near Michigan communities serviced by Amtrak. By adding bike facilities on Amtrak trains, many Michigan communities could benefit from increased tourism spending, particularly from vacationing Chicago residents. Without options to bring bicycles on board, Michigan is losing out on significant travel-related spending generated by bicycle tourism. Commuters traveling within Michigan would also have additional transportation options.
We encourage everyone to sign the petition, but it is especially important for Amtrak to hear from individuals living or working in or around current stations locations in Albion, Ann Arbor, Bangor, Battle Creek, Birmingham, Dearborn, Detroit, Dowagiac, Durand, East Lansing, Flint, Grand Rapids, Holland, Jackson, Kalamazoo, Lapeer, New Buffalo, Niles, Pontiac, Port Huron, Royal Oak, and St. Joseph/Benton Harbor. [The petition has received over 2350 signatures since it was launched]
Please click here to add your name to the petition and please share the petition link over your networks. When you add your name to the petition please use the “Why This Is Important” option to help personalize the message.
For those on Facebook, we have also created a Facebook Event titled “Tell Amtrak to Allow Bikes on Trains - Sign the Petition” to help raise awareness around this issue.
We sincerely appreciate your support on this issue and hope that by spring we will all have the ability to bring bicycles on board passenger trains in our state.
1 comment
Comments feed for this article
March 13, 2012 at 6:50 pm
League of Michigan Bicyclists
Just a quick update since the original post above was made:
A big thank you to the 2300+ cyclists who have already signed LMB’s petition urging Amtrak to allow bicycles on board Michigan passenger trains.
The petition has received great exposure with stories appearing in MLive (http://bit.ly/zi6r3Q), MIRS News (http://bit.ly/xQlMJb - subscription required) and numerous blogs across the web including the Alliance for Biking and Walking’s People Powered blog (http://bit.ly/wFaT0O). The petition even recently received support from the Ann Arbor / Ypsilanti Regional Chamber.
In the recent MIRS article, Amtrak spokesperson Marc Magliari said that bikes on trains is an issue the train service is aware of and working on.
“In many other states, including the states in the West, we have equipment that’s designed for roll on, roll off bicycles,” said Magliari.
Magliari went on to indicate that new train cars that will accommodate bicycles are due to hit Michigan lines within the next three years.
“In the meantime, we’re going to have to find other ways to accommodate bicycles using current rail equipment,” said Janet Foran, Department of Transportation (MDOT) spokesperson.
LMB is extremely pleased at the response we have received thus far and are optimistic that talks with MDOT and Amtrak will lead to a solution by spring, in time for biking season.