What are the rules regarding a driver showing a person how to use the rack? I understand there's a liability on the driver aiding in the putting the bike on the rack and I don't expect that, but what about opening the rack and telling the rider what to do to secure the bike?

I've seen at least one passenger who didn't know how to use the rack and was curtly told "it's not my job!" and "I've got to go!", by the driver.  

This was in Aug when the temp was 102+ and the rider had to ride the bike from Westheimer@Dairy Ashford

to W. Oaks Mall while his wife and child were on the bus.  There were not many people on the bus so I don't know why the driver didn't just tell him to come aboard w/ the bike.  Is there a rule against boarding with the bike when there aren't many people on the bus?

What if both racks are filled for example?

Mr. Ramsey,

          Here's what you said and my responses to them.  These are just my opinions so here me out on 'em.

"What are the rules regarding a driver showing a person how to use the rack? I understand there's a liability on the driver aiding in the putting the bike on the rack and I don't expect that, but what about opening the rack and telling the rider what to do to secure the bike?"

There's NO excuse for the person (or persons) to find Internet access, go to the METRO website and LOOK at how to use the rack BEFORE you actually use the real thing.  The driver cannot help the person in using the rack for safety reasons and that happens anywhere where you see bike racks in front of a transit bus---not just here in Houston.

"Is there a rule against boarding with the bike when there aren't many people on the bus?"

Ummm---yes.  Unless the bike is foldable or you can easily take it apart and put it in a bag or something, bikes are NOT allowed on the bus at ANY time---NO exceptions.

"What if both racks are filled for example?"

Easy---wait for the next bus.  Since I see here that ALL of the buses should have the racks (WAY ahead of schedule, I might add), you'll just have to wait for the next one.  I hate to say that when it may be too hot outside but using the racks is a first-come, first-serve basis kind of thing.

"I've seen at least one passenger who didn't know how to use the rack and was curtly told "it's not my job!" and "I've got to go!", by the driver."

Even though the driver may have been harsh by saying those things, it really isn't their job---if you're saying that the driver should of hopped off the bus and do it for the person.  On the flipside, the passenger should of went here because there should be a video on how to use the rack.  There's also a webpage which instructs you on how to use it.

All in all, 100% KUDOS to METRO for getting ALL of the buses with racks WAY ahead of schedule.  That---to me---is a HUGE accomplishment in itself.

My advice to new people who may want to use these things:  PLEASE educate youerself (meaning---come here to the METRO website) BEFORE you actually use the racks.  That way, you---instead of the driver---can help people who still may not understand what to do.

Thanks.

~Cedric Collins~

Yay for Metro! This IS a huge accomplishment -- and for me, at least, riding the bus is now a viable option. This last week I've been biking to an outbound park-and-ride bus and putting my bike in the storage compartment (much to the surprise of many of the drivers -- "there's no place for your bike on this bus!", until I show them :). Tonight, I'll be throwing my bike onto one of these new racks because I'm going to ride a local bus to meet my wife for dinner. All possible thanks to Metro!

However, using the racks can be more than a little intimidating at first, even if you've read all the information on the website and read the instructional videos. Being out there with a heavy bike and an impatient bus driver can rattle the brain a bit. It may not be the drivers' responsibility to help, but I think most people *would* appreciate a patient driver who will offer some pointers for the first time.

And I'm not 100% sure why Metro won't allow bikes onto buses when there aren't many riders. The chairs fold up for wheelchairs, so I don't see why this space can't be used for bikes when nobody else is using it. A cyclist obviously doesn't have the same needs that the disabled do, but that doesn't mean that we can't use our public investment in transit as efficiently as possible!

Mary Sit said, "METRO promised last April it would outfit all of its 762 buses with bike racks by year end."

762?!  No offense but we have a lot more low floor buses (inlcuding the hybrids) than that.  I would love to tell the world just exactly how many low floor buses (ALL built by New Flyer, by the way) we have but since I don't have what I need to give the exact #, y'all (that's METRO) would need to tell them.  Unless I'm missing something here, I would think we have more than 800 of them---unless METRO has gotten rid of certain number of those buses to get to that number.  Please look into that when time allows.  Thanks much!

Lane Transit District is checking out your blog.

By my calculations, if Metro has not retired ONE low floor bus since the first one arrived in 1996, there are exactly 800 on the road today.  Of course, they have retired some.  How many I do not know.  It is feasible however that there are 762 left as retiring 38 out of 800 buses (some of which are 11 years old) is entirely possible.

"By my calculations, if Metro has not retired ONE low floor bus since the first one arrived in 1996, there are exactly 800 on the road today.  Of course, they have retired some.  How many I do not know.  It is feasible however that there are 762 left as retiring 38 out of 800 buses (some of which are 11 years old) is entirely possible."

O---K but I would like to actually have something in my hand (or at least in my e-mail) to suffice your calculations.

I wonder what's up with the bus I've seen on the 19 Wilcrest route without a bike rack?  It has the mounting frame for the rack, but the rack is missing.  Might be more than one bus, but I suspect it's only one.  I didn't get the number, it was Friday I last saw it though.  It's not an old bus and if memory serves, it's a 3300 series which are fairly new...  I don't have a bike, but I've seen several passengers using the rack on that route. There are bike trails off Wilcrest near the Lakeside Country Club.

I didn't mean to imply the driver should have put the bike on the rack, merely open it so the passenger could utilize it.  The man said he didn't know how to use it and merely asked for help w/ that part.

To have the driver put the bike on the rack is a liability and I fully understand Metro's reason for disallowing the driver to do it, but there are some people who are not mechanically inclined and don't know how to work the thing rack.

As for the no bikes on the bus part, what about the bikes people bring on the metrorail?  If they could bring it on the train, the bus is no different.

Besides,as pointed out by another person, people with strollers bring them on the bus, and many take as much room when folded as open.   Many are a danger of becoming a missile if the bus has to stop short, but they're allowed on the bus. So why not a bike as long as the trip is short and the bus is near empty?

In the case of the passenger I refered to, the bus *was* near empty; we were 5 minutes (by bus) from the W.Oaks Mall where the 82 ends and he was going to. The biker could have brought the bike to the back and had the whole area to himself.

The education part is indeed important.  It would also help if the drivers carried brochures on how to use the racks.  Have them in the bus near the door on *every* bus with a rack. If a passenger doesn't know how then (s)he can be given the written instructions.  If they can't do it then... well 'see ya later'...

Very likely that what you said is the case Mary.  I have no idea.  As I said I don't have a bike but I do know there are a few people who ride the 19 who do.

I've seen them a few times.

I hope your boss likes my idea as much as you did.  I can't believe I'm the first to think of it though.  It would go a long way toward the incident I described above not occuring.

As an alternative to carrying brochures to hand out, what about placing a sticker with instructions on the front of the bus near the racks.  It would be less expensive, perhaps faster, and would be there at all times instead of depending on printed materials.

I heard that $600,000 was spent purchasing the actual bikeracks themselves after the manufacturer tried to bone us for $1.4mil. Due to a great job by a very sweet lady and her group, the price was lowered to $600,000!(About $788 each) See? Now if we can just get them to not reward themselves the $800,000 as bonuses for a great job done, it will be a truly great bargain! wi11ie

METRO will have a bus equipped with a bike rack on display at the BikeHouston 35th Annual Moonlight Bicycle Ramble from @ 9 PM October 27 to 2 AM Sunday morning October 28.  Brochures describing how to use the racks will be made available in the 1,500 rider packets.  The bike rack equipped bus will give riders ample opportunity to practice using the racks before the ride departs at 2 AM.  Want to join the ride?  Then use the active.com link off of the BikeHouston website  http://www.bikehouston.org/

"As an alternative to carrying brochures to hand out, what about placing a sticker with instructions on the front of the bus near the racks.  It would be less expensive, perhaps faster, and would be there at all times instead of depending on printed materials."

As much I hate to say this but Mr. Ramsey?  I, Cedric Collins, 2nd the motion.  I've seen other transit agencies have the sticker on the bus in which you may speak of.  Mary?  I'll e-mail you a picture of what Mr. Ramsey is talking about.  Can you give this idea he thought of to your boss?  Thanks.