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More Commuters Bringing Bikes
Tuesday, September 15, 2009 1:00 PM  

Man mounts bike on bus bike rackMore and more of our riders are getting from here to there by using both bus and bike.

Our bike boardings have soared 147 percent from October 2008 through August 2009, compared to the same period a year ago. 

Total bike boardings for the first 11 months of FY 2009 (October 2008 through August 2009) were 55,743, compared to 22,529 for the same period a year ago.

Even in our almost unbearable dog days of summer, we saw growth in commuters biking around town. We had 7,203 boardings in August, a 2 percent spurt from the month before. In July 2009, we saw 7,047 bike boardings - an 11 percent increase from the month before.

But some commuters are forgetting to take their bikes with them when they arrive at their destination.

Our Lost & Found department reports we currently have 32 bikes in our inventory, unclaimed. From August 2008 to August 2009, 66 bikes were taken to Lost & Found and only 22 bikes were claimed.

Bikes that are not claimed after 30 days are donated to charity.

Have you ever boarded your bike on our buses? Why do you bus and bike? For pleasure? To commute to work? For exercise or to help the environment? Tell us about your experience. We'd like to hear from you.

Click here for a detailed guide on how to mount your bike on our bus rack.

If you're new to commuting by bikes, check out Commute by Bike, where you'll find articles on how to deal with aggressive drivers or a guide to bike commuting for slackers.

 

Posted by Mary Sit
Filed under:

Comments

Peter Wang said:

By allowing me to travel long distances over bike-unfriendly corridors with my bike, in bad weather, yet have my bike on both ends to solve my "first & last mile" problems, I am able to leave my car at home.

And that's why it is so vital to have bike-enabled light rail, which METRO has so far failed to implement. This is the glaring omission in the transit system.

Fortunately, there is a work-around for those who can afford it... folding bikes. The smallest Dahon bike, with 13" wheels, folds and fits inside an Ikea shopping bag.

# September 15, 2009 3:18 PM

august said:

Has anyone used the Dahon bike?  Is there someplace in Houston where you can try one out?

# September 15, 2009 7:45 PM

DominicMazoch said:

Has anybody used Harry Potter's invisible cloak to cover a bike on the LRT during the witching hour.

Between the s70's and CAF's, there should be enough cars to run all two car trains during the max periods, so one could put racks somewhere in the cars.

# September 15, 2009 11:46 PM

Peter Wang said:

You can get the Dahon folding bike at Daniel Boone Cycles, Performance Bike (order online, they deliver to the store), and REI, though I've never seen one there. I got mine at Performance, but go back to Daniel Boone for service. Bicycle World & Fitness also has a folding bike by Giant that looks pretty good.

Here's the folding bike invisibility cloak:

http://kentsbike.blogspot.com/2009/09/118-dahon-carrying-case.html

# September 16, 2009 8:18 AM

don said:

I have seen a man riding a unicycle downtown a couple of times. I'm not sure how far he travels but he has what looks like a laptop across his shoulder. He moves along at a good pace. If you can't get your bike on a train maybe you should consider this.

# September 16, 2009 3:10 PM

sunsets said:

Since my bike commute takes about the same amount of time as the trip on the bus, there's really no reason for me to do the bus/bike combo.

I do appreciate the bus bike racks when I have a mechanical issue or when I just don't feel like riding home, however!

# September 16, 2009 5:48 PM

HoustonHater said:

I really don't pay attention to bikers.

# September 17, 2009 2:13 AM

DominicMazoch said:

At least nobody has tried to put a Victorian era

"boneshaker" on board.

# September 17, 2009 9:31 PM

John Beneke said:

In answer to Mary Sit's questions on why I use the bus bicycle racks, my answer is all of her reasons given. I originally started to bicycle to work during the first Arab oil embargo in 1973. In effect, I told the Arabs to keep their oil. I like to use the bus for part of the trip, especially at night and in inclement weather when bicycling may be more dangerous.

In summer it is cooler riding a bicycle than walking.

# September 26, 2009 8:33 PM
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