De-trafficking your longer commute: Train + Bike

[Oyez Oyez]

De-trafficking your longer commute: Train + Bike

par Oyez Oyez » Ven Nov 21, 2008 12:30 pm

There's a section of the Lachine Canal bike path near it's western end that runs very close to Autoroute 20. Nearly everyday at rush hour I'm biking thorugh this area, looking over at the highway, waving to the cars, and smiling at the fact that I'm moving faster than they are. As winter creeps on, folks might be less and less likely to take a long bike ride as part of their commute, which can mean more cars on the road and even slower traffic! But don't despair! If your home and work are located anywhere near an AMT commuter train station, you may be able to use a bicycle to avoid commuting like cattle. Here's how.

Commuting with the rush
If you're going with the majority of commuters into the city centre in the morning, and out in the evenings, AMT does not allow regular bikes on the train due to the large ridership at these times. However, you still have options.

Your most versatile tool for a bike-and-train-based commute is a simple . It breaks down to the size of a standard airplane carry-on bag and quickly snaps back for the ride from your downtown station to your workplace.

It might seem strange to invest in a new bike for the winter,
especially since lightweight bikes are not ideal for blizzard
conditions. However, the small size of a folding bike make it easier to
take it in and out of the house to avoid waking up with it covered in
ice, and it packs easily as checked luggage on an airplane or
long-distance train for any south-bound winter vacations you might be
lucky enough to arrange.

A light folding bike with lots of gears costs about $1,000; (based in L.A. with overseas production) makes a single-speed version for about $200USD, the cheapest I've seen. offers a lot of options at around $1,000USD (including a folding tandem!) This company is getting a lot of attention lately since they make the "" and they're built in Portland, OR. over the years has been a good marketplace for used folders here in town, though lately they've been harder to find.

You can also park a bike at the train station and use transit once downtown. Most suburban stations are equipped with adequate and safe bike parking. Just make sure you have a good lock, and a bottle of de-icer for when you return to your bike at the end of the day.

Commuting against the grain
The only two lines that allow full-size bicycles are Dorion-Rigaud and Deux-Montagnes. If you travel where these lines go, AND if you're going out of the city in the morning or coming in after the morning rush, you have a lot more flexibility. That's not most people, but it may help for those days when you have a late start or are working partly from home.

Along the line that follows Autoroute 20 out to Ste-Anne-de-Bellevue and off island, three outbound morning trains between 7-9:30am allow full-size bicycles. In the warmer months, these morning trains are packed with bikes and people working or going to school in the West Island. As it gets colder ridership dies off, but a few continue this commute all season (including myself), switching to rustier bikes once the snow hits.The inbound morning trains are too packed with people to fit a full-size bikes, but starting at 11am going all evening, every inbound train allows bikes.

The line that goes northwest from downtown through Roxboro, western Laval, and Deux-Montagnes (near Oka) allows bikes in both directions starting at 10am, and earlier heading outbound. However, the outbound trains don't allow bikes at Gare Centrale - if you're heading outbound you have to put your bike on at Canora near the Town of Mont-Royal.

Officially, trains that allow full-size bikes there is only space for four bikes. However, the conductors are super friendly towards two wheels and I've never heard stories of anyone refused on the train because the bike racks had reached capacity.

Trains are great
Just a quick word on the convial experience of commuting by train: rather than stuck in a metal box seperated from other humans except through tumor-inducing cellular telephones, you can move around, start a conversation, read a book, enjoy the view, and    just      relax. It's pretty sweet. Plus, starting in January, the AMT will offer across it's newtork, which should make some room on the most crowded trains. Maybe we'll even get more space for bikes. .

If you have any questions about commuting by train please write them in the comments section.



p.s. Thanks to Kelly and Jonathan for keeping the blog alive while I've been away doing layman's research on cycling in other cities. More to come on that topic soon!


Author: Jack Sanford
Category: winterAMTCommuteFolding Bike
Publish Date: Fri, 21 Nov 2008 16:16:00 GMT

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