BIKES ONboard; Our History
In 2006, Caltrain received a $250,000 grant to develop a Caltrain



Bicycle Master Plan. In public meetings and surveys, Caltrain made it
clear that its Bicycle Master Plan would not increase onboard
capacity. Instead the plan would focus on improvements in bicycle
parking and station access.
In response to Caltrain’s lack of planning for its onboard bicycle
service, a group of concerned bicyclists formed the BIKES ONboard
team. BIKES ONboard is made up of bicyclists from all three counties
served by Caltrain, and sponsored by the San Francisco Bicycle
Coalition (SFBC).
After public criticism of the limited scope of Caltrain’s Bicycle Master
Plan, Caltrain changed the name to Bicycle Access and Parking Plan
(BAPP). The Caltrain board adopted the BAPP in October 2008, with
no funds available for its implementation. The BAPP can be found at
www.caltrain.com.
The BIKES ONboard team authored a Plan for Bicycle Carriage on
Caltrain to fill in the missing piece of Caltrain’s bike plan. We
presented our Plan to the Caltrain board in August 2008.
http://www.sfbike.org/download/actions/caltrain/Plan_Bikes_on_Caltr
ain_SFBC.pdf
In response to strong public interest, Caltrain staff agreed to study a
“modest” increase in onboard bike capacity, to be implemented by
spring 2009. We fear that Caltrain’s “modest” increase will not solve
the bike capacity problem, and we’ll still get bumped.
We Need Your Help
The email you write to Caltrain today is important, and we need you
to stay involved. Let the Caltrain board and staff, community leaders,
and state and federal officials know you support bikes onboard
Caltrain. Continue to write letters to the editor, be an advocate, and
encourage your friends and neighbors to get involved. Work with the
SFBC or similar organizations to be united in our efforts.
Additional Information at: www.sfbike.org/caltrain_bob
January 5, 2009
Caltrain’s Strategy: A “Modest” Increase?
Caltrain staff said they plan a “modest” increase in capacity per bike
car by spring, but with only one bike car per train. The net result will
be a system-wide decrease in the number of bike spaces. Caltrain is
focusing on consistency over capacity. This is unacceptable!
Act Now!
Send an email to Caltrain by January 15 telling them we need 80
bikes per train, so we don’t get bumped anymore! See our web page
for details: www.sfbike.org/caltrain_bob_200812
What We Want
Provide capacity for 80 bikes on every train by replacing seats with
bike racks. Every train should have two adjacent bike cars, each
carrying 40 bikes. Leave enough seats near the bikes, so cyclists can
guard against bike theft.
Do not pursue bike sharing. Cyclists don’t want to ride heavy, ill-
fitting, poorly maintained bikes – the usual fare for shared bikes.
Funds are better spent on increasing onboard bike capacity.
Delay adding more bike parking at stations until the capacity problem
is resolved. Onboard capacity is the number one priority for Caltrain’s
bicycling customers.
What We Want Right Now
Place aisle striping on the bike car floor and allow as many bicycles
as possible at each rack while keeping the striped aisle clear. Racks
have five bungee cords, and can easily hold more than four bikes.
Give cyclists priority boarding at the bike car, and ask non-bike
passengers to sit in other cars.
Eliminate bicycle entrance and exit doors on Bombardier bike cars.
Make the second bike car easily identifiable by painting the back of
the mirror bright yellow.
 Bikes on Board Caltrain; The Right Thing to Do A Perfect Combination

Cost Effective
All Caltrain passengers are subsidized, because fare box revenue
covers only 40% of operating costs. Most Caltrain users require
some additional transportation to and from the station. Bikes on
board users require only a space for their bicycle; they do not require
a parking space, bus, or shuttle service. When all costs are
+
considered, bikes on board provides one of the most cost-effective
methods available. This table from BIKES ONboard’s Plan for Bicycle Bikes on board exactingly serves Caltrain’s self-proclaimed mandate
Carriage on Caltrain illustrates subsidies; see the Plan for references. “to get people out of their cars and onto the trains”.

Travel mode to Travel mode to

station destination Subsidy Proven Success
walk walk $5 Caltrain’s onboard bicycle service has been in continuous operation
walk bus $10 since 1992, and has a proven track record of success. The most
walk shuttle $11 recent increase in onboard bike capacity was in 2002 to
bike* bike $13 accommodate growing demand, but that capacity is no longer
bike* bike $5 sufficient today. In 2006, routine bumping (bicyclists denied boarding
bus bus $16 due to bike cars filled to capacity) began limiting growth. From 2003
bus shuttle $16 to 2006, bicycle passengers increased 41%, but from 2006 to 2008,
shuttle shuttle $17 bicycle passengers increased only 5% due to limited bike capacity on
drive walk $25 board trains. Walk-on passenger growth during both periods was
drive Bus/shuttle $31 constant at 16%. Bicyclists are being turned away from trains and
have to find alternate commute options, usually driving.
*Bikes on board cost of $13 is exaggerated, as this subsidy is based
upon the bicyclist taking a seat from a paying passenger. This rarely,
if ever, happens. Almost all trains have many empty seats, so the true
subsidy is only $5. Benefits for You
Bicycling is often faster than public transportation, and it provides
Environmental and Community Benefits greater flexibility. No need to wait for an arriving shuttle or bus, just
Per Caltrain’s February 2008 passenger count, there were 2382 bike jump on your bike and go! Bicycling is a healthy commute method,
boardings per weekday. For an average three-mile bike trip per and saves your employer health care expenses, because you
boarding, this works out to 7,150 fewer automobile miles per maintain a healthier lifestyle compared with sitting in your car driving
weekday or 1,860,000 miles per year. This also represents 1000 tons to work. Combining your bike with Caltrain enables you a large travel
of CO2 emissions not produced. We estimate that Caltrain is currently range, previously not possible without a car.
losing 1000 bike boardings per weekday due to insufficient bicycle
capacity on board trains. If capacity were increased to meet today’s
demand, this would be 10,150 miles not driven per weekday or
2,640,000 miles per year and 1500 tons of CO2 not produced.
Imagine also the reductions in traffic congestion and gasoline
consumption, quieter and safer streets, air pollution reductions with
healthier and calmer neighborhoods. Additional Information at: www.sfbike.org/caltrain_bob