Union Pearson Express puts the brakes on bikes
It’s got Wi-Fi, luggage storage and plush seating.
One thing Toronto’s new airport train doesn’t have is bike racks. Gary Dienesch found that out at the end of a 10-hour flight following a 1,000-km bike tour of England and Scotland.
When the computer programmer and his travel mate landed back in Toronto Sunday evening they had…
9 comments:
A) It drives me up the wall when someone says "I pay taxes, therefore I should be accomodated". Well, buddy, so do I. Who wins?
B) The title is misleading. You can take bikes on that train. Just have the packaged up properly. Had this person not set it up at the airport, he could have easily brought it onto the train.
and you can only take a bike on board TTC or GO during non rush hours...i dont care how they do it in europe, those are the rules here, deal with it.....you knew how the airlines deal with bikes, if you didnt take the time to find out the policys of the UP express thats your fault....btw my taxes pay for this overpriced service that ill never use (too costly and largely impractical, why would i go all the way downtown just to go to pearson, i live near the 407, i can get to pearson quicker and much cheaper) too buddy!
Read their policies? There is nothing referenced anywhere on the internet about the UP Express bike policy. The only reference to bikes I could find on their website was on this page where it suggests to "Bring your own".
https://www.upexpress.com/DiscoverToronto/GettingAround
Took me less than 2 minutes to find the answer: https://www.upexpress.com/CustomerSupport/Faq
"Bicycles are not permitted on UP Express unless they are dismantled and packaged similar to airline requirements. Note that foldable-style bicycles, once folded up, are allowed on all UP Express trains."
Blame the idiot who didn't look into the service, not the service itself.
Wow these comments are harsh. I've had this issue myself on VIA. I spent an entire day trying to find a ratchet to remove my pedals and procure a box. I failed and turned up for the train with my un-boxed bike and was allowed to load it as-is.
The point of transit is it's supposed to enable mobility for all types of users. Bike are an excellent mode of transport and cycling should be encouraged and accommodated. Stop acting like spoilt children Crazy Trainers and cut us bikers some slack!
I'm the first to cut cyclists some slack but my issue is those who paid a fare to board a train take priority over luggage and bikes. This isn't being spoiled or selfish. Why should I stand so a bike can take priority on a GO train? (As for UPExpress, they run empty - bikes shouldn't be a concern right now)
I refuse to sacrifice my $20 per day of comfort for a cyclist's bike. Sorry. And I wouldn't expect a passenger to do the same for me or my bike.
But the point of this post is that 2 cyclists were refused entry to a mostly empty train. UP Express is penalizing cyclists for no reason. They need a fairer policy. There is no disruption to regular users.
You need to address your rage where it's relevant - i.e. rush hour cyclists hogging too much space. We are having two different arguments here...
Did you not read what I wrote or are you hellbent on picking a fight where this isn't one?
I said "(As for UPExpress, they run empty - bikes shouldn't be a concern right now)" ...
Holy hell... I'm on your side. *You* make me rage.
Well I think we got a little confused...;) You said, "Why should I stand so a bike can take priority on a GO train?". This is not a factor in the article or my comments. The article and my comments relate to an UP Express incident for which space issues are not relevant. If we are going to discuss rush hour bicycle accommodations that's a different discussion entirely.
I think we are in agreement that:
1. Rush hour bicycle storage should be banned (or else accommodated on designated racks that don't disrupt passengers)
2. Non rush hour bikes should be accommodated as-is.
I would go further and state that, with the exception of long distance rail travel, the bike in a box rule is pointless for trains.
Are you still in a rage?
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