Bike Plus TrainA Perfect Combination!
Bike Plus TrainA Perfect Combination!
BIKES ONboard Project
Shirley Johnson, Ph.D.
June 3, 2009 1
www.sfbike.org/caltrain_bob June 3, 20092
Outline
• Access to public transit
• Case study: Caltrain’s onboard bicycle service
• BIKES ONboard project
• Caltrain’s concerns
• Caltrain’s progress
• SummaryReference: SFBC Plan for Bicycle Carriage on Caltrain
www.sfbike.org/caltrain_bob June 3, 20093
Access to Public Transit
• People living within ½ mile of a station are three times more likely to use transit
• In 10 minutes, average person can• walk ½ mile
• bike 2 miles½ mi
2 mi• Cycling increases accessibility by 16-fold!
www.sfbike.org/caltrain_bob June 3, 20094
Bike Plus Train
• Average bike commuter will ride 3 miles
• Combining bike plus train considerably extends travel range
• Bike to the station
• Bring bike on board for a fast trip
• Bike to destination
• Caltrain is a national leader with its onboard bicycle service a good case study
+
www.sfbike.org/caltrain_bob June 3, 20095
Caltrain’s Onboard Bike Service
• Enormously popular• Offers convenience and flexibility; 40% of cyclists
vary their normal commute pattern
• Suburban stations have limited public transportation; biking is often faster
• Green commute method
• Biking is fun and great exercise
• Over 7% of Caltrain passengers bring a bike onboard
• Caltrain could not have anticipated the success
www.sfbike.org/caltrain_bob June 3, 20096
Cyclists Bumped Daily
• Caltrain’s bicycle capacity is insufficient
• Cyclists with paid tickets left behind
• Trains have empty seats
Bumped in Palo Alto, Sept 2007
www.sfbike.org/caltrain_bob June 3, 20097
Cyclists Exceed Capacity
Year Walk-ons Bicyclists
2003 to 2006 +16% +41%
2006 to 2008 +16% +5%
2008 farebox revenue loss ~ $1 million
1500
2000
2500
3000
2004 2005 2006 2007 2008
Year
Wee
kday
Bik
e B
oar
din
gs
Expected
Actual
routine bumping began
www.sfbike.org/caltrain_bob June 3, 20098
Solution: Add Bike Capacity
Pulling out of SF, Sept 2008
• Add onboard bike space
• More passengers
• Fewer empty seats
• More revenue
www.sfbike.org/caltrain_bob June 3, 20099
BIKES ONboard Project: Goals and Scope
Goals1. Increase bicycle capacity on-board Caltrain's existing
trains by 2009
2. Ensure recommendations for Caltrain's new rolling stock (for electrification in 2015) meet bicyclists' needs
In Scope Out of Scope
Bikes on trains now Bike access to stations
Bikes on trains in the future Bike security at stations
www.sfbike.org/caltrain_bob June 3, 200910
Caltrain’s Concerns
• Dwell time
• Seat removal
• Subsidies
www.sfbike.org/caltrain_bob June 3, 200911
Bikes cause dwell time delays?
• Bicycle boardings increased 45% from 2003 to 2007.
• No significant change in on-time performance.
www.sfbike.org/caltrain_bob June 3, 200912
Inadvertent Experimental Trial:
Seat Removal• On May 30, 2008, Caltrain removed 14
cars from service for emergency repairs
• Reduced seating capacity
• Ridership increased 5% from May to June
• No walk-on passengers bumped
www.sfbike.org/caltrain_bob June 3, 200913
Conclusion: Removing empty seats does not decrease ridership.
Inadvertent Experimental Trial:
Seat Removal
0
10000
20000
30000
40000
50000
Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun
Month in 2008
Ave
rag
e W
eekd
ay R
ider
s
1800
few
er s
eats
per
day
www.sfbike.org/caltrain_bob June 3, 200914
Estimated Subsidies
Station Access Method Subsidy
Walk both ends $5
Bike both ends $13
Bus both ends $15
Shuttle both ends $17
Drive + walk on other end $25
www.sfbike.org/caltrain_bob June 3, 200915
Caltrain’s Progress
• Caltrain is increasing onboard bike capacity• In process of adding 8 bike spaces per bike car by end
of July 2009, a 28% increase
• Converting two cars to bike cars by Sept 2009
• One-third of trains specified to have 80 bike spaces
• Need more onboard bike capacity• After Sept 2009, two-thirds of trains will vary
unpredictably with 24, 40, 48 or 80 bikes per train
• Inconsistent service drives away paying customers
• Consistent 80 bikes per train needed to meet demand
www.sfbike.org/caltrain_bob June 3, 200916
Summary
• BIKES ONboard continues to help Caltrain plan for success• Need better consistency today
• Onboard bike service must be a high priority for new rolling stock specifications
• Bike plus train is a perfect combination!• Green for the planet
• Convenient for commuters
• Cost-effective for transit agencies