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