Alabama Bicycle Coalition Asks Amtrak To Accept Unboxed Bikes

Relaxing Restrictions Would Unleash Flood Of Cyclists On Amtrak

Following is a copy of a letter recently sent to Amtrak by the Alabama Bicycle Coalition asking Amtrak to provide accommodations for unboxed bicycles on The Crescent (the Amtrak train running from New Orleans to Washington, DC).


Attention: Mr. Trahan
Amtrak
Washington, DC

Dear Mr. Trahan:

I have been asked to contact you regarding accommodations for assembled bicycles on Amtrak trains. As you can guess from our name, we are all for that convenience. Cycling provides super exercise, fun, and relaxation for just about everyone; young, old, or handicapped physically, financially, or otherwise.

Our board members have traveled from Birmingham to New Orleans with boxed bicycles. Once we reached New Orleans, we needed a vehicle to pick us up and transport us, then reassemble our bikes and store the boxes for our return trip. Otherwise, our entire local transportation was by bicycle. Imagine how happy we would have been to 'just ride away' from the station instead. We think the capacity to routine accommodate bicycles is beneficial and practical.

We understand that Amtrak is rethinking its accommodations for bicycles around the nation. We think the Crescent route would benefit from allowing assembled bicycles on board. We think this because there are a number of linear recreational trails, there are two cross country road routes, there are more than 25 century events, thousands of recreational riders, hundreds of touring cyclists, and the numbers of all that are growing each year.

You already know about the Silver Comet, Chief Ladiga, Longleaf, and the Tammany Trace linear recreational trails. In addition to that I'd like to bring to your attention, two major national bicycling routes. Adventure Cycling (membership of 42,000) created the Southern Tier (from San Diego to Saint Augustine FL) and Underground Railroad (from Mobile, AL to Owens Sound, Ontario Canada). Both of these routes are near both the Amtrak Crescent and the Sunset routes in several places.

The number of cyclists; mountain, touring, and recreational are growing rapidly each year. We get many inquiries each year regarding routes between major cities in the south. People who are doing some form of the Adventure Cycling cross country routes, people making up routes based upon local bicycling club route advice, and folks that are simply cycling within a comfortable distance for their vacation or weekends. Some folks are doing something we call 'credit card' camping; that is very little gear and using restaurants and commercial lodging for accommodations. Others are towing trailers behind their bicycles. All are on the move around our region and all collect some pretty big smiles by lots of observers.

As you consider the possibilities please be aware that bicycles are evolving in shape, function, and style. There are racing bikes, mountain bikes, tricycles, tandems, tricycle tandems, and recumbents. We should not forget the trailers either. Accommodations for all these types must be considered and addressed one way or another because they will show up at the stations.

I am including some links of interest for you. They are links to both national routes and a link to the Alabama Department of Tourism bicycle event calendar.

Thank you for thinking about these things. We will be happy to help.

Best regards,

Marjorie Holderer
President

Alabama Bicycle Coalition
www.alabike.org
256-883-9982

http://www.adventurecycling.org/routes/southerntier.cfm
http://www.adventurecycling.org/routes/undergroundrailroad.cfm?pg=detail&s=1
http://www.warmshowers.org/
http://www.800alabama.com/things-to-do/events/