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FW: Caltrain Bike Update -- August 2009
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Ellen Fletcher
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Aug 01, 2009 20:20 PDT
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From: "Simon, Mark" <sim-@samtrans.com>
Date: Sat, 1 Aug 2009 18:33:21 -0700
To: "Simon, Mark" <sim-@samtrans.com>
Conversation: Caltrain Bike Update -- August 2009
Subject: Caltrain Bike Update -- August 2009
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| | August 1, 2009
Dear Caltrain Customers,
It has been a few weeks since our last communication to you, largely because
our staff has been busy installing more bike racks and we wanted to wait until
there was another significant development to report.
Instead of a singular moment that jumped out as a milestone, however, the
progress has been steady and consistent.
Here is what has been happening:
We have completed the expansion on all 27 gallery cab cars scheduled for
additional capacity. As of July 22, we had completed the conversion of the
first four Bombardier cars. As of that date, 31 cab cars were equipped with
an additional 248 bike slots.
We have three more Bombardier cars to be equipped with expanded bike capacity,
as per the original commitment made by our Board a few months ago.
Then, we will convert three additional Bombardier cars to bike cars with the
expanded level of capacity.
When all these changes are completed, and we expect them to be done sometime
this fall, there will be 48 bike slots two bike cars on every Bombardier
train set.
We are paying for these improvements to our bike capacity with stimulus funds
we recently received from the federal government.
Some correspondents, when they read that Caltrain received the funds,
immediately wrote to us with a plan for expanded capacity beyond what we are
already doing. These were funds we already had budgeted, including the
portion for the expanded bike capacity.
We are excited about the expansion of our capacity, but adding bicyclists does
mean a change to the way our system operates. It will be important for us to
complete this work and then measure its impact on our total system, including
on-time performance, a standard of importance to every Caltrain customer.
BUMPING AND CONDUCTORS Despite all these changes, there are still cycling
passengers who cannot get on a train, although the numbers are dropping with
the expanded capacity.
First, we are really sorry. We wish this wasnıt happening at all, we regret
the significant inconvenience you are caused and we appreciate your patience
and your continued patronage.
There are still times when a disruption in our service a mechanical
breakdown, for example throws off the lineup of trains with which we start
the day.
When that happens we have to piece together a train set as quickly as possible
to minimize delays. That may mean a train scheduled to have two bike cars
might have only one. Even with those problems, we promised that certain
trains will have two bike cars, and weıre hitting that schedule more than 95
percent of the time.
Some of you want to know why conductors will refuse to let you on when it is
evident there is a rack with enough space for more bikes.
We urge our conductors to manage the bike car as fairly and effectively as
possible, but itıs also possible the conductor is moving bikes around and that
he or she overloaded a rack for a short while with the thought of moving a
couple of bikes when space opens up on another rack.
Certainly, how that job is done can vary from individual to individual, and
even a usually cordial conductor can have a tough day.
As a matter of policy, our conductors are in charge of the train as
responsible for what happens as an airline attendant who is expected to
enforce FAA regulations. We expect our conductors to exercise that
responsibility with diligence, professionalism and courtesy, but we expect
them to put the operation of the train and the safety of our passengers first.
BIKE TAGS ARE BACK Many of you have once again begun sporting that snappy
yellow tag used on our trains to label your destination. We discontinued them
to save money, but we found a few extra dollars and were able to bring them
back.
You should be able to find them on board and at our stations in San Francisco
and San Jose.
Please use only what you need so that this supply lasts as long as possible.
A BREAK Iım on vacation for the coming week, although I do hope to see some
of you tomorrow (August 2) at the Tour de Peninsula, a family-friendly, fun
bike ride that I began nearly 20 years ago with my friend Rick Sutton.
It begins and ends at Coyote Point County Park and you can register the day of
the ride.
Meanwhile, stay in touch and thanks for riding Caltrain.
Warm regards,
Mark Simon
Executive Officer for Public Affairs
San Mateo County Transit District
SamTrans
Caltrain
San Mateo County Transportation Authority
Phone: (650) 508-6340
Fax: (650) 508-6281
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