Taking a bike on metro bus

I take the bus with my bike from FFX to the Pentaon 8-10 times a week. The Bike rack on the front is fairly simple to use. Just ensure that you wait for the bus to come to a complete stop before walking out in front of it. There are two rack positions; I originally started using the one closest to the bus because that would allow another bike easier access to the other rack, but 2 or 3 bus drivers told me to swap it to the other one (most forward rack). Each driver told me the reason is that if you use the one closer to the bus the seat and rear wheel block some of the driver’s visibility (don’t know how much this is true), but if you use the forward most rack the handlebars and front wheel are infront of the driver and not as much of a visual blockage (?). It does make for a rather awkward dance with my bike after pulling down rack because I pull down the rack with my left hand while I am holding on to my bike with the right. Since my bike is facing the street (aligned how it will go into the rack I have to walk around the bike to put it onto the rack, no big deal but took a little getting used to).

I always get off the bus through the front door and tell the driver that I’m taking off the bike. I ensure that my bike and I are safely on the sidewalk and the rack is back up before I give the driver a thumbs up.

There are two locking arm styles (spring loaded arms that fit over the front wheel to hold the bike in place). The older style is an iverted J with black a foam rubber coating over the hook part; the newer style has a yellow “basket” like top. Both fit on the bike similarly, the older style tends to rub against my front brake assembly a little and is harder to extend. Once the older style J was looped around the bus’ windshield wiper, so it was difficult to pull down the rack. Newer racks tend to be on newer busses.

Hope this helps, I’d be glad to answer any other questions you have.

@dasgeh 17709 wrote:

I’ve done it on plenty of crowded buses. I just stay near the front for the whole ride (I rarely get a seat). I’ve gotten plenty of looks from people when I squeeze to the side to allow others to go further back, but the drivers have always gotten it. Then I exit through the front door and remind the driver that I’ll be getting the bike. Never had a problem.

Exactly what I do. Never had an issue. If my bike is the only bike on the rack I also always make sure to fold it back up when I take the bike off.

Operative term. Nothing like trying to get it sorted out in front of a standing room only rush hour busload of impatient, tired commuters. Gee it looked so simple from afar. DooHH:p

@KLizotte 17716 wrote:

I think for my first trip I’ll try a Sunday morning when ridership is low.

There was some discussion at the Arlington Bike Advisory Committee this week about parking a bus at one of the Arlington Pitstops for BTWD so cyclists could have a no-stress exposure to the bike racks. Stay tuned.