West Falls Church Metro pass-through from commuter bus: What recumbents are legit?

[WillStewart]

I’m planning a commute from my house outside Leesburg to Ballston. My overall objective is a carfree commute, though I will have to work up to it in phases (I used to bike commute 20 miles round trip in my 30s, now approaching 55). The distance from my house to the Leesburg Park and Ride is approx. 10 miles. The distance from WFC to my Ballston office is approx 5 miles.

I plan to bike to the Leesburg Park and Ride, load the bike on the bus (I now have the required badge), disembark at West Falls Church Metro, and then access the W&OD and Custis trails to reach Ballston.

I am looking primarily at recumbents (bike and trike) due to aging back, wrists, and aerodynamic reasons (less energy required for a 55 year old to travel 28 miles per day). I wouldn’t be able to stay in aerotuck on a road bike very long.

Part of that commute means taking the bike off the bus and moving it through the West Falls Church metro facility.

The policy seems a little vague on recumbents;

The Bike ‘N Ride Program covers non-collapsible, conventional operational bicycles, as well as tandems, electric powered, and folding bicycles, which can be no longer than 80 inches, no higher than 48 inches, and no wider than 22 inches. A folding bicycle has a frame that folds and two wheels that come together.

This policy does not cover motorcycles, mopeds, tricycles, motor-powered bicycles (including but not limited to gasoline-powered bicycles) or any other bicycle that exceeds the size restrictions stated above, and such bicycles are prohibited within the Metrorail and/or Metrobus system.

http://www.wmata.com/getting_around/bike_ride/guidelines.cfm

Does this mean I couldn’t take a trike off a Loudoun bus and move it through the facility to the street? I wouldn’t be accessing the platform or train at all. Ideally, I would just walk it by picking up the rear wheel, take it on the elevator, and walk out of the station via the mezzanine. If this would be a problem, would this also apply to a folding trike?

The following seems to be one way to classify just about any folder as luggage;

Folding bicycles and non-collapsible bicycles of all types that are folded or disassembled and enclosed in carrying bags, cases or boxes are deemed “luggage” items and are permitted inside railcars at all times. The carrying bags or cases must be made of a sturdy material such as canvas, nylon or leather-type materials.

Other options include;

Taking the Loudoun Commuter bus to Rosslyn, though the evening pickup point is at 1800 Lynn St, which is in the middle of the whirring maw of dangerous traffic patterns, especially at dusk or after dark. I suppose I could walk my bike/trike from the park down Ft Myers and 19th street, though I’m not sure how easy it would be to walk a trike that far.

• Taking a Loudoun-Tysons commuter bus instead, and take a route like this one to the W&OD trail, which would add another 5 miles or so to my commute, making a completely carfree commute less likely.

Am I being overly cautious with my planning? I would hate to buy a trike and then be barred from taking it through WFC station.

Is there a WMATA bike coordinator that could answer my questions?

Thoughts and/or suggestions?

Topic

[napes]

I’m sure you’ve also looked at the maps at http://wmata.com/pdfs/bus/VA.pdf to see if you could jump buses at West Falls Church Metro to get you closer if you wanted to really start slow. Looks like the 3B and 28A 28X buses get you a bit closer. Of course for those buses, you’d be better off with a normal style bike for the bus rack.

I’ve taken a commuter bike through West Falls Church to get to the bus area on a few occasions and I don’t think anyone would bother you if you just keep moving. I would hope you triple measure any bike larger than a normal size to see if it can get in the rather cramped elevator since my recollection is you can’t use the escalator for bikes.

Before spending big bucks on a recumbent or trike, I’d recommend you get a normal commuter bike with upright handlebars or even a cheap mountain bike to refine your commuting plans. I’ve always enjoyed having the bus as an emergency backup for my commuting plans, and if I had a trike or recumbent, I don’t know that that option would be as available. I’m sure some recumbents can ride on the racks, but I haven’t played with that.

[WillStewart]

Thanks for the helpful hints. I undoubtedly will make a few runs with my current hybrid bike from WFC Metro to Ballston on the Custis trail just to ascertain the condition of the trail and any logistical considerations.

This 5 mile leg will be my bike commuting starting point, as it is fairly short. The next step would be to do the 10 mile leg from my house to the Leesburg Park and ride. The eventual goal is to do both approx 4 times a week.

I’ve been checking out the elevators at Rosslyn and Ballston, which I’m assuming are the same size as the WFC one, but I’ll make sure to bring a measuring tape with me one day when I take the WFC bus.

I may also bring a canvas cover to put over the crank/gears, as WMATA policy does talk to sharp pointy components on bikes being against policy. Ultimately, they give the final say to the station personnel, so I’ll make sure to avoid rubbing them the wrong way.

Would still like to hear thoughts from others on their take on this matter.

[FFX_Hinterlands]

I’ve taking my rather large Dutch bike from Herndon-Monroe P&R to WFC Metro (drops off in the same bus bays). My bike barely fit in the elevator, and it’s 68 inches long with a wide front rack. I had about 1-2 inches to spare with the bike diagonal in the elevator. So door to door it would not fit the bike if I pulled it straight in. It would have been easier to take it on the escalator. After the elevator simply walked my bike across the platform to the kiss and ride area. no one gave me a second look. I think many of the regulations pertain to bikes on trains and platforms, not the upper level. The issue is that there is no alternate route other than escalators and elevators to get from the bus bays to the kiss and ride, which makes me think the operators/WMATA folks should be forgiving if the elevator doesn’t work out.

As a second step you may want to consider riding the W&OD all the way to Van Buren St (herndon) and riding south to Herndon Monroe P&R. It should cut off a good 11 miles from your commute. Fairfax Connector buses are frequent in the AM and have external bike racks on the front of the bus. Take extra tie downs for your bike, though.

[WillStewart]

68″ certainly does limit my recumbent options, though I suppose it is possible to tilt the bike/trike up like one person suggested in another forum.

Going all the way in to Herndon-Monroe park and ride is around 22 miles one way for me, which is more than I would want to shoot for at my age (55).

I’ve heard the Custis trail from Falls Church to Ballston can be a bit bumpy in places – would a partially or fully suspended recumbent be considered appropriate there?

[Just161]

@WillStewart 1503 wrote:

I plan to bike to the Leesburg Park and Ride, load the bike on the bus (I now have the required badge), disembark at West Falls Church Metro, and then access the W&OD and Custis trails to reach Ballston.

Will – you’re just taking the bike through the metro station, right? Not passing through the fare gates to get on the train?

[WillStewart]

Yes, though how the term “Metrorail System” is interpreted could certainly apply to the Metrorail mezzanine and elevator that I would be using, so I’m trying to get a sense of what would work with least risk of being told “No you can’t do that” after I’ve sunk $2k into a recumbent that will meet my needs and fit in the elevator.

For example, the guidelines also state;

Cyclists shall be required to use elevators to access mezzanines and platforms. Escalators and stairs shall not be used except when special requests (for emergency reasons) have been granted by Metro Station Managers, Metro Transit Police or city/county police or fire officials. Cyclists shall allow other passengers to exit before placing bicycles in or taking bicycles out of the elevators. When it appears that a bicycle will cause an inconvenience or possible injury to other passengers, cyclists shall wait for the next elevator. At all times in the Metrorail system, both wheels of any bicycle must be placed on the ground/floor and cyclists shall not use Metro property such as, but not limited, to poles, seats, and doors to support their bicycles.

So if I try to lift the front of a recumbent bike/trike to make sure it fits on the elevator (i.e., roll it in on the back wheel), a pedantic transit policeman or station master might decide that is verbotten.

I will be measuring the elevator tomorrow, to verify what will and won’t fit. Does this answer your question?

[WillStewart]

I measured the WFC elevator this morning and it is indeed tiny, about 60″ x 60″. I’ll have to be creative if I’m to take a 75″ recumbent onboard, such as lifting one wheel up high when I roll it in (which may violate the guideline above in bold), positioning on the diagonal (which is 84″), etc.

[americancyclo]

I take my regular bike on the metro there all the time on weekends in the winter. I’ve never heard objections to standing my bike up on one wheel. I usually do that to cram in to elevators, and I’ve never heard objections from other passengers either. I can’t imagine that they’d give you a hard time for just passing through the station. It’s a major commuter hub, and they’re used to all sorts of people coming through, like those with tons of luggage to get to the Washington Flyer. I’ve never had a bad interaction with metro staff there either.

[CCrew]

Just a FYI… Trikes aren’t allowed on Metro nor will they fit on bus racks. Metro’s regs are 2 wheeled bikes only.

And to Americancyclo, although they’ll probably let you get away with it, regs are also that both wheels must be on the ground at all times.
Gotta love their regs. I got accosted by Metro PD when I shouldered my Cross bike to go down an escalator when a elevator at the station was inoperable! Imagine that.. an elevator/escalator not working at Metro……hee

[WillStewart]

@CCrew 1591 wrote:

Just a FYI… Trikes aren’t allowed on Metro nor will they fit on bus racks. Metro’s regs are 2 wheeled bikes only.

I’m actually not going on Metrorail or Metrobus, though if I were, a folding SWB recumbent would likely be the pick, as it would fit on the bus racks without folding, and be able to be carried on Metrorail with a canvass carrying case. The TW Bents Cobra is one folding SWB recumbent bike that fits this requirement.

[WillStewart]

Update: Talked to the stationmaster on duty at WFC Metro last night, striking up a short conversation with a friendly tone mentioning my planned bike commute from the bus stop to the station exit with a recumbent cycle (though I didn’t use the word ‘trike’). He said as long as I dismounted and used the elevator, that should be fine. He even said that if the elevator was out, I could use the escalator when there was a break in the flow of pedestrians using it.

I’m settling in on the idea of a Greenspeed folding trike, which can fit in the bus cargo area (2’7″ high), fit in a 6 foot Loudoun bike locker (when I can’t do the entire 4 legs for whatever reason), and can fold if I need to transport it via metro. The stability is what made the difference, seeing as I’m 55 and expect to be bike commuting for at least another 5 years.

[WillStewart]

I have now found another commuter bus that picks up 15 (bike) miles away(north Ashburn), will cost only $2 (vice $8 for the current bus), and takes only 30 minutes to get to the Metro (vice 50 for the Leesburg to Rosslyn run).

So 15 + 5 = 20 miles in each direction at 55 years of age (and with a family to get home to) means that I’d only do this if I considered electric boost. With electric boost, I also wouldn’t have to go through a period where I would need to carefully work up to a level of fitness (depending on how much battery I choose to start off with, though there still would be some conditioning required). I also wouldn’t have to take into consideration fitting the cycle into the tight constraints of the bike locker, though I would have to be able to fit on a front bus rack.

That reduces the recumbent possibilities to a SWB bike. If I want to be able to take it on Metro (for whatever reason, say I’m getting a bad cramp), a folding SWB would fit the bill, like the Cobra above.

Now I have to find out if it can be electrified, because of the Shimano Deore 9sp with 3sp internal hub SRAM dual drive (though I could just decide to make it a 9 speed), and because of the rear wheel being supported by an aluminum allow monostay. I’ve read reviews by people who’ve already put 1700 km on them, so I feel they are likely solid enough.

If I did chose a trike, that would mean I couldn’t take the ‘new’ bus route that requires loading the cycle onto a bike rack, though I’d have a very stable ride.

I think I’m going to put the two choices on two pieces of paper on a wall, put on a blindfold, and throw a dart….

[CCrew]

@WillStewart 2005 wrote:

So 15 + 5 = 20 miles in each direction at 55 years of age (and with a family to get home to) means that I’d only do this if I considered electric boost. With electric boost, I also wouldn’t have to go through a period where I would need to carefully work up to a level of fitness (depending on how much battery I choose to start off with, though there still would be some conditioning required). I also wouldn’t have to take into consideration fitting the cycle into the tight constraints of the bike locker, though I would have to be able to fit on a front bus rack.

Pfft. You act like 55 is old. I’m 54 with a crappy back and both shoulders reconstructed and ride further 5 days a week. You need to borrow a bike and do it rather than analyzing it to death. Not trying to bust on ya but sheesh, this has been going on for a month

If you want to split hairs about it, you do realize that an electric bike is technically not allowed on the W&OD, correct? The regulation is “no motorized vehicles” and an e-bike qualifies as motorized.. How well it’s enforced I can’t say, but can say the only two places I’ve seen police on the trail are Falls Church and Vienna. And Falls Church is waaaaaay touchy about bike/car/ped interaction. I probably would be too if all my crossing signs got stolen within a day or so of installation

[WillStewart]

Pfft. You act like 55 is old. .. You need to borrow a bike and do it rather than analyzing it to death. Not trying to bust on ya but sheesh, this has been going on for a month

Your cardiovascular health is your own business, I must pay careful attention to mine. My wife is concerned because a friend’s neighbor died from shoveling his sidewalk, even though he was in very good condition. I also have 2 preteen children that I must consider when assessing the risks associated with my approach to carfree commuting. On top of that, I’m trying to get over a hacking cough still hanging on from the holidays, and I certainly will not expose myself to extended exertions in cold weather until I’m rid of it.

Having grown up in Vienna, and knowing the bike trail vertical changes from there to Rosslyn very well (had bike commuted that route in the 80s), I can say that my forthcoming commute is a bit more vertically challenging, including more than one traversal of Catoctin Ridge, and likely as not the climb out of Rosslyn in the morning. Other factors that your commute apparently does not take into consideration is;
– partially herniated disk, L5/S1
– carpal tunnel, left hand
– small bike locker space limitations
– bus cargo space limitations
– bus bike rack limitations
– West Falls Church elevator space limitations

It’s becoming apparent that I will likely employ different routes in the morning vs. the evening, based on safety, time, and cost.

If you feel that I’m spending more time analyzing this than you would, that’s your concern. Others have been very helpful, and I greatly appreciate their wisdom and experience.

I don’t appreciate the condescending tone (and incorrect information) you’ve been responding with lately. If you don’t have something constructive to say, then politely consider economy of speech.

[CCrew]

@WillStewart 2015 wrote:

I don’t appreciate the condescending tone (and incorrect information) you’ve been responding with lately. If you don’t have something constructive to say, then politely consider economy of speech.

Actually, it’s not a condescending tone – one of the drawbacks to this form of communication is a total detachment from the facial expressions and cues that normally go with a conversation. It’s a bit more tongue in cheek than you realize.. And seriously, after several years of commuting most of what I’ve relayed is real world experience, things like folders not having to be in cases (which you’ve seen yourself) and the like. So unless you’re calling my experience in the real world versus your musings as to the minutae of regulations incorrect, real world usually trumps the rule book in my experience. So feel free to link the post that was blatantly incorrect I’ve made. I certainly don’t want the next person thinking it’s gospel and taking it as a reference.

If you want condescending, it goes like this:

So sorry you don’t like hearing from someone that’s probably physically in worse shape than you and is doing more. Are you Type 2 diabetic? I am. Have you had two cardiac catherizations? I have. Had two back surgeries? I have. Had three helicopter rides to the hospital? I have. Been given last rites? I have. Have two reconstructed shoulders? I do. Kinda makes your cough insignificant to me and I’m sorry that I don’t care more. It’s just a weakness of mine.

And vertically challenging? Come on. Here’s this mornings GPS track including elevation chart. http://connect.garmin.com/activity/64129041

[Author]

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