I took my 55 Platy to get Amtrak's opinion and they said no to carry on (roll on) service. All he did was look at the bike. I know of one 50 Platy owner who went by train on a bike tour, but I don't remember if she brought her Platy or her other bike on her wedding anniversary trip this summer. Leah might know. I wouldn't want to take a chance that they might say "no" when I roll my bike to the door.
In my city/suburban train (Septa), I can bring any bike on the train, but there is no special place to store it, so I sit the end of the car and try to keep it out of the way. In S. Jersey's River line, I can hang it. I don't know about the rest of NJ Transit (I know one iBob member who does alot of NJT with bike, but not sure of storage situation.) On the Philadelphia bus system, Platy is too long and I'm afraid with one good bump, it would be road kill (yes, I'd tie it down if forced to take it on a bus rack). You can see my 2019 Homer sits OK. If I wanted to take a bike with me on Amtrak, Platy wouldn't be an option. Perhaps in other parts of the country, the bus racks are longer? So, how often would one need to take it on a train/bus/Amtrak? For me, right now, little on Amtrak, but lots on busses. I imagine the adventures I could have taking a bus/train one way and the bike the other direction. Roberta On Tuesday, November 14, 2023 at 12:44:52 PM UTC-5 Joe Bernard wrote: > That's a good question, Brian. I'm a transit bus driver and technically we > have limits on what will fit on the bus but in reality if you've got stuff > and you haven't convinced me you can't get that stuff on there..it's on > there! My understanding (I've never been on Amtrak) is the bikes store > vertically, my guess is if it's shorter than a tandem it's going to work. > > Joe "I should plan a short Amtrak trip and see if they bounce my custom" > Bernard > > On Tuesday, November 14, 2023 at 9:13:38 AM UTC-8 bmfo...@gmail.com wrote: > >> Has anyone had their bike denied on Amtrak due to wheelbase length? The >> Amtrak I take occasionally has a 2" tire width limit in their fine print, >> but I have never had an issue even though all my tires are larger than >> that. I asked a conductor once and he basically said if its a standard bike >> (non-recumbent, non e-fat is what he mentioned) he didn't care. Obviously >> you can't assume every train official will be lax about it but I'm curious >> if anyone has had issues. >> >> Brian >> >> On Tuesday, November 14, 2023 at 7:25:15 AM UTC-6 allan....@gmail.com >> wrote: >> >>> It depends what type of bike-related service is available on the Amtrak >>> line you will be taking. The dimensions Joe cites are for checked, in a >>> box. >>> >>> I occasionally bring a bike on the train from where I live in southern >>> Vermont to New York City via the Albany Amtrak station. On this line there >>> is only carryon service and there are only 4 special bike lockers >>> available. The bike hangs from the rear wheel and the front wheel must be >>> removed beforehand. It’s a bodged-up arrangement and I have to lash the >>> frame with my own straps to keep everything from swinging and damaging the >>> frame’s finish. >>> >>> I’ve taken both an Yves Gomez and a Trek crit bike. Both have 650b >>> wheels. I’ve never actually measured the vertical space afforded by the >>> locker but without a front wheel it seemed that there might be another >>> 8-10” available; I’ll bring a tape next time. >>> >>> Allan, in snowy Marlboro, Vt. >>> >>> >>> >>> On Tuesday, November 14, 2023 at 2:54:13 AM UTC-5 Joe Bernard wrote: >>> >>>> Size and weight limit restrictions: 50 lbs. and 70" x 41" x 8.5". Your >>>> bike will be approximately 4-5 inches too long for Amtrak. >>>> >>>> On Monday, November 13, 2023 at 10:53:28 PM UTC-8 kiziria...@gmail.com >>>> wrote: >>>> >>>>> I ordered a 55 Platy in the last presale, was thinking of taking >>>>> amtrak to pick it up in person and bring it with me back, Oakland to LA. >>>>> Can someone confirm whether or not the bike will be accepted on the train >>>>> without boxing it up? Please and thank you. Good luck with your >>>>> Platycisions Leah! >>>>> >>>>> On Monday, November 13, 2023 at 7:13:48 AM UTC-8 Edwin W wrote: >>>>> >>>>>> I am with George. Once you have more than a certain number of bikes >>>>>> (a number you are certain to have opinions about), one of them should be >>>>>> a >>>>>> folder! >>>>>> Great for train travel. >>>>>> Great for guests (they fit all kinds of people). >>>>>> Great for conversation starter. >>>>>> Can be stored in a closet, attic, under the stairs, etc... >>>>>> >>>>>> Good luck! >>>>>> >>>>>> Edwin >>>>>> >>>>>> On Sunday, November 12, 2023 at 8:16:07 AM UTC-6 George Schick wrote: >>>>>> >>>>>>> If I were in your situation I'd be tempted to get a folder. PBH >>>>>>> would not be an issue because they have very long seat posts. Some >>>>>>> models >>>>>>> are equipped with more upright bars such as you're used to using. They >>>>>>> come with a variety of different types of gearing and ranges. And, of >>>>>>> course, they are step-though by definition. That could be your travel >>>>>>> bike >>>>>>> and you'd be able to get around any issues that some trains have with >>>>>>> carry-on bikes. >>>>>>> >>>>>>> >>>>>>> On Saturday, November 11, 2023 at 3:27:55 PM UTC-6 Bicycle Belle >>>>>>> Ding Ding! wrote: >>>>>>> >>>>>>>> I have a question that is probably only going to be academic. But >>>>>>>> maybe not. I’ve done crazier things. >>>>>>>> >>>>>>>> Anyway, I have an 81 cm PBH. I sized up to the 55 cm Platypus (PBH >>>>>>>> range starts at 82 cm) and I love the fit. I adore my bikes. You can’t >>>>>>>> have >>>>>>>> them, I won’t sell them, don’t even ask. BUT, they are long. Too long >>>>>>>> for >>>>>>>> buses and for Amtrak. I desperately want to take Amtrak to Chicago >>>>>>>> with my >>>>>>>> bike for the first time, but my bike is too long. RivSister Kate says >>>>>>>> she >>>>>>>> can get her 50 cm Platypus on Amtrak if she undoes her V brakes and >>>>>>>> lets >>>>>>>> some air out of her tire. But, I’m 5’6” and I don’t know if I could >>>>>>>> ride >>>>>>>> that little bike. I don’t have one locally to try. >>>>>>>> >>>>>>>> Also, I’d want the lime olive, which would be very hard to find. >>>>>>>> Anyway, thanks for participating in my thought experiment. That might >>>>>>>> be a >>>>>>>> real experiment. Probably not. There’s likely a limit to how many >>>>>>>> Platys a >>>>>>>> girl can have. >>>>>>>> Leah >>>>>>>> >>>>>>> -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "RBW Owners Bunch" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to rbw-owners-bunch+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/rbw-owners-bunch/0f202993-a5d2-43f6-ac8f-4fe8a3b048fdn%40googlegroups.com.
