September 22, 2005

MASSBIKE WIN: MBTA ANNOUNCES BIKE RACKS ON BUSES PROGRAM

MassBike Praises MBTA for Taking Action on Key Cyclist Priority

Boston, MA: The Massachusetts Bicycle Coalition (MassBike), the statewide bicycling education and advocacy group, today lauded the MBTA and its new General Manager, Daniel Grabauskas, for its plan to put more than 250 new bike racks on buses. “We are extremely pleased that General Manager Grabauskas and the MBTA have taken this important step toward making transit accessible for all users,” said MassBike Executive Director Dorie Clark. “Bicycle access on buses has long been a priority for MassBike and the tens of thousands of bicyclists in Greater Boston, and we look forward to working with the T to build on this success.”

The rack-equipped buses, housed out of the MBTA’s Charlestown garage, will be serving dozens of routes in Cambridge, Somerville, Chelsea, Everett, Medford, Malden, Revere, Charlestown, Burlington, Lexington, Bedford, Belmont, Arlington, Waltham, Watertown, Allston, Brighton, Woburn, and Winchester.

“Welcome, bike owners, to the MBTA,” said Grabauskas. “By giving people yet another reason to choose public transportation, we continue our efforts to attract more customers by making the system easier to use and a lot more convenient. This is what quality customer service is all about.”

In all, the MBTA plans to purchase close to 300 bike racks (some will be kept as spares) at an estimated cost of $255,000. Federal grant monies distributed by the Boston MPO are funding the program. Installation is scheduled to begin in the spring of next year. MBTA Bus Operations staff will closely monitor the bike rack program, and then make recommendations on whether to expand the program to other bus garages and routes.

MassBike has a history of working with the MBTA to improve conditions for bicyclists. In 1985, MassBike won the right for cyclists to bring their bikes on the T at certain times. In 2000, MassBike successfully encouraged the T to eliminate the “special pass” requirement in order to carry one’s bike on the subway, and in 2004, the MBTA worked with MassBike to dramatically expand cyclists’ hours of access on the subway. MassBike has more than 1600 dues-paying members across the Commonwealth, and represents the 750,000 Bay State residents who bicycle regularly.