Chicago Trains Make More Room for Bikes

A new policy that allows bikes on all Chicago-area Metra trains has led to a 70 percent increase in bikes carried on trains, reports AJ LaTrace for Streetsblog Chicago.

Metra trains carried 19,000 bikes in February and 220,000 bikes in March of 2024. According to Metra operations director Aaron Maertins, the agency carried the most bikes in its history in 2023.

“Metra staff also provided updates on new bicycle racks and retrofitted train cars that the agency referred to as the “Bike Car 1.5” — train cars with a bike rack with room for upwards of four bicycles (not to be confused with the so-called ‘Bike Car 1.0’ which were old Pullman cars where the lower level was outfitted with space for up to 16 bicycles).” Metra is currently operating 35 of these cars, with five more in staged in their shop.

The article also provides information on Amtrak’s plans to renovate the concourse at Chicago’s Union Station to increase open space to accommodate more riders and make the area easier to navigate.