Comments on: Bike Train II: The long way home http://valdodge.com/2007/08/19/bike-train-ii-the-long-way-home/ Random wanderings and wonderings Tue, 06 Jan 2009 05:48:32 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.7 hourly 1 By: Val Dodge http://valdodge.com/2007/08/19/bike-train-ii-the-long-way-home/comment-page-1/#comment-118 Val Dodge Fri, 07 Sep 2007 02:36:32 +0000 http://valdodge.com/2007/08/19/bike-train-ii-the-long-way-home/#comment-118 I know the bike box option exists for train routes with baggage cars, but the thought of hauling my pedal wrench around with me all day (or week) long is pretty discouraging. My minimal repair kit already adds enough bulk to my pack. The vast majority of casual cyclists probably don't even know how to remove a bike pedal so anything short of a roll on and roll off service is useless on them. The other way around the problem is to use a folding bike, but that has its own issues. Better just to have the Bike Train expand for next year. I know the bike box option exists for train routes with baggage cars, but the thought of hauling my pedal wrench around with me all day (or week) long is pretty discouraging. My minimal repair kit already adds enough bulk to my pack.

The vast majority of casual cyclists probably don’t even know how to remove a bike pedal so anything short of a roll on and roll off service is useless on them.

The other way around the problem is to use a folding bike, but that has its own issues. Better just to have the Bike Train expand for next year.

]]> By: Dave http://valdodge.com/2007/08/19/bike-train-ii-the-long-way-home/comment-page-1/#comment-115 Dave Wed, 05 Sep 2007 20:27:52 +0000 http://valdodge.com/2007/08/19/bike-train-ii-the-long-way-home/#comment-115 Last year, my girlfriend and I rode our bikes in the opposite direction, from T.O. to N.O.T.L. and then back again. We're in better shape now than we were then, (i.e: it took us much longer than a day to do the trip, and getting back we were even more tired!) But we found much the same as yourself that the N. Service Rd right beside the QEW was a pretty boring, and so was Oakville. However, the Hamilton Beach Rd ride was a lot of fun, and pretty much makes it worth the trip. I don't know that there are any maps that are particularly better than the waterfront trail map and the one provided by the Niagara Biketrain people. However, this year, thanks to the Biketrain, we did get a chance to do the Niagara Loop and go down the Welland Canal path, which, as you mentioned is a great route with almost no car traffic. The most scenic part of the trip, however, is definitely the path along the Niagara River. Incidentally, it isn't that difficult to take a bike on a train currently, but there's 3 big problems. 1:You have to specifically book a baggage train, and they don't always travel at the time that's best for you. 2:The Box. You have to take at least one pedal off your bike and turn the handlebars sideways to fit it in the box (ViA provides the box. If you don't put your bike in the box, then its At-Your-Own-Risk) (Which leads to problem 2(a) When you arrive, you have put the pedal back on and then re-calibrate the handlebars) 3: It costs $20 per bike, no matter how far or how close you're going. And then there's the lesser problem that you have to wait inside the train station while baggage handlers, following procedure rules, bring your boxed-bike to a certain designated location, along with all the other baggage on the train, and that may or may not be a long wait. All of this minor hassle adds up, though, and leads me to say: "Biketrain Rocks, Man!" Last year, my girlfriend and I rode our bikes in the opposite direction, from T.O. to N.O.T.L. and then back again. We’re in better shape now than we were then, (i.e: it took us much longer than a day to do the trip, and getting back we were even more tired!) But we found much the same as yourself that the N. Service Rd right beside the QEW was a pretty boring, and so was Oakville. However, the Hamilton Beach Rd ride was a lot of fun, and pretty much makes it worth the trip. I don’t know that there are any maps that are particularly better than the waterfront trail map and the one provided by the Niagara Biketrain people.
However, this year, thanks to the Biketrain, we did get a chance to do the Niagara Loop and go down the Welland Canal path, which, as you mentioned is a great route with almost no car traffic. The most scenic part of the trip, however, is definitely the path along the Niagara River.
Incidentally, it isn’t that difficult to take a bike on a train currently, but there’s 3 big problems. 1:You have to specifically book a baggage train, and they don’t always travel at the time that’s best for you. 2:The Box. You have to take at least one pedal off your bike and turn the handlebars sideways to fit it in the box (ViA provides the box. If you don’t put your bike in the box, then its At-Your-Own-Risk) (Which leads to problem 2(a) When you arrive, you have put the pedal back on and then re-calibrate the handlebars) 3: It costs $20 per bike, no matter how far or how close you’re going. And then there’s the lesser problem that you have to wait inside the train station while baggage handlers, following procedure rules, bring your boxed-bike to a certain designated location, along with all the other baggage on the train, and that may or may not be a long wait. All of this minor hassle adds up, though, and leads me to say: “Biketrain Rocks, Man!”

]]> By: Harvey Botzman http://valdodge.com/2007/08/19/bike-train-ii-the-long-way-home/comment-page-1/#comment-112 Harvey Botzman Tue, 04 Sep 2007 01:48:31 +0000 http://valdodge.com/2007/08/19/bike-train-ii-the-long-way-home/#comment-112 Perhaps you should have purchased both "'Round Lake Erie: A Bicyclist's Tour Guide, 2nd Ed." and "'Round Lake Ontario: A Bicyclist's Tour Guide, 3rd Ed. (2008). "'Round Lake Erie..." & '"Round Lake Ontario..." have the complete "Merritt Trail"/Welland Canal bicycle route in it. I rode the route and drew the maps. I'll even send you the maps via the internet. The maps are for your personal use not for publication on the internet. Email me with a clear subject line. Yours, Harvey Botzman the author Perhaps you should have purchased both “‘Round Lake Erie: A Bicyclist’s Tour Guide, 2nd Ed.” and “‘Round Lake Ontario: A Bicyclist’s Tour Guide, 3rd Ed. (2008).

“‘Round Lake Erie…” & ‘”Round Lake Ontario…” have the complete “Merritt Trail”/Welland Canal bicycle route in it. I rode the route and drew the maps.

I’ll even send you the maps via the internet. The maps are for your personal use not for publication on the internet.

Email me with a clear subject line.

Yours,
Harvey Botzman
the author

]]> By: Robert Battistella http://valdodge.com/2007/08/19/bike-train-ii-the-long-way-home/comment-page-1/#comment-108 Robert Battistella Sun, 02 Sep 2007 03:57:03 +0000 http://valdodge.com/2007/08/19/bike-train-ii-the-long-way-home/#comment-108 Yes, unfortunately things are really set up for people with cars. Bus services can be really poor too unless you're traveling to major destinations. So there are a lot of places you just can't get to without a car. Often biking the whole distance is a major undertaking. But being able to cycle just part of the way really opens up possibilities for travel. I use the Rack & Roll service here in Ottawa (bike + public transit) quite a bit. It's a great way to get around the city and I wouldn't be able to use my bike nearly as much without it. This too is a fairly recent service. Now if they would only extend the season a little! Yes, unfortunately things are really set up for people with cars. Bus services can be really poor too unless you’re traveling to major destinations.

So there are a lot of places you just can’t get to without a car.
Often biking the whole distance is a major undertaking. But being able to cycle just part of the way really opens up possibilities for travel.

I use the Rack & Roll service here in Ottawa (bike + public transit) quite a bit. It’s a great way to get around the city and I wouldn’t be able to use my bike nearly as much without it. This too is a fairly recent service. Now if they would only extend the season a little!

]]> By: Val Dodge http://valdodge.com/2007/08/19/bike-train-ii-the-long-way-home/comment-page-1/#comment-107 Val Dodge Sat, 01 Sep 2007 19:44:34 +0000 http://valdodge.com/2007/08/19/bike-train-ii-the-long-way-home/#comment-107 I agree wholeheartedly. There's really no reason why you shouldn't be able to roll on and roll off of any train in the country. As I said following my <a href="http://valdodge.com/2007/07/22/riding-the-bike-train/" rel="nofollow">first ride on the Bike Train</a>, it's a sad commentary that we get so excited about something as simple as taking our bikes somewhere without a car. I agree wholeheartedly. There’s really no reason why you shouldn’t be able to roll on and roll off of any train in the country. As I said following my first ride on the Bike Train, it’s a sad commentary that we get so excited about something as simple as taking our bikes somewhere without a car.

]]> By: Robert Battistella http://valdodge.com/2007/08/19/bike-train-ii-the-long-way-home/comment-page-1/#comment-106 Robert Battistella Sat, 01 Sep 2007 14:52:39 +0000 http://valdodge.com/2007/08/19/bike-train-ii-the-long-way-home/#comment-106 Sounds promising. Thanks for the info. I can understand why it's been so successful. It makes sense in so many ways. What I can't understand is why it’s taken so long to do something as simple as take a bike on a train. As far as I'm concerned, this is something that should be possible on just about any train route. Sounds promising. Thanks for the info.
I can understand why it’s been so successful. It makes sense in so many ways.

What I can’t understand is why it’s taken so long to do something as simple as take a bike on a train. As far as I’m concerned, this is something that should be possible on just about any train route.

]]> By: Val Dodge http://valdodge.com/2007/08/19/bike-train-ii-the-long-way-home/comment-page-1/#comment-104 Val Dodge Sat, 01 Sep 2007 01:39:05 +0000 http://valdodge.com/2007/08/19/bike-train-ii-the-long-way-home/#comment-104 Bike Train riders were asked to fill out a survey which included a question about future expansion. One of the potential routes mentioned was Toronto-Kingston-Ottawa, so service to Ottawa does seem to be likely if the program expands in future years. I think that the success of the Bike Train's limited run this summer proved that there is a great deal of pent-up demand. I'm sure that everyone involved will be crunching the numbers for the next few months and we can all hope that they'll come up with an expanded program for next year. Bike Train riders were asked to fill out a survey which included a question about future expansion. One of the potential routes mentioned was Toronto-Kingston-Ottawa, so service to Ottawa does seem to be likely if the program expands in future years.

I think that the success of the Bike Train’s limited run this summer proved that there is a great deal of pent-up demand. I’m sure that everyone involved will be crunching the numbers for the next few months and we can all hope that they’ll come up with an expanded program for next year.

]]> By: Robert Battistella http://valdodge.com/2007/08/19/bike-train-ii-the-long-way-home/comment-page-1/#comment-100 Robert Battistella Thu, 30 Aug 2007 18:58:01 +0000 http://valdodge.com/2007/08/19/bike-train-ii-the-long-way-home/#comment-100 Hi, Thanks for your documenting your trip. It makes for an interesting read. I live in the Ottawa area and am hoping the bike-train service will be offered here at some point. I'm not sure what the plans are for expansion , but I'll stay tuned. This is a service that's long overdue! And it doesn't take much when you consider how much space is available on trains. Hi,

Thanks for your documenting your trip. It makes for an interesting read. I live in the Ottawa area and am hoping the bike-train service will be offered here at some point. I’m not sure what the plans are for expansion , but I’ll stay tuned.

This is a service that’s long overdue!
And it doesn’t take much when you consider how much space is available on trains.

]]> By: Val Dodge http://valdodge.com/2007/08/19/bike-train-ii-the-long-way-home/comment-page-1/#comment-74 Val Dodge Sat, 25 Aug 2007 00:57:39 +0000 http://valdodge.com/2007/08/19/bike-train-ii-the-long-way-home/#comment-74 My experience is that it's best to do loop rides in somewhat familiar territory before undertaking a long one-way ride. In this case, I wasn't even sure when I set out that I'd make it all the way home. I did know that the 120ish km to Oakville—where I could have caught the train the rest of the way home if necessary—was well within my established range for this year. I wouldn't have attempted the ride without some kind of backup plan. I quite liked the Welland Canal route, and recommend it. The portion of the trail I rode along was remarkably deserted for such a beautiful Saturday afternoon. If you ride along the canal, take a break at the museums at Lock 3. At 37, I ride farther, faster, and more often than when I was 15 years lighter and 25 pounds younger. My experience is that it’s best to do loop rides in somewhat familiar territory before undertaking a long one-way ride. In this case, I wasn’t even sure when I set out that I’d make it all the way home. I did know that the 120ish km to Oakville—where I could have caught the train the rest of the way home if necessary—was well within my established range for this year. I wouldn’t have attempted the ride without some kind of backup plan.

I quite liked the Welland Canal route, and recommend it. The portion of the trail I rode along was remarkably deserted for such a beautiful Saturday afternoon. If you ride along the canal, take a break at the museums at Lock 3.

At 37, I ride farther, faster, and more often than when I was 15 years lighter and 25 pounds younger.

]]> By: Guy M. Zaczek http://valdodge.com/2007/08/19/bike-train-ii-the-long-way-home/comment-page-1/#comment-72 Guy M. Zaczek Fri, 24 Aug 2007 01:26:33 +0000 http://valdodge.com/2007/08/19/bike-train-ii-the-long-way-home/#comment-72 Excuse me for asking but how old / young are you? Many decades ago taking my bike out for a long day of riding was the natural thing to do. My two sons 19 and 22 now put me to shame. I may start on some round trips between Niagara Falls, NY and St. Catherins (Wellend Canal) before I try the NY to GTA. What do you think? Love your blog by the way. Pictures are alwyas worth their weight in Buffalo Chips when you are trying to effect change. This Saturday I will stick with the GO train. Plenty green and not much risk of a cardiac catastrophe somewhere in wine country. Thanks for blazing the trail for the rest of us. If not for me then my sons. Excuse me for asking but how old / young are you?
Many decades ago taking my bike out for a long day of riding was the natural thing to do. My two sons 19 and 22 now put me to shame. I may start on some round trips between Niagara Falls, NY and St. Catherins (Wellend Canal) before I try the NY to GTA.
What do you think?

Love your blog by the way.
Pictures are alwyas worth their weight in Buffalo Chips when you are trying to effect change.

This Saturday I will stick with the GO train. Plenty green and not much risk of a cardiac catastrophe somewhere in wine country. Thanks for blazing the trail for the rest of us. If not for me then my sons.

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