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From: JB To: Philadelphia Daily News Date: Monday, 05/06/02 Subject: SEPTA back pedals on bike policy To the Editor: As a SEPTA customer I am disturbed by the proposed new bike on rail policy of only one bike per car. If the prescribed number of bikes are already on the train a fare paying cyclist is left stranded. If a wheelchair passenger boards a rail car, the cyclist must leave the train. In my opinion SEPTA should be looking for ways to increase ridership, not discouraging it. Bicyclists have been riding SEPTA side by side with other passengers during off-peak hours for 11 years without incident. SEPTA regional rail carries at least 1200 bikes a month generating about $50,000 a year in revenue, yet SEPTA has spent $0 to accommodate bikes on trains. Simply installing racks and folding seats on trains would resolve safety concerns and increase bike on rail ridership. Given SEPTA's ridership decline it would appear to be a bad business practice turn away customers from empty trains. Worse than that however are the consequences a stranded cyclist may face by missing his scheduled ride or being escorted off the train. No other law abiding user of the system faces that possibility. SEPTA should adopt a policy that welcomes cyclists and increases off-peak ridership ---- You are receiving this because you are subscribed to the Bicycle Coalition of the Delaware Valley list named "bike." To subscribe or unsubscribe or for archive information, see <http://www.purple.com/list.html>.
