»In which we take the survey

Caltrain is soliciting input from cyclists through an online survey. Especially interesting are the questions about realigning the bike cars, which are typically at the "northern", or cab-car end of the train (right beneath the crossing horn and station bell, which makes for a restive nap on the trip home). The survey also focuses on the almost-ready San Francisco bike station. (The Caltrain bicycles FAQ is well-written and useful, despite having some out-of-date information -- such as "Caltrain is working to build a bikestation at its San Francisco station, with anticipated opening in fall 2006.")

I have been riding Caltrain since I moved to the Bay Area, in 1997. At the time, Caltrain had embarked on one of the more liberal bicycles-on-transit schemes in the United States: no surcharge for bringing a bicycle on board; reserved seating, with spacious bicycle accomodations, for cyclists; and a policy that encouraged people to use their bicycle for part or all of their trip. Typically used by long-haul commuters, the scheme really caught on. Bike lockers appeared at stations along the route; the party car became an institution (I've eaten wings and downed beer with all sorts of a Friday afternoon); and more and more cyclists took the train. Caltrain has done an admirable job of taking cyclists into account when planning service, rolling stock (even if the results with the Bombardier cars were mixed!), and station renovations.