Bike on metro
Hi, I’ve read all the rules about bikes on metro but I trialed my bike + train commute yesterday and was still a little confused about the best place to stand with my full sized bike? Maybe I got unlucky but my front car had a decent amount of people headed south on the green line and there’s also no obvious place to stand other than either next to a door or by blocking seating on the ends of the car? Anyways if anyone has tips would appreciate but also maybe dumb question bc I am just generally quite anxious.
UPDATE: I didn’t bike commute yesterday bc I was dumb and thought the weather would be like Sunday but I did bike today and it went fine!! I rode in the front car. But I went just before rush hour (around 7am). Way back may be during rush hour so will see how it goes.
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u/BikeTough6760 7d ago
you're always in the way with a bike on the train. Just accept it and do it anyway, if you have to.
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u/UrbanEconomist 7d ago
I have found that once I get into the downtown area, it’s almost as fast (and much less hassle) to get off the train and bike. I put my bike on the train at Silver Spring around 6 am, when the train isn’t too busy, then get off at NoMa to avoid the crowds at Union Station; I just bike to my destination, instead. The 7000 series trains have a nook at the back of each two-car pair that’s perfect for standing with a bike (assuming no one is already there). If the train is empty, I’ll grab a long bench seat. On older train models, there’s not really a good place for a bike, so just do your best and be polite.
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u/meowha3 7d ago
Hmm maybe I should just consider a full bike commute to work (I work in SE so I cross the S Capitol St Bridge).
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u/vec5d 7d ago
Are you using your bike mostly to get from your house to the metro, do you also need it when you get off?
There's definitely a is this worth it factor. Though it's allowed, there are few circumstances where I would choose taking my bike on a crowded Metro everyday unless absolutely necessary.
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u/tired-mulberry 7d ago
I also work in SE. I get on metro at waterfront and head south on green. It's really only a problem between waterfront and Navy yard, so sometimes in the afternoon I just bail at Navy yard.
I plan to stand in the door for that crowded section. If you're on an end (as you should be) people can exit through the center doors faster than squeezing past you.
Also, I know which train car/door is favored for getting on/off at Navy yard (stops in front of the escalator) and pick a different car to avoid that crowd.
Depending on how far you're going it may or may not be worth it, for me it is to have my bike at my destination.
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u/tshontikidis 7d ago
Policy is bikes allowed any time, avoid center doors. If this is a long term commute solution I would look into a folding bike.
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u/teneralb 7d ago
Yeah if this is a trek you're going to be doing regularly, get a folding bike. They're not actually that much more expensive than a regular bike. I just searched Craigslist and turned up a dozen for less than $500
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u/Practical_Silver_998 7d ago
The answer will heavily depend on which stop you get on and where you are getting off. Green line has lots of people getting off at lenfant or gallery so its better to check out several stops before and after these to figure out which is best to bike to. Being proactive here is the key bc you want to get on before or after crowded stops. I would not go to gallery as a new person during rush hour bc it takes guts.
In general, i go to the second or second to last cars bc people tend to get on the first last and middle cars. The escalators generally let off at other doors. The best place to stand is with your bike perpendicular to the train (wheels facing each door) in the middle of the end of the car so that people can come in and out easily. The people in the back seats will have to go around but less people are inconvenienced. When you get more practice youll figure out how to put you bike in those back few seats but i cant describe it here. Next best is by a door so that you can easily get on and off at each stop to let people in and out if necessary. Generally people will see you have a bike and will be forced to move to the inside of the car rather than camping at the door.
There is no simple way so just remember that its fine to bring your bike at any time and if wmata wanted they could easily make a bike specific area. Other cities do this. Ive been bringing my bike on the metro forever and can count on my hand the number of times someones said something to me. Just do your best, have confidence, and recognize that sometimes you have to catch the next train.
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u/meowha3 7d ago
yea I was thinking Mount Vernon sq to navy yard but there’s actually several green line stops bikeable from me (I live in Logan circle on 14th) so maybe another could be better?
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u/Practical_Silver_998 7d ago
Personally id get on at lenfant or waterfront before or at 8am bc so many people get off at lenfant and the difference between before and after 8 is meaningful.
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u/IanSan5653 7d ago
I take my bike on metro all the time. I generally go for the first or last door on the first or last car. This can mean walking all the way down the platform. Some train models are better than others. I think it tends to be better to sit on a side bench and have your bike block just one empty seat vs stand in the middle of the aisle and block everyone. Rush hour is tough; I've skipped trains that were close to full and just waited for the next one.
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u/elbows1976 7d ago
Bike on the bus is easier if possible. Also if possible, bikeshare to/from the metro can be a good option.
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u/Salt_Cream697 7d ago
I find as long as you don’t get on at one of the major transfer points during rush hour, people tend to be pretty understanding. I have to get on at Rosslyn so I make sure I arrive before 7:30 and then I leave work before 4 and never had an issue. My bikes pretty clunky too.
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u/NoContext5149 7d ago
Bikes should use the end doors, not the middle doors. You’re right there’s no good place to stand. I usually try to back it up right at the end of the car. In that space, I block off one row of seats if I’m sitting, or I shuffle back and forth to let people use the seats on either side. This is in the newer cars.
I absolutely can’t take my bike with me during peak times. Taking so much space when it’s crowded is a nonstarter for me.
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u/iLikeGreenTea 7d ago
Timing matters. Also generally speaking, the middle doors of the traincar is not the best for the bike because people a re coming from both sides. I usually kind of meander to a less crowded traincar when I have my bike.
Some people will always be annoyed, will jsut ahve to face it. Also fi I know I'm in the way, I'll de-board the metro car so others can get on and off, and then come back in with the bike.
But yeah, generally speaking the rush hour is a bad time to be with the bike. I would wait until about 6:30 pm to get back on with a bike.
good luck!
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u/Arctic_Dreams 7d ago
That's the neat part.. there is no good place to stand! Only slightly less worse places. I wish the first or last car would have an open back end to better accommodate bikes. I tried commuting with a folding bike for a bit but that was still in the way. I gave up and just walk now.
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u/Electronic-Front-640 7d ago
There’s no good place to be, that’s metros problem not yours, you have the right to use metro, so use the front or back door of a car, try your best to be out of the way (ain’t gonna happen) and if people want to complain they can shove it up their ass until metro chooses to do better
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u/wishiwasdeaddd 6d ago
Just do not block the doors, otherwise be mindful of who needs to move around you and youre probably good 🫶🏻
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u/NWWashingtonDC 7d ago
Last train car, never during rush hour.
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u/Electronic-Front-640 7d ago
Sorry but people with a bike also have to commute during rush hour. Metro needs to dedicate a bike car or people can fuckin deal
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u/NWWashingtonDC 6d ago
Aggressive, nice.
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u/Electronic-Front-640 6d ago
It’s not aggressive, it’s just blunt reality.
If my taxes go to WMATA I and others deserve equal use of the services and if they can’t make that happen then unfortunately it means unequal use of the services.
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u/frostyrefreshment 7d ago edited 7d ago
The most useful tips are specific to each metro segment - for example, where the station entrances are located relative to each train car throughout the specific stretch you would be riding. It's best to go for the part of the train that is closest to the fewest station entrances along your journey.
One general tip, though, is to pay attention to the headways and number of cars for each train on the platform information displays. If the next train is 8 cars, the 7th or 8th car are usually the best bet. Also, if the next train is 7 minutes away but there's another one 10 minutes away, that second train is usually far less crowded and potentially worth waiting for.
Finally, as others have mentioned, the bus (which has a bike rack on the front of every vehicle) is potentially a more suitable option for you, especially if you are going from the 14th Street/Logan Circle area to SE DC across the river. The D50 runs frequently along 14th Street and will take you straight down to the Waterfront station, where you can either transfer to the Green Line or just bike across the bridge. If you board at Waterfront going south in the morning (or get off there going north in the evening), you will bypass the busiest part of the trip.
One additional advantage of doing this is that it may actually be cheaper than taking the metro the whole way, since a greater portion of your travel distance would be by bus (which does not get more expensive by distance) as compared to metro (which does).
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u/RennaissanceDad 7d ago
It sounds like you’re doing all the right things. One thing to consider is timing. If you can get to the station like just even 15 minute earlier than normal you can see a markedly lower person volume in the cars (assuming early morning commute). Other subtle tips: know exactly where the elevators are in the stations and keep the chain side of the bike in the inside (closest to you) so that other passengers don’t accidentally brush up on your chain.
Give it a few tries and you’ll eventually figure out what you’re comfortable with and what works.