05/22/06
On a test basis, the Chicago Transit Authority has lowered the age from 18 to 14 where teenagers are required to be accompanied by an adult when bringing a bicycle on board a CTA train or bus. Lowering the accompanied age requirement will provide additional opportunities for teens to combine biking and public transit to get around the city and suburbs. CTA will evaluate the results of the pilot at the end of the year.
CTA Bike & Ride rules allow two bicycles on each rail car at all hours of operation, with the exception of morning (7 to 9 a.m.) and evening (4 to 6 p.m.) rush hours, and during special events such as July 3rd when customer loads are very heavy. Bikes are allowed on rail cars during all hours on weekends and folding bikes are allowed on CTA vehicles at all times.
All CTA buses are equipped with bike racks mounted on the front of the bus that carry two bicycles each and take as little as 30 seconds to load. Customers may use the racks any time during service hours.
"Lowering the age where teenagers with bikes are required to be accompanied by an adult will provide additional opportunities for area teenagers to take the CTA and help to further reinforce the convenience and benefits of public transportation," said CTA President Frank Kruesi. ?CTA customers are able to avoid the hassles of driving, parking and paying high gas prices."
?Combining bicycling with public transit is an environmentally friendly way for customers to get around the city and the 40 suburbs served by the CTA," said Chicago Transit Board Chairman Carole Brown. ?Through the Bike & Ride program, we are not only supporting Mayor Daley's desire to make Chicago the most bicycle-friendly city in the country but we are providing a cost-effective, convenient way for bicycle enthusiasts to use our bus and rail system to enjoy all that the Chicago area has to offer."
There is no extra fee to transport bicycles. Program guidelines prohibit children under the age of 12 from boarding buses and trains with bicycles. Adult supervision continues to be required for children from the age of 12 to 13 when bringing a bicycle on the system.
For those who want to pedal to a rail station and complete their commute by train, bicycle racks are available at many stations, including 68 stations with sheltered bike parking or indoor racks for enhanced security. For a list of bicycle parking areas located at CTA stations, call the Chicago Department of Transportation Bicycle Parking Program at 312-744-4600 or visit www.chicagobikes.org.
CTA introduced its Bike & Ride program to customers in May 2000. The CTA Bike & Ride program is a collaborative effort between the CTA, the Chicagoland Bicycle Federation, the Chicago Department of Transportation Bicycle Program and the CTA's Americans with Disabilities Act Advisory Committee. For more information on the CTA's Bike & Ride program, or to request a free Bike & Ride brochure, contact CTA Customer Service at ctahelp@transitchicago.com or at 1-888-YOUR-CTA, or visit www.transitchicago.com.
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