Last Friday, my partner Wendy and I rode down to Port Dalhousie/St. Catharines and stayed overnight at a nice B&B.
The next morning we pedalled down most of the fabulous Welland Canal trails (45k from Lake Ontario to Lake Erie, a fully paved recreational trail, highly recommended) and returned to Toronto on the Bike Train via Niagara Falls. (More Photos)
Bike Train organizer Justin LaFontaine, has done an excellent job getting this pilot project off the ground. All 56 spots of the inaugural run were sold out. Congrats!
So, how is it? It's a breeze. Getting your bike on and off the train was easy. Mind you Justin and his assistant have to do some heavy lifting since there are no baggage handlers at the Niagara Falls Station. But they are very careful and friendly.
"Time to put up, or ...", Justin tells me. And I think he's right. But with a bit of help from many of us who enjoy bike touring in the we can make sure VIA will sees the obvious benefits of a long overdue bike/train alliance.
As for me and Wendy we'll be back very soon for the famous Niagara Trails Loop (120km of pure fun)
Comments
Val Dodge (not verified)
Hey, that's my bike!
Tue, 07/24/2007 - 23:46That's my bike he's loading into the rack. If I'd known that was Tino taking pictures in front of me, I would have said hi. Life would be so much easier if everyone wore name tags.
Kris (not verified)
Bike Train to Niagara
Sat, 07/28/2007 - 22:41Glad to hear you enjoyed the trip. I'm booked for a overnight cycling trip on the 11th & 12th weekend.
Did everything go smoothly
tino
Smoothly
Tue, 07/31/2007 - 16:59Sure, did. Just bring some drinks (beers) and snacks for the return trip.
Enjoy.
Harvey Botzman (not verified)
Bikes on trains.
Mon, 09/03/2007 - 22:13All VIARail trains and all Amtrak trains should have facilities for the carriage of bicycles.
I just had an encounter at the Cornwall VIARail Station. I ride a folding bicycle (New World Tourist by Bike Friday) which meets VIARails baggage size limitations. The station agent refused to allow my bicycle (folded & in a bag) on to the afternoon train to Kingston.
"You can only bring bicycles on the 10:__ o'clock train."
"It's a folding bicycle & it meets your baggage size limitations."
"No bicycles on that train, only on the 10:__ o'clock train and it has to be boxed."
"Perhaps you can go by bus."
"Where is the bus station?"
"Go over the bridge and turn left."
I went by bus and saved $15.00. I really enjoy traveling by train. I was willing to pay the higher fare. The bus was fine, on time and a bit faster too.
The point is bicyclists must start a post card campaign to have both VIARail & Amtrak (the USA national rail company) to allow (with bike reservations) bicycles on every train. There is room in the passenger compartment of the trains. It is used for wheel chairs. Just allow bicyclists to reserve that space with wheel chair passengers receiving a priority. On a multi-passenger car train not every car will have a wheelchair passenger. At least 3 bicycles can be placed on one side of the passenger car. I have pictures to detail this space.
Write to VIARail and Amtrak. Not only emails but handwritten letters.
You should also write these folks to tell them your positive comments about the Bike Train.
Customer Relations
VIA Rail Canada Inc.
P.O. Box. 8116, Station "A"
Montréal (Québec) H3C 3N3
Mr. Alexander Kummant
President & CEO
Amtrak
60 Massachusetts Ave. NE
Washington DC 20002
USA