Bike Train to put Toronto on map: Tammy

Justin LaFontaine loads Bike TrainI Bike TO blogger Tammy writes in the Toronto Star that the Bike Train from Union Station to Niagara has been a great success and may be expanded to other cities:

The pilot project took bikes onboard specially designated VIA luggage cars between Toronto's Union Station and Niagara Station. This is the first time that fully-assembled bikes were allowed on VIA trains.

The pilot was so successful it is expected not only to expand service to Niagara next year, but also to extend to other cities. Although he can't say for sure, Lafontaine says the cities that make sense for immediate Bike Train expansion are Ottawa, Montreal, Kingston and Windsor.

The report on the pilot will be completed in October and will include information from 300 surveyed passengers. He says he was most surprised to see that many of the cyclists departing from Toronto actually came from nearby cities. The Bike Train also received high marks regarding the ease with which cyclists were able to access the trails.

Bike Train project leader Justin LaFontaine was recently awarded the I Bike TO Award and receives a dashing statue and a $100 gift certificate from Mountain Equipment Co-op.