More Proof that Portland is Bike Town USA

I travel a lot by train.  Prior to moving to the East Coast I didn't, but part of my job involves quite a bit of travel to D.C. and I have found the train a much more pleasant experience than flying from NYC to D.C.  In all liklihood the time it takes is probably the same or less when you figure in getting to the airport in the first place and having to pass through security.  

I live about a 10 minute walk from the Penn Station so it's convenient, you don't have to pass through security (yet), and on the train is a pretty laid back environment.  Most trains even have quiet cars so you can get away from annoying loud mobile phone talkers.  What is it with these people?  Don't they know that you could practically whisper into their phone and have the person on the other end of the line hear them?  Quite the opposite it seems, they feel the need to talk twice as loud as they normally would with little regard for the sanity of those around them . . . but I digress. 

Back when I wrote some posts about bike camping I squaked about the fact that public transit is not too bike friendly in the eastern corridor. I will be traveling to the west coast this fall and will need to travel from Portland to Seattle. 

In the past I would not have blinked twice and booked an air ticket.  My new affinity for train travel had me checking out train ticket prices.  I was pleasantly surprised on many fronts. 

First, the train drops you off a few blocks from downtown Seattle so I will not have to worry about transit from the airport up the dreadedly clogged I-5. 

Second, take a look at the first ticket reservation for a train from NYC to D.C. . . .

And then check out the Portland to Seattle option . . .

"Add Bike to Trip" is an option on every freaking train I looked into!  How dope is that? If you click further you get to this:

On the NYC to D.C. trip there are only about two trains per day that allow bikes and you have to box them up.  Tyranny I tell you!  Portlanders, count your blessings.  And if you have not traveled by train recently and don't need to go too far, check it out. I'm a convert for sure. 

Now if only we could get national high speed rail . . .

Comments

[Mark Soderlund]

I was in Portland last month for business and found that you can get your bike from the airport to downtown easily. They have a light rail from the airport and there are hangers for bikes in the trains. My ride from the airport was only $2.30.

[Ben W]

I've taken the Amtrak Cascade train between Seattle and Portland. It's truly fantastic. Walk the bike right through the station, get your ticket, roll up to the baggage car, unclip your panniers, hand them your bike, and go find your seat. It's really that easy.

King Street station in Seattle is downtown, you roll off the train and find yourself right between Pioneer Square and the International District. The Waterfront and stadiums are within several blocks. Portland's station isn't precisely downtown, but it's a quick ride.

If you use this service and like it, send Amtrak an e-mail and ask for MORE. This kind of mixed-mode traveling is something flying could never match, and it's unfortunate Amtrak doesn't offer this roll-up bike service on more routes.

[Sam]

Amtrak is doing something right here. Which from my experience with them is truly amazing.
The flight from PDX to SEA is $80 (not including the minimum $50 heavy checked bag fee), compared to the $29 for the train, this is a no brainer.
However, if your time is important, the flight time is 45 minutes. If you show up two hours early, which you don't really need to if travelling on a weekday and not during a holiday week, the total time is 2 hours, 45 minutes. Still less than the 3 hours, 30 minutes that the train offers.
Still, with the perks of going by train, I would definitely choose the train over the plane. The scenery and ease of travelling with a bike is great and I would want to support them for their great idea.

-Sam (Former Horizon Air Employee)

[Andrew Lievertz]

On our summer tour of the West coast, we flew into Seattle (from Florida) and picked up our bicycles at http://www.bikesogood.com (Bike So Good) in Seattle before taking the Amtrak along Puget Sound to Vancouver to start the trek South to San Francisco.

The Amtrak was the variety with the hangers in the cargo area. We were not allowed to leave any of our panniers on the bikes, but there was enough storage in the passenger area to accommodate our full packs.

Customs into Canada by train was a much easier affair than my air-travel experiences. And at only +$5 for the bike transport, I cannot recommend this mode of travel enough--even if only to glimpse a part of the country where roads don't go!

Unfortunately from Florida we did not have a clear and direct Amtrak route to the Northwest or else we might have bucked the air travel altogether.

Good luck with this trip, and don't forget the camera!

- Andy

[Modem Fox]

I couldn't find contact info to e-mail you but wanted to show you this:
http://gizmodo.com/5634743/why-ride-a-bike-when-you-can-ride-a-horse

[dukiebiddle]

Amtrak is adding bicycle racks to the Capitol Limited between D.C. and Chicago, which will be a fantastic way to get to the trail-head for the Pittsburgh to D.C. rail trail.

http://www.infrastructurist.com/2010/07/12/amtrak-going-bike-friendly-bike-to-the-train-and-vice-versa/

[ben]

Hey, I can't even get the local real estate developed to add a bike RACK to their mall. I enjoy the west coast bicycling culture!

[Chris G.]

I take my bike on the Amtrak corridor all the time. The Northeast Regional allows passengers to carry on their folding bikes. I ride my bike to the station, fold it up, hop on the train, hop off the train, unfold my bike and go off to my final destination. Easy.