How to Bring a Bicycle Onto the Subway

Accessibility for bicyclists on public transportation is expanding. Many major subway systems, including New York, Boston, Washington, DC and San Francisco allow riders to bring bicycles onto the subway during non-rush hour times.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Subway map
• Fare card

1. Consult a map of your local subway system to make sure bikes are allowed on the line you use before you bring a bicycle onto a train. Boston's Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA), for example, allows bicycles on the red, blue and orange lines but not on the green or silver lines unless the bicycle is foldable.

2. Plan your trip so that you will not be taking the subway during either the morning or evening rush hour. This block of time when you may not bring a bicycle onto a train can vary slightly from city to city. Avoiding subway travel with your bike between 7 a.m. and 10 a.m. and from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. during the week is recommended.

3. Bring your bike through the service gate at subway stations rather than using the turnstile. If you do not know where the service gate is, ask a station employee.

4. Avoid bringing your bicycle onto a crowded subway car, no matter what time of day it is. Use good judgment to determine how crowded the car is. When in doubt, wait a few minutes for the next train.

5. Be courteous of other passengers. Make sure your bike does not block the seats or doorways. The New York City Transit bicycle rules recommend that bicyclists stand by their bikes at either end of the subway car so other passengers will not trip on the bikes.

6. Accompany your child if he is bringing a full-size bike onto a subway car. The Washington, DC Metro system requires an adult to accompany bicyclists who are younger than 16 years old, while San Francisco's BART system requires adult supervision for bike riders who are under 14 years of age. Tricycles and bikes with training wheels are considered too bulky and are generally not allowed on subways.

Tips & Warnings

• Leave your bicycle on the subway if there is an emergency that prompts evacuation of the train. Trying to move it can cause doorways to be blocked and can put everyone's safety at risk.
• Riding your bicycle in the station is prohibited in most metropolitan areas. Use the elevator rather than the escalator in the station and walk your bike to the train car.