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Use Bike & Ride for Easier Travel to work, school, or shopping.
Using Bike & Ride Racks on all SporTran Buses is easy, cuts travel time,
eliminates walking, and gives your bike a safe and secure ride to your destination.
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May 12, 2010 - 12:00 PM
NEWS RELEASE
SporTran Bike and Ride Program
With Bike and Ride SporTran now provides another alternative to the car to get to work, school, or any other destination in Shreveport-Bossier City.
Starting Wednesday, May 12, 2010, SporTran buses will be equipped with a two-place bike rack, allowing SporTran riders to combine a bike trip with a bus trip to get where they want to go, at no additional fare.
Using bikes in combination with buses increases travel range and shortens travel time for bus passengers and bike riders. Bus passengers can save time and energy by biking instead of walking to and from bus stops. Bikers travel safer in high traffic areas by using the bus with bike racks.
The racks, purchased with 2009 Economic Stimulus funds, cost $42,000 to install on all of SporTran's 46 buses.
Most bikes can be carried on SporTran's bike racks. Exceptions are bikes with large baskets, training wheels, two seat bikes, unicycles, three wheel bikes, scooters, or motorized bikes. Racks are designed so that bikes do not contact each other or the bus when loaded. Also, no part of the bike comes into contact with the rack except the tire.
There is no additional fee for using Bike and Ride. User pays regular passenger fare.
Other passenger schedules should not be affected. Most people will be able to load or unload a bike safely in 20 seconds.
While use of the bike racks is simple, passengers who want to use the bike racks can get information at SporTran.org, or pick up printed brochures at the downtown terminal. Brochures are also available at “River City Cycling” located at 3787 Youree Drive in Shreveport, “Scooter's,” located in Shreveport, at 1314 Shreveport-Barksdale Highway, “The Bike Pedaler” located at 8039 Line Avenue in Shreveport, and “Bikes, etc.,” located in Bossier City, at 3723 East Texas Street.
Studies conducted by the American Public Transit Association, show that people are more likely to use public transit when it's within a quarter mile walking distance or within a three mile biking distance. Letting bike riders take their bikes on public transit opens up a drawing zone for riders up to 12 times larger.
Bike riding also is good exercise and is a zero pollution way of getting where you need to go. And it's a heck of a lot cheaper than a car.
Cycling is the second most popular recreational activity in the US, with over 64 million riders, according to the American Bicycle Association (fitness walking is the first). |
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Basic Bike and Ride Safety Tips
Click Here to download your copy of the Bike and Ride Safety Brochure
Remember: Bike and Ride passengers are responsible for loading, securing, and unloading bikes from the rack. Drivers will not assist except in an emergency.
The following types of cycles will not fit on racks: Two seat-bikes; three-wheel bikes; bikes with child seats; bikes with training wheels or trailer-type attachments; motorized bikes.
Always approach a bus from the curb side, not the street side.
Wait for the bus to stop and driver to acknowledge you before stepping in front of the bus to load bike.
SporTran bike racks hold two bikes. If the rack is full, please wait for the next bus. For passenger safety, no bikes are allowed on the bus.
Bike and Ride customers are responsible for making sure bikes are secured. If the rack does not hold the bike properly, please notify the driver of the problem and wait for the next bus.
Please remove any water bottles, pumps, or loose objects from your bike before getting on the bus.
If an object falls off your bike and rolls under the bus, do not try to get it. Tell the driver and wait for the bus to leave, and then get it.
Never step into traffic while loading or unloading your bike. Cars in back of the bus cannot see you.
After unloading your bike, please step back to the curb. Wait for the bus to leave. Do not cross the street in front of the bus.
Thanks for riding SporTran. Have a safe trip.
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