Make Room For Bikes On Rail Cars

Last month the State Bond Commission approved $459 million toward the largest purchase of rail cars in state history – 300 new M8s (with an option to purchase 80 more) from Kawasaki Rail Car Inc. and $25 million toward refurbishing existing rail cars. Initial delivery for new cars is due in 2009.

The good news is that these cars are designed to run not only on Metro-North Railroad’s New Haven line, but also on the state Department of Transportation’s Shore Line East corridor.

The bad news is that the design for the M8 cars does not yet include dedicated space for bicycles.

Connecticut should formulate a statewide transportation strategy in which the bicycle replaces the automobile for many short trips and commuter rail replaces the automobile for many longer trips.

Hartford Courant