Cyclists To Experience Improved Access To System

Monday, May 12: MBTA General Manager Daniel A. Grabauskas, joined by various bike advocacy groups gathered at Alewife Station on the Red Line to kick-off Bike To Work Week. The MBTA, in partnership with MassBike; the T’s Bike Committee; Livable Streets, and the Massachusetts Area Planning Council (MAPC) announced a pilot program developed to introduce the T’s first ever bike cage at Alewife Station. With over 250 cyclists parking at Alewife station each day, the bike cage will relieve already overflowing bike racks. Scheduled for installation by this summer, the secured bike cage, accessible with a swipe of a CharlieCard, will accommodate approximately 50 bicycles, and provide a higher level of security with a camera surveillance system.

Thursday, May 15: General Manager Grabauskas introduced the Greenbush corridor’s very own Bike Coach. With the success of the Rockport commuter rail bike coach carrying cyclists to beaches in Gloucester, and Rockport, Greenbush bike coach will now carry cyclists to South Shore beaches, including Nantasket. The coach accommodates approximately 39 bikes. The bike coaches will debut on both the North and South shores Memorial Day weekend.

Dedicated to providing the public with alternatives to the automobile, MBTA General Manager Grabauskas said, “With the guidance of our bike advocacy partners, we are working aggressively to make sure cyclists have access to the system. Today, approximately 80-90% of MBTA Subway and Commuter Rail stations provide bike parking. And we will continue on this road until we are 100% bike friendly.”

Bike parking at MBTA stations has grown by 64% since 2004. 33% of the T’s bus fleet have bike racks including 320 buses that travel on 55 bus routes serving Boston, and 31 other cities and towns. The installation of bike racks for approximately 1,000 additional bikes will be complete by next summer. The MBTA will install 150 bike racks a year with the entire bus fleet bike rack equipped by 2012.