Michigan Cycling Friends,
LMB is extremely pleased that the recently published Michigan State Rail
Plan makes clear recommendations that bicycles need to be accommodated on
Michigan passenger trains. LMB thanks the Michigan Department of
Transportation for recognizing this need. We also thank all of our
supporters who responded to our call to submit comments to the rail plan
this past year.
We now are asking for your help again to ensure that these recommendations
are acted on promptly. Please sign our petition urging Amtrak to implement
roll-on bicycle service on all Michigan service routes as they have already
done in other states.
SIGN THE PETITION HERE:
http://www.change.org/petitions/amtrak-superintendent-passenger-servi...
tral-division-allow-bicycles-on-michigan-passenger-trains
or tiny url:
http://chn.ge/xIO7TD
Currently in Michigan, bikes are not allowed on Amtrak trains, nor as boxed
luggage. On board accommodations for bicycles will make seamless multi-modal
connections possible by allowing passengers to bicycle to train stations,
ride the train, and then conveniently bicycle to their final destinations
within the community.
Our state is home to a number of bicycle tours in or near Michigan
communities serviced by Amtrak. By adding bike facilities on Amtrak trains,
many Michigan communities could benefit from increased tourism spending,
particularly from vacationing Chicago residents. Without options to bring
bicycles on board, Michigan is losing out on significant travel-related
spending generated by bicycle tourism. Commuters traveling within Michigan
would also have additional transportation options.
We encourage everyone to sign the petition, but it is especially important
for Amtrak to hear from individuals living or working in or around their
current stations locations in Albion, Ann Arbor, Bangor, Battle Creek,
Birmingham, Dearborn, Detroit, Dowagiac, Durand, East Lansing, Flint, Grand
Rapids, Holland, Jackson, Kalamazoo, Lapeer, New Buffalo, Niles, Pontiac,
Port Huron, Royal Oak, and St. Joseph/Benton Harbor.
If you choose to add your name to the petition please use the ³Why This Is
Important² option to help personalize the message. After you sign the
petition, please help us spread the word over your personal networks. For
those on Facebook, we have also created a Facebook Event titled ³Tell Amtrak
to Allow Bikes on Trains - Sign the Petition² to help drive traffic to the
petition. You¹ll find the Facebook Event at:
http://www.facebook.com/events/186782088088496/
We sincerely appreciate your support on this issue and hope that by spring
we will all have the ability to bring bicycles on board passenger trains in
our state.
Sincerely,
--
John Lindenmayer
Advocacy & Policy Director
League of Michigan Bicyclists
(517) 334-9100
416 S. Cedar St, Suite A
Lansing, MI 48912
www.LMB.org
Facebook: http://facebook.com/LeagueofMichiganBicyclists
Twitter: http://twitter.com/mibicyclists
