Cap Metro: Vague and Incomplete Bicycle Rules? You Be the Judge

[Stu]

Howdy BACers:

To follow up on my resolution on the November agenda urging greater
dialogue between the cycling community and Cap Metro, I am now posting
a link to the rules for putting a bicycle on a Cap Metro bus.

Here is the link: http://www.capmetro.org/riding/bikes.asp

As I have previously stated, most of the problems I have run into as a
regular and frequent patron of the Motor Coach Express buses are the
result of an inconsistent application of rules.

Recently, after complaining about this situation to a very close out-
of-town friend, I was urged to print out a copy of the rules (sorry I
don't have a smart phone with internet access yet). Then, if there was
a "problem", I could simply whip out the rules and offer "definitive
proof" to the driver. Problem solved.

Well, it turns out that there is almost no mention made in the rules
about Express buses.

Thus, one problem has been identified with the rules -- they are
incomplete. [Fortunately, the rules concerning city bus use are fairly
complete.]

However, if you take a look at the rules, even as written for the city
buses, I would submit that you may agree that they are also somewhat
vague. The vagueness, IMO, revolves mostly around the fact that it is
not clear what is a mandatory requirement, and what is a
recommendation or suggestion.

But, you are welcome to look at them for yourself, and make your own
judgement.

This is one of a number of reasons why we need greater dialogue
between Cap Metro and the cycling community -- there is need to
clarify the rules (especially with rail and BRT starting in the next
few years), and hopefully participate directly in this process.

See you Thursday.

Life's a Roll on Two Wheels,
Stuart