Petition Drive: Urge Amtrak to Allow Bicycles on Michigan Trains

[John Lindenmayer]

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-services-central-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 “Why This Is Important” 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 “Tell Amtrak to Allow Bikes on Trains - Sign the Petition” to help drive traffic to the petition. You’ll 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