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Week of Feb. 5, 2007
Making the bus-bike connection is getting easier  This week, King County Metro Transit is unveiling the latest addition to its fleet – new bike racks that hold up to three bicycles.
Currently, all Metro buses are equipped with two-bike racks, but that isn’t enough on some routes where bicyclists must wait for an open rack on the next bus. The addition of a three-bike rack has been long awaited by bicyclists, especially those who want to travel across the State Route 520 Bridge where there are no bike lanes. That is why the first of these racks are being installed on buses assigned to routes that travel between Seattle and the Eastside. “Our bus passengers who ride bikes have been asking for more capacity to support their commute and lifestyle for some time,” said Metro General Manager Kevin Desmond. “We wanted to accommodate them, but we also wanted a bike rack that would be sturdy, didn’t interfere with the safe operation of the bus, and was easy for customers to use.” Installation of the rack custom designed for Metro began last week at the East and Bellevue bus bases. By the end of March, more than 250 buses should feature the three-bike racks.  The purchase and installation of the racks is being funded through a $195,000 federal grant, which should cover the cost at the first two bases. More racks will be installed on the rest of the fleet as funding becomes available, plus any new bus purchased in the future will come with a three-bike rack already installed. The base cost for each rack is approximately $600.
Metro has a long history of connecting bus and bike trips as a way of providing healthy and environmentally friendly travel options. Metro started equipping buses with bike racks in the 1970s, and today every bus in the fleet has a rack. Also, bike storage racks and lockers are offered at many park-and-ride lots and transit centers. Sportworks, a local company, designed the new rack. It attaches to the front of the bus with an adjustable plate that allows Metro’s Vehicle Maintenance staff to raise or lower it depending on the model of the bus. It has three cradles for bikes made out of a very strong composite material, the same that is used to make the bumpers on the bus. Unlike the older all-metal, two-bike racks, the new ones should stand up much better to different road conditions and the bus wash. “It took a good deal of research to design a three-bike rack that could be manufactured to Metro's specifications,” said Vehicle Maintenance Manager Jim Boon. “We ended up with a design that is new to the industry, and I think other transit agencies are going to be eager to install these, too. But more importantly, I think the new racks are going to be a big hit with our customers.”
Beginning Saturday, Feb. 10, King County Metro Transit will start rolling out more bus service thanks to a transit initiative recently approved by voters. The “Transit Now” sales-tax increase passed at the polls in November, and will allow Metro to increase bus service in King County by up to 20 percent over the next 10 years. The first Transit Now funded improvements are included in Metro’s February service change, and increase service on nine heavily used routes. In addition to the Transit Now funded improvements, Metro is also making other adjustments to bus schedules as part of the February service change. Metro updates its routes and scheduling three times a year to improve service and keep up with the changing needs of transit passengers. Passengers can find all the February changes detailed in the Special Rider Alert brochure now available on buses and in Metro information racks. New purple timetables are also in those locations, and online information is now in Metro’s online Trip Planner at. Enter a travel date for Feb. 10 or later to find trips that reflect Metro's changed service. |
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Winter storms cleanup continues King County Road Services Division crews continue to clean up from both the windstorm that hit the Puget Sound region in December, and the large amount of snow that fell during January. Since the windstorm, the division has recycled or disposed of more than 70 loads of storm debris materials – including 32 loads of brush clippings, 13 loads of stumps, seven loads of unchipped prunings, and 19 loads of wood. Before the windstorm clean-up efforts could be completed, snow started falling throughout King County and crews had to refocus their efforts on keeping roadways safe and passable. Crews were put on two twelve-hour shifts, 24-hours per day, from Jan. 10 through Jan. 19, applying anti-icing material, sanding, plowing, and other duties necessary to keep roadways safe for the traveling public. Crews follow a pre-determined snow and ice priority route plan during and following storm events. The plan is designed to give top priority to critical lifeline routes for Metro Transit, public schools, fire, police, and aid vehicles, and then maintained in safe, passable condition through the aftermath of storm events. Once the designated lifeline routes have been addressed, the remaining arterials and neighborhood collector streets and lastly residential streets, are serviced. Now that all of the snow and ice has been removed, crews are focusing on sweeping up the large amounts of sand that have collected in center lanes and beside roadways. | Subscribe to DOT DashSign-up to receive an e-mail text version of "Transportation Today," along with other significant DOT news by sending an e-mail to us with subscribe King County DOT Dash in the subject line.
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