BIKEPGH MESSAGE BOARD ARCHIVE

It looks like this is still the best way to get to New York with a bike, yes?

unless you have your own car, seems like yes. unless amtrak lets you put a bike on the pennsylvanian line.

Yeah. I've e-mailed Amtrak several times to complain about their lack of bike service on that line. My life would get much easier if I could just roll my bike on.

i think amtrak doesn't allow it. this seems to be. lots of people i know have had a great experience on this. you might get there a lot faster then you think too. forget high speed rail, you got high speed chinatown buses at a fraction of the cost

fyi, amtrak cost me 62 dollars (one way) from here to NY a few weeks ago. and it's much more comfortable than a bus (you can get up, walk around, electrical outlets available, etc)

so if the bike thing can be resolved, it's a better option.

according to http://www.amtrak.com/servlet/ContentServer?cid=1080080554487&pagename=Amtrak%2Fam2Copy%2FSimple_Copy_Page&c=am2Copy

you can put a bike on as checked luggage (in a box) at any station that has baggage checking services

on the west coast there are bike racks on the trains, so you don't have to box it up. that's the problem it's such a PITA. the chinatown you just roll up, throw it under then unload and ride on!

I'm pretty sure there is no Chinatown bus that goes from from Pitt to New York. I've ridden the bus a lot, and I'm pretty sure there aren't any Chinatown buses that run that route.

the office is on meyran ave in oakland. between fifth and forbes. it leaves daily and arrives daily at midnightish

blogspam.

Yo! According to this you don't have to take your bike apart to ride Amtrack!

Bikes as Checked Baggage on Trains with Tie-Down Equipment

Some trains have tie-down equipment in the baggage car or other areas designated for checked baggage. Where such equipment is available, you can check your bike without a box or other container.

This space is limited, and you must reserve it. Typically, there is a reservation charge.

You must accompany your unboxed bike on its journey on the same train. We will not accept unaccompanied bikes.

Bicycles not in containers are more likely to be damaged in transit. Accordingly, we disclaim liability for bikes shipped unboxed.

For assistance, call 1-800-USA-RAIL (1-800-872-7245).

I have heard there is a 1.00$ bus nyc to chicago?"

pshshhsssshhhh! amtrak! you can take a bike IF they have a baggage car on the route you are taking. even then you need a bike box and this and that. due to aging baggage cars that need repair, some routes are carry on only. they won't let you carry on your bike. i tried it man!

in the future i hope amtrak can afford to fix their baggage cars, or provide an area for cyclist to hang their bikes. as of now it's like the local busses, hit or miss.

yeah, of course on the west coast they got'em

bump

@NCBT There used to be the "superbus" to Chicago for some incredible fare. They didn't get much interest from Pittsburgh, so I think they now come east only as far as Cleveland and Columbus.

www.megabus.com

Looks like they do the I-90 corridor: Buffalo-Rochester-Syracuse-Albany-Boston. Erie is not on the list, though. But Philly is.

megabus: i got the feeling that there was no interest to Pittsburgh. i didn't see any advertising here. most people knew about it thru word of mouth

I paid $45 using the online service to reserve my seat from New York to Pittsburgh in October, but when they say they leave Chinatown at 5:30 p.m., they mean it. I got to the office at like 5:33, and it was gone. They were able to call the bus and one of their buddies with a car service, and the bus (and all its passengers) waited for me on the other side of the Holland Tunnel while the taxi driver took me over to Jersey City for only $35.

But, given that the bus had left, the tickets weren't transferable and I kind of had to be back in Pittsburgh the next day, it was the best option in a bad situation. Note to self for next time: be on time.

Nice that they waited.

Leaving on time is nice, too - go to greyhound, you might -rarely - have to wait an hour to get out ot the gate. Usually it's about 15-20 minutes before you can leave.

Mick

Nice for me, but I felt awkward when I got on and was walking past everyone, mumbling "Uh, sorry for making everybody wait." Another day I might have made it on time, but there were delays on the subway and I didn't have reception to call ahead and say I was running behind.