Metra amends bike policy to address safety concerns
To address safety concerns affiliated with large, heavy e-bikes and e-scooters, Metra will now require customers to be able to carry their bikes and scooters on and off trains by themselves and without the assistance of their device’s electric motors.
The amendment to Metra’s bike policy was made in response to a small but growing trend: customers with large, heavy e-bikes or e-scooters needing help from a second person or more to carry their bikes on and off the trains, or using their bike’s electric motors to propel their bikes up the stairs and onto the train. Both cases increase the risk of someone getting hurt and/or delaying trains.
The amendment states that, “Customers must be able to carry their bicycle or scooter on and off the train by themselves and must not use their e-bike, e-scooter, or other micromobility device’s power to propel the device onto the train.” The policy had already stated that train crews are not required to help customers board with their bikes, and that the wheelchair lift may not be used for bicycles.
The policy was also amended to say that onboard power outlets may not be used to charge e-bikes, e-scooters, or other micromobility devices. Decals on the trains already state that the outlets are not to be used for charging such devices.
