Biking with RT

August 17, 2016 Rider Information

RT is making transit bicycle friendly by providing more opportunities for bicyclists to combine biking with riding RT – bike racks on buses, bikes on trains and bike lockers at 24 light rail stations.

Bike-and-Ride on Bus

100 percent of RT’s buses have racks that hold either two or three bicycles, so you’ll be able to bike and ride nearly anywhere, anytime on RT buses! Bike racks are available on a first-come, first-serve basis. Bikes are not allowed inside RT buses unless it is the last bus on the route that day, and the bike carrier is full.

In three simple steps that take less than 25 seconds, you can load your bike onto the rack. Just follow the steps below. Bikes may not be locked to the rack and RT is not responsible for bikes that are stolen, left on racks, or damaged.

Loading Your Bike

  1. Prepare your bike for loading before the bus arrives. Remove water bottles, bags, pumps and other loose items that could fall off while the bus is in motion.
  2. Alert the bus operator that you will be loading your bike. Make sure that the operator acknowledges your desire to load. You must load your bike from the curb side or in front of the bus. Never step into oncoming traffic to load your bike.
  3. To lower the rack, pull the handle with one hand and lower the carrier until you feel it lock. Use your other hand to steady your bike.
  4. Lift your bike onto the tray, fitting the wheels into the slots. Each rack is clearly labeled “FRONT WHEEL” for proper placement. Please load your bike into the outside slot first, if vacant.
  5. Swing the wheel lock around (from under the bike rack) and place on top of the front bike wheel.
  6. Board the RT and enjoy the ride. Try to choose a seat near the front of the bus to keep an eye on your bike and remember to unload it.

Unloading Your Bike

  1. Inform the bus operator that you will be unloading a bike as you approach your bus stop. Use the front door to exit the bus. Make sure that the operator acknowledges your desire to unload your bike.
  2. Swing the wheel lock around to under the front wheel. When the bus is in the kneeled position, the wheel lock can be moved in both directions.
  3. Unload your bike from in front of the bus or from the curb side, not from the street side.
  4. Lift your bike out of the bike rack.
  5. If there isn’t another bike in the rack, return the bike rack to the folded position until it locks in the stowed position.

If the driver pulls away before you’ve unloaded your bike or you forget it, call RT at 916-321-2800.

Bike-and-Ride on Light Rail Bringing your bike on RT has never been so easy. Buy your fare and board. In the older Siemens’ light rail trains, simply place your bike in the rear or front of the car next to the flip-up seats. The newer CAF light rail trains are equipped with four bike racks. Simply place your bike in the rack located in the front and rear of each car next to the flip-up seats. All RT asks is that you enter through the rear or front doors after all other passengers have entered or exited the light rail car. Bicyclists can board light rail everyday at all hours of operation.

RT allows four bikes per car, two in the front and two in the back, on multi-car trains. However, in the first car no bikes are permitted at the front of the car, which is reserved for individuals with disabilities.

On the last train on the route each day, there is no limit on the number of bikes that can board.

Note that passengers have priority over bicycles, and RT reserves the right to ask bicyclists to exit if the bus or train becomes full.

Bike Lockers Another RT bike-and-ride option, why not try a bike locker? Over 80 weatherproof bike lockers are located at 24 light rail stations to make your commute even easier. You can lease a locker for six or 13 months at the following light rail stations:

Watt/I-80 College Greens
Marconi/Arcade Watt/Manlove
7th & Richards/Township 9 Starfire
13th Street Tiber
16th Street Butterfield
23rd Street Mather Field/Mills
39th Street Sunrise
48th Street Hazel
59th Street Florin
University/65th Street Meadowview
Power Inn
Short-term six-month leases are $105 ($45 for six months plus $60 deposit) and long-term 13-month leases are $150 ($90 for 13 months plus $60 deposit).

For more information on RT’s bike locker program or to request a lease agreement, call 916-556-0354 Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

For information on how to lease a bike locker at Iron Point, Glenn or Historic Folsom, call the City of Folsom at 916-355-7285.

In addition, many light rail stations have ribbon-style bike racks available for no charge.