This is from Jawn Lafratta of the Greater Nanaimo Cycling Coalition Juan De Fuca Cycling Coalition via Gladys Schmidt.
President Ed Schum has been working with groups from Nanaimo, Qualicum and Victoria to ensure that bikes are allowed on VIA Rail.
I think it is high time that cyclists on Vancouver Island had an easy option of transporting there bikes up and down the island without having to rely on a car and with undue inconvenience and cost. I have heard that this has been a goal for many people and organizations for a number of years, but so far nothing has come of it. Perhaps with the combined support of many cycling organizations on Vancouver Island and BC we can make this happen.
I have been targetting Greyhound primarily. I think the train is all but a lost cause but I would like to see bikes on the train too eventually, but there is a lot of improvements that need to happen structurally and organizationally at VIA to make this a viable option. The service itself is completely inadequate in terms of the timing and frequency, whereas the bus is much better in that regard. Also currently the train does not take ANY bikes, boxed or otherwise, while the greyhound at least takes them in a box. I contact greyhound multiple times about this and received no response so i have started a petition online to show that this is a service that the people of Vancouver Island need and deserve. I hope you can support me in this endeavour. Please pass on the petition link to people in your area. Thanks.
Jawn Lafratta
http://www.petitiononline.com/mod_perl/signed.cgi?bikerack&1
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