A Brompton folding bike, fully folded.

It’s commonly known that bringing a bike on Metro during rush hour isn’t permitted, but how about folding bikes? Well, as the City Paper reported in July, the director of the D.C. Office of Planning was told that her folding bike had to be carried in a bag or not brought into the transit system at all. Today, though, Metro announced a change to that policy:

Folding bicycles are now permitted on Metrorail at any time, but must remain folded and securely fastened when in the system during rush hours to ensure that they do not spring open.

“We have eliminated the requirement for carrying cases as designs of folding bikes have improved over the past 20 years. Today’s folding bikes are more compact and less hazardous with features such as chain guards that protect customers from accidental or unwanted contact with grease and grime,” said Lynn Bowersox, Metro Assistant General Manager for Customer Service, Communications and Marketing.

Folding bikes are becoming more popular stateside, and more local bike shops are starting to stock them. When fully folded, the bikes are just shy of two feet in height and length.