Photo by Christopher Poole

The fact that MARC trains now run from D.C. to Baltimore on the weekend is joyous news for those of us without cars. But wouldn’t it be even better if people could, at long last, bring a non-folding bicycle on the trains? That may happen.

According to the Washington Area Bicyclist Association, Erich Kolig, the Maryland Department of Transportation’s Chief Mechanical Officer, presented an idea on how to safely bring bike on some weekend trains perhaps within the next year.

Mr. Kolig then explained that he thinks the weekend service and MARC’s capital equipment upgrades provide an opportunity to start carrying bikes on some trains. While the trains have attracted more passengers than expected, they still carry fewer people than the weekday trains. His presentation included illustrations depicting how bikes can be safely stored aboard the trains. He had clearly thought through how to do it, and how to keep the cost low enough to make it economically feasible.

MARC officials asked the advocates to not reveal any details of the proposal.

[MARC Director John] Hovatter seemed favorably disposed to the proposal, although he did not promise that MARC will actually implement it. The decision to go forward is a few steps above his pay grade. And some unanticipated problems may arise, since railroads are highly regulated and MARC owns neither the track nor the largest stations on the Penn Line.

Weekend service on MARC saw a huge increase during cherry blossom season. According to the Maryland Transit Administration Authority, “approximately 13,338 passengers rode MARC Penn Line trains on Saturday, April 12, and Sunday, April 13.” We’re waiting to hear back from an MTA spokesperson on the bike proposal.