BALTIMORE, MD (May 21, 2021) – In celebration of National Bike to Work Day, Maryland Department of Transportation (MDOT) Secretary Greg Slater joined Maryland Transit Administration (MDOT MTA) Administrator Kevin Quinn at the MARC Camden Station this morning to announce that customers can bring full-size bicycles aboard all MARC Trains beginning June 1, 2021. The service expands the existing accommodation of full-size bicycles on the Penn Line to also include the Brunswick and Camden lines as well. All scheduled trains will feature at least one car with two first-come, first-served bicycle racks at no additional charge.
"A vital part of our mission as a transit agency is to offer options that make riding transit an ever-more attractive alternative to driving," said MDOT MTA Administrator Kevin Quinn. "This opening up of MARC Train service to full-size bicycles on all three lines expands our rider's first- and last-mile travel options."
The MARC Penn, Camden and Brunswick lines connect people across the region to job centers, universities and a wide variety of bike trails. MDOT MTA has worked closely with local jurisdictions to enhance bicycle connections to transit facilities. Adding bike rack capacity on the Camden and Brunswick lines supports MDOT MTA's efforts to expand multi-modal access across Maryland and enables even more passengers to use transit for commuting, exercise and recreation.
"Today's announcement is another great step forward in building an integrated transportation system of the future," MDOT Secretary Greg Slater said. "This is one more building block in a transportation network that will, over time, give people more options and connections to travel around the state and beyond."
The MARC Train retrofit program to accommodate full-size bicycles began in December 2014 with the launch of the first "Bike Car," a dedicated train car used on select weekends and for special events that could hold up to 23 bicycles. In response to customer demand, MARC Train expanded access in February 2019 by installing bike racks on select rush-hour Penn Line trains.
Riders wishing to board with a bicycle should look for the train car illuminated with a green indicator light or marked with a large, green "BICYCLE ENTRANCE" sign by the doors. Riders will need to bring along two bungee cords on every trip with the bike, since some railcars require use of the cords to secure the bike and equipment assignments vary by train and day. Safety guidelines call for passengers with bikes to be able to board and exit the train without assistance.
While properly secured collapsible and full-size bicycles are welcome on all MARC Trains when space accommodates, other kinds of bicycles are not. These include tandem, recumbent and e-bikes, as well as scooters.
