The commuter rail here is allegedly pretty bike friendly at times, but I've never tried it. Mostly I just bike from home to wherever, if I want a ride.
Pittsburgh buses have bike racks on the front. The only downside is that if the driver gets forgetful and you're slow removing the bike, you'll be smashed like a bug.
Anyway, it really doesn't take very long unless you're clumsy or drunk. The wheelchair lock things are worse from what I've seen. Once I had to help the driver with a latch and it took me a couple of minutes after she tried for a couple herself. Of course, nobody ever complains about the handicapped slowing down the bus.
You guys are doing great work towards reducing my fears on the bus front. What about bringing it on a subway? Seems like a hassle, especially if the train is crowded.
Or buy...jetpack.
13th Amendment, Stanley.
I've taken a bike on the DC Metro. Went just fine. The elevator at the Tenleytown station puts you at this funny little turnstile at the end of the platform.
I've taken a bike on the NYC subway, from time to time. It's not the most fun thing I've ever done, but totally doable, and there are ways to do consistent with being respectful of other passengers.
On Caltrain, you can take bikes and alcohol.
Seems like a hassle, especially if the train is crowded.
Lots of places have rules about what hours bikes are allowed on the subway (i.e., no bikes at rush hour).
8 is a much funnier way of saying the joke I was trying to come up with.
I don't think CalTrain is all that straightforward. I don't know if this is still the case, but I think there can be two bikes per car, and if that quota is already full, you can't board. Which means you don't know whether you'll get on a train or not, which is pretty sucky. I know people were trying to get that changed.
I know what you mean about using your bikes on buses. I'm pretty assertive about bringing bikes on subways, and figured out bikes on Amtrak (easy-peasy). But I don't know how to put my bike in the front of the bus. My friend told me that the Berkeley bus department released Youtube videos to show people, but it is still a low barrier that is nevertheless blocking me. I've seen others rack their bikes up front plenty fast.
I don't know if this is still the case, but I think there can be two bikes per car, and if that quota is already full, you can't board.
There can be either 32 or 40 bikes per bike car, of which there are two per train.