Smart commuting tips for riding your bike and using CCATD.
Commuting to work or school by bike is smart on so many levels. There are health benefits, as well as the chance to clear your head and relax while you ride. Choosing to travel by pedal power and not by car is financially savvy as well – it saves thousands of dollars a year in fuel, insurance, and parking. And biking is one of the greenest ways to go! All CCATD buses are equipped with bike racks so buses can be a part of your commute as well.
How to Load a Bicycle on a CCATD Bus
- Remove water bottles, pumps, and other loose items.
- Alert the driver when loading or unloading your bicycle from the bus bike rack.
- You can load your bike from the curb or in front of the bus. Do not step into oncoming traffic to load your bike.
- Use one hand to pull down the release and hold your bike with your other hand. Do not lean your bike against the bus.
- Lift your bike onto the bike rack and fit wheels into the wheel slots. Each wheel slot is labeled for front and rear wheel.
- Raise the support arm over the front tire as close to the front brake as possible. Your bike is now securely latched.
Unloading Your Bike
- Inform the bus driver that you will be unloading your bike as you approach your stop.
- Use the front door to exit the bus. Unload your bike from the front of the bus or the curb, not from the street.
- Raise the support arm off the tire. The support arm automatically folds down in a secure position.
- Lift your bike out of the bike rack.
- If there are no other bikes in the rack, fold up the bike rack against the front of the bus.
- Step away from the bus with your bike and let the driver know you’re clear. Never cross the street in front of the bus.
Types of Bikes Allowed on the Bus
- Only single-seat, two-wheeled bikes, folding bikes, and recumbents the size of a standard bike are allowed on the bus.
- Tandems and bikes with over-sized wheels, three or more wheels, or those powered by internal-combustion engines cannot be accommodated.
- Some bikes have wheels that are too large or too far apart to fit in the bike racks. The maximum tire width is 2.35”.
Tips for Riding Near Buses
- Obey all traffic laws and remember that Oregon law requires anyone under age 16 to wear a helmet.
- Only pass a bus on the left. Bus drivers are trained to share the road with all users, but their attention is directed at many things. Be aware of buses moving toward their stops, possibly across bike lanes.
- Be aware at intersections. Do not position yourself to the right of a bus at an intersection. A bus may appear like it is going straight when it is setting up for a right turn.
- Look for the mirrors. If you cannot see the mirrors on the bus, the bus driver cannot see you.
- Be predictable. Don’t jump from the sidewalk to the street and back again, avoid weaving in and out of traffic, and always signal your intentions to turn and stop.
- Be attentive. Pay attention to construction, road hazards, and any changes in traffic patterns.
- Cross railroad tracks at a 90 degree angle and be sure to not move into the path of moving traffic.