Bike-on-rail

The Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) allows bicyclists to bring bicycles aboard its Metrorail trains during non-peak hours. Those hours are all-day on weekends and most holidays, and between 10 am and 4 pm, and after 7 pm on weekdays. Before taking your bike on the train, check out Metro's Bike-'N-Ride Program policies and rules below:

ADMINISTRATION OF PROGRAM

Bicycles are permitted on Metrorail (limited to two bicycles per car) weekdays except 7 a.m. to 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. Bicycles are permitted all day Saturday and Sunday as well as most holidays (limited to four bicycles per car). Bicycles are not permitted on Metrorail on July 4th and other special events or holidays when large crowds use the system.

bike-on-rail

For the safety, comfort and convenience of all passengers, follow these guidelines whenever you bring a bicycle into the Metrorail system.

Enter and exit through the first and last?not the center emergency?doors. In an emergency, place your bicycle on the seats and leave it on the train.
Only regular bicycles are permitted (maximum size 80" long, 48" high and 22" side). No tricycles or training wheels are allowed.
Use the elevator at all times. Do not take bicycles on escalators. Avoid blocking doorways and aisles. Yield to other passengers.
Do not ride bicycles in stations, on platforms or trains. Keep both wheels on the ground and the kickstand up. Maintain control of your bicycle.
If you are under 16 years of age, you must be accompanied by an adult.

(You can find a copy of the Metro Bike-On-Rail Guidelines in station take-one racks.)

Bicycle lockers are available for $70 for one year plus a $10 key deposit. Click here for a list of Metrorail station lockers and racks and information on applying for a locker.

1. Hours of use: The metro Bike-On Rail Program does not allow passengers to bring bicycles on board trains on weekdays (Monday through Friday) between 7:00 a.m. and 10:00 a.m. and again between 4:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m.; bicycles will not be allowed on July 4th.

Bikes are allowed all day on Saturdays and Sundays; and all day on the following holidays: Martin Luther King's Birthday observed, Washington's Birthday observed, Memorial Day, Labor Day, Columbus Day observed, Veterans Day, Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day and New Years Day.

The Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) reserves the right to suspend (with prior notice) transport of bicycles on Metro on any weekday, Saturday, Sunday or holiday (as shown above) when an area special event could cause a large increase in Metro ridership. Bicycles may not be transported on Metro buses at any time.

2. Policy: This program affects non-collapsible, operational bicycles. Folding bicycles and those non-collapsible bicycles which are disassembled and enclosed in a suitable carrying bag or box are already permitted. This policy will continue. (A folding bicycle is one in which the frame folds and the two wheels come together.)

TRANSPORT PROCEDURES

1. Vertical Circulation (Moving bicycle from street level to platform): Cyclists will be required to gain access to mezzanines and platforms only by use of the elevators. Escalators and stairs shall not be used except by special request (for emergency reasons) from Metro Station Managers, Metro Transit Police, or city or county police or fire officials. Cyclists should show courtesy towards other passengers when placing their bicycle in or taking their bicycle out of the elevators. When boarding elevators, disabled persons have priority over cyclists. When it appears that the bicycle will cause an inconvenience or possible injury to other passengers, cyclists shall wait for the next elevator.

2. Payment of Fare: The cyclist is required to pay the established fare each time he/she rides Metro. At the Metro station mezzanine, the cyclist shall park the bicycle outside the fare gates, out of the way of other passengers, process his/her fare card and walk through the fare gate, then exit via the service gate, take the bicycle and enter again through the service gate with the bicycle, Then descend or ascend to the platform via the elevator. At the exit station, cyclist shall ascend or descend to the mezzanine via the elevator, park the bicycle inside the fare gates out of the way of passengers, process the fare card and walk through the fare gate, then enter through the service gate, and exit with the bicycle again through the service gate. At stations where elevators bypass the mezzanine, the cyclist must process his/her fare card in the special fare card processor located on the platform, just outside the elevator.

3. Boarding Trains: Only the two end sections of a train car shall be used by cyclists. Each metro car has three sets of doors on each side of the train. Bicycles shall not be transported through the middle set of doors on the car or aisle of the car between the end set of doors. No more than two (2) bicycles shall be allowed on a train car on weekdays and no more than four (4) per train car on weekends or holidays. Cyclists must wait until all exiting and entering passengers have cleared the doorway before moving the bicycle into the car. Aboard the train, whether standing or sitting, the cyclist must hold the bicycle firmly at all times, kickstand up, and not allow bicycles to lean against patrons or any part of the Metro train. Cyclist is responsible for injury to self or other passengers, as well as damage to the bicycle or rail car caused by the cyclist's bicycle, including any injury or damage caused by the cyclist losing control of the bicycle during sudden train stops and/or accelerations.

Abandoned Bikes at Metrorail Stations

Sometimes bikes are abandoned at the racks at Metrorail stations. When this happens, fallen bikes can be a tripping hazard for other cyclists and pedestrians and valuable parking spaces are taken away from other cyclists to use. To assist Metro and Arlington County in keeping bike parking at Metrorail stations clean and functional, please report abandoned bikes to the station manager of the appropriate station.

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