Skift Take
New York’s obsession with biking grows as senators look to capitalize on a new generation of CitiBike riders who may soon be interested in riding somewhere more scenic than Times Square.
New York lawmakers are pushing Amtrak to add baggage cars to its passenger trains that would be capable of carrying bicycles.
U.S. Sen. Charles Schumer and state Sens. Betty Little of Warren County and Brad Hoylman of Manhattan say such a move would get more visitors and tourism dollars into New York state.
They’re holding a news conference Monday morning at Amtrak’s Albany-Rensselaer (rehn-suh-LEER’) to discuss their plan.
The lawmakers want Amtrak to add baggage cars that could carry bicycles on the Adirondack and Ethan Allen trains, which run from Penn Station in Manhattan to the Albany area, Saratoga and destinations in New York’s North Country and Vermont.
Amtrak has a bike program on its Boston-to-Maine and New York-to-North Carolina lines. In California, the program is so popular that Amtrak requires reservations.
Copyright (2013) Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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Photo credit: An orange bike on an Amtrak car in California. Orin Zebest / Flickr