Bikes and the Tunnel Bus

4. November 2008 by admin.

Last night on the way home, there was an individual who wanted to bring is bicycle from Detroit to Windsor.  The Bus that I was riding in had a bus rack on the front of it.  I am glad that the Windsor and Detroit transit systems all have bus racks.  But Transit Windsor does not permit the bicycle racks to used on the Tunnel Bus.  Their policy as stated on their web site is:  “Due to licensing regulations bike racks cannot be deployed during tunnel bus services, including transportation to Comerica Park or Ford Field.  Persons may disassemble their bike and board the bus with it in a bike bag.  Note: If bus is full, bringing the bike bag on board is at the discretion of the driver.”

The cyclist seemed to be unaware of the policy and stood in front of the Bus for several minutes while he pleaded with the driver to allow the bike on the bus.  The driver very politely stated the company policy and asked him to stand clear of the bus.  Finally, the Bus as able to proceed to Windsor.  I figured that was the end of the story.

This morning I caught a later bus which was driven by the same driver I had the night before.  Since there were only a couple of us on the Bus, I joked with the driver that I was going to bring my bike to Detroit this morning.  The driver recalled a European cycling across North America wishing to cross the border.  His ingenuity to dismantle and box his cycle got him allowed him and his bike to cross the border.  As we reached the next stop, a passenger boarded and immediately told the driver that he did get his bicycle to Windsor.  The passenger was angry that the driver did not help him.  The driver stopped and turned her head and said the conversation was over.  The passenger was shocked and didn’t know what to say.  And the conversation was over.

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