Many local transit companies offer bike access. Always call ahead, and always be courteous. Keep in mind, a folding bicycle discreetly concealed in a bag will usually be accepted as luggage by most carriers read more about folding bikes. For more information on T.A.'s ongoing work for transit access for bicycles, see our Transit Access page. See also the area cycling maps for rail connections to bike pathways as well as Take the Train to the Trail, T.A. Magazine, May/June 1999.

[ Trains | Buses | Ferries ]

Trains

• NYC Subway: Bikes permitted at all times; be considerate and use ends of train cars. A few station gates limit bike exit/entry at times. Please read the rules for taking your bike on the subway.


• Amtrak: 800-USA-RAIL (872-7245). Bicycles travel only in baggage cars and not every train has a baggage car. Not all lines offer baggage service. If the train you want doesn't have baggage service, put the bike on an earlier train with baggage service and pick it up when you arrive. Bicycles must be boxed, $5 fee each way. Roll-on service for the "Vermonter" is discontinued as of August 2002.
  
  Update August 8, 2003: All Northeast Corridor trains are no longer accepting bicycles--except folding bicycles, which must be designed to fold, with frame latches, and with wheels considerably smaller than normal. Folding bikes must be folded prior to boarding and stored in luggage areas at the ends of the cars or in the lower level on Superliner equipment. Folding bikes may not be stored in overhead racks.
  
  Update May, 2007: Amtrak codified its folding bicycle policy, though it is unchanged from the above August 2003 update. Read Amtrak’s official folding and regular bicycle policies here (PDF).


• Metro-North: 212-532-4900; Permit required; call or pick one up at Grand Central, window #27. $5 one-time fee. No bikes during rush hours (call for times for your station) and on the following: New Years Eve and Day, Mothers Day, Saint Patrick's Day, Rosh Hashana Eve, Yom Kippur Eve, Thanksgiving Eve and Day, Christmas Eve and Day. Weekday limit 4 bikes per train. Bikes permitted at all times on weekends; limit 2 bikes per car and 8 per train except special bike trains, available on all lines. Looking to go mountain biking? Check out Take the Train to the Trail. Note: Port Jervis line trains follow NJ Transit rules. Bikes are allowed inbound in the mornings and outbound in the evenings, including on weekdays.


• Long Island Rail Road: 718-558-8228; permit required; get mail-in application at any station, $5 one time fee by mail, takes about 1-2 weeks. Same restrictions as Metro-North, except no bikes on some summer weekend trains -- see back of permit. Folding bikes allowed without permit.


• New Jersey Transit: 201-491-9400; standard frame bikes permitted (no permit required) on all trains except for peak-period, peak-direction trains (weekday inbound trains to New York, Newark Penn or Hoboken 5:00 am to 9:30 am; weekday outbound from New York, Newark Penn or Hoboken 4:00 pm to 7:00 pm). Tiedowns (elastic cords) are now optional, although you must stay with your bike to steady it if you do not bring tiedowns. Two bicycles are permitted per car in cars identified with the blue international symbol of accessibility. No bikes on holidays, same days as Metro-North. Bicycles are allowed on the Atlantic City Line. Bicycles are permitted at all times on buses with bike racks on the front or with underfloor luggage compartments on a first-come, first-served basis. Currently half of the NJ TRANSIT bus fleet is "bike friendly." Bicycles can be accommodated on all buses in the NJ TRANSIT Southern Division (generally the area from Princeton/Trenton to Atlantic City and south). Collapsible bikes always permitted.


• PATH: 800-234-PATH/201-216-6247; Permit not required. No bikes 6am - 9:30am (inbound to NYC) and 3pm - 6:30pm (outbound from NYC) weekdays. No restrictions weekends or Holidays. No more than two bikes per car. Folding bikes allowed at all times. See further details online.


• Shore Line East: light Rail in Connecticut. Passengers are permitted to bring bicycles on board Shore Line East trains between New London and New Haven only with front tire removed. Bicycle Groups of 5 or more are required to provide one week prior notification to CDOT Rail Operations at (203) 789-6955.


• SEPTA (Philadelphia): 215-580-7800; Bikes permitted on regional rail, Norristown, Market-Frankford, Broad St. lines. Off peak travel only (check schedule).

Buses

• Academy: 212-971-9054, 212-962-1122; serves Jersey Shore. No charge, travels in luggage bay.

• Adirondack/Pine Hill Trailways: 800-858-8555; serves the Adirondacks. No fee, travels in luggage bay if space available, must be boxed or bagged (supply your own) and cannot exceed 8"x32"x60". No guarantee that a connecting carrier will accept it.

• Asbury Park: 212-971-9054; no charge; call for restrictions.

• Carey Transport: No bikes.

• Fung Wah: no fee stored in luggage bin, call ahead. (212) 925-8889, (718) 438-3300.

• Greyhound: 800-231-2222; national service. Bicycles must be packed in wood, leather, canvas or other substantial carrying case, and securely fastened. Carrying case cannot exceed 8" x 32" x 60". A charge of $15 will be assessed for each bicycle transported.

• Hampton Jitney: 800-936-0440. serves the Hamptons. $10 per bicycle, travels in luggage bay.

• Liberty Lines: No bikes.

• MTA: Folding bicycles are permitted aboard local and limited buses at all times. Folding bikes are not allowed on express buses. All other bicycles are prohibited.

• MTA Long Island Bus: No bikes.

• Martz Trailways: 800-233-8604; serves Philadelphia, Poconos. No fee, but provide your own box.

• Miami Express: 212-781-7954; serves Jacksonville, Orlando, Miami. Collapsible or boxed bikes only, $0.50 per pound.

• New Century Travel: Bikes allowed if there is space available in the luggage bay.

• Olympia Trails: 212-964-6233; no fee, call for details.

• Peter Pan: 800-343-9999; no fee, travels in luggage bay, take off front wheel. However, be prepared to box your bike and pay, esp. during holidays.

• Sunrise Bus lines: $10 stays in luggage no box. Must let them know when you make a reservation.

• Red & Tan Lines: No bikes.

• SEPTA Bike-on-Bus: Currently, buses on all routes have front-mounted racks that accomodate two bikes. The following routes are exceptions: Bus Route 23 and Trackless Trolley Routes 29, 59, 66, 75 and 79.

• Short Line: 800-631-8405; Hudson River Valley. No fee. Requires bikes to be in canvas bag or box.

• TAPPAN ZEExpress Bus: August 1st, 2008: Bicycle service reinstated due to popular demand! Connects Rockland and Westchest Counties. First come, first serve accommodations on outside racks (when available) or luggage compartments only. On smaller buses which provide neither, bicycle service is not available.

• Trailways: 800-858-8555; no fee, must provide you own box or bag.

Ferries

• Sea Streak: 800-262-8743; $3 fee: Pier 11: Manhattan to Highlands, NJ; Atlantic Highland, NJ; and Bay Ridge Brooklyn.

• Fire Island Ferries: 631-665-3600; no bikes on ferries, must be sent over on infrequent cargo boat.

• Harbor Shuttle: 888-254-RIDE; Bikes OK always, no fee.

• New York Fast Ferry: 800-NYF-NYFF; Bikes OK always, no fee.

• New York Water Taxi: Bikes allowed. No fee. Bikes must be fastened with bungee cords to the racks located at the front of the boat.

• New York Waterways: 800-533-3779; Bikes OK always, $1 fee, limit 2 bikes per boat on most runs. No bikes allowed between Port Imperial-Weehawken and Wall Street. Folding bikes allowed on all ferries with no additional charge.

• Staten Island Ferry: 718-815-BOAT; no extra charge, enter on Lower Level on Manhattan side; use Upper Level on the Staten Island side. For a detailed view of how to approach the ferry terminal in Manhattan, click here. For a detailed view of how to approach the ferry terminal on Staten Island, click here.

For further bikes-on-transit information, check out Bikemap.com or Daniel Convissor.