HSR fits 43 buses with bike racks (Hamilton Spectator)

The Hamilton Street Railway now has 43 buses fitted with bike racks and two routes that cross between the Mountain and the lower city that carry them.

By Hamilton Spectator, Last Updated Tuesday, October 23, 2007

(Originally published in the Hamilton Spectator on September 22, 2007.)

Hamilton has an easier way to tote your bike.

The Hamilton Street Railway now has 43 buses fitted with bike racks and two routes that cross between the Mountain and the lower city that carry them. So does just about every other bus on the Beeline Express route on weekdays and King buses on weekends.

Each of the racks can hold two bikes, Don Hull, Hamilton's director of transit said in a statement.

Buses on the Upper James and College routes carry the racks seven days a week. The program will be expanded to all 204 HSR buses as more racks become available, said Hull.

There is no charge for carrying the bike.

The racks provide more options to bus riders, Mayor Fred Eisenberger said, adding Ottawa and Queen's Park have supported the initiative with gas tax funding.

About $224,000 of the Federal Gas Tax funding was allowed for purchase of the racks, he said and $20,000 from the provincial fund will be used to offset operating costs.