CHESTERTON | A trial run for the South Shore bikes-on-trains pilot program is expected to take place later this month.
Northern Indiana Commuter Transportation District General Manager Michael Noland made the announcement Friday at NICTD's board meeting.
A total of 16 bike-rack prototypes have been ordered and are in production now, Noland said.
"We hope to have them in place by the end of October, on a Saturday or a Sunday, so that we can kick the tires so to speak before starting the program in the spring," Noland said.
Noland didn't specify in which cars the trial run would take place.
"Ultimately, by next spring, we will have 25 to 30 per car, or 75 to 90 bike opportunities with three cars," Noland said.
The NICTD board approved on July 31 a one-year pilot program, on weekends only, starting in spring. It lifted what had been a ban on allowing bikes on South Shore commuter trains.
The consensus from an advisory committee formed to study the issue had been not to delay in allowing bikes on trains, Noland said. Bicycle enthusiasts at Indiana Dunes Visitors Center were told at a July 16 meeting that bikes wouldn't be allowed on South Shore trains until 2021.
Bicycle advocates protested the delay. The Active Transportation Alliance gave NICTD a satiric "Broken Spoke" award for it efforts. The six-year delay drew incredulity from some members of NICTD's board at its May meeting.
A schedule detailing which trains and which stations will be used will be determined later this fall, said John Parsons, NICTD planning and marketing director. A complete list made public prior to the start of the spring pilot program, he said.
Noland said plans are to purchase the bike racks from Sportworks of Seattle at a cost of approximately $500 to $600 per unit.
Officials were also informed the South Shore is having success with implementing Wi-Fi.
NICTD Chief Information Officer Boris Matakovic said free Wi-Fi is available to passengers on 10 high-capacity cars that are often used at rush hour.
Passengers have related they have had success in accessing their email, Facebook and other Internet basics.
The NICTD board also unanimously passed a resolution urging Congress to quickly extend the deadline for Positive Train Control, and also praising members for introducing a bill that would extend the deadline through 2018.
Positive Train Control is a sophisticated computer-based train control system that will prevent train collisions, derailments and other problems, according to information provided by NICTD.