Amtrak to offer service for bicyclists on overnight routes
CHICAGO (AP) — Amtrak is rolling out the red carpet for bicyclists.
The Chicago Tribune reports that Amtrak will announce Monday a new roll-on, roll-off service for its daily Capitol Limited trains between Chicago's Union Station and Washington, D.C. Amtrak already offers the service for some shorter routes but this is the first time it will be offered for one of its overnight routes.
For $20, cyclists will be allowed to roll their bikes onto a train and lock them onto a rack. Currently, cyclists must disassemble their bikes, put them in a reusable bike box that costs $15 and check them as luggage for a $10 fee. Amtrak says the new system will be more eco-friendly and cheaper because generally the bike boxes are abandoned after being used just once.