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Public Transit to Your Starting Point A very efficient and enjoyable way to start your cyclotour is to go to your starting point via train, airline or bus.  Of  course if you live near by just ride to the start point. Cyclotour Guides are designed so that a cyclotourist can begin and end at any point [in Canada / N.E. USA] along the described route.  Directions to and from major train stations, airports and bus terminals are provided in the text. General Public Transit Rules Each carrier - airlines, buses  and railroads - have specific rules regarding the transport of bicycles.  All carriers specify that bicycles must be boxed and shipped as baggage.  Tandem, long wheel base recumbent and other large bicycles may not be able to be transported on airplanes or buses.  Call the specific transportation company you intend to use for information.  Amtrak, VIARail and the airlines will sell you a box at the terminal.  Phone the train and airline company at least 2 days in advance of your departure to make certain there are bike boxes at the station/terminal.  Tell the station/terminal baggage person to reserve a bike box for you.  Bus companies do not have boxes for sale at their terminals.  Read below to find out how to obtain a bike box for bus transport.

Bicycle, small light panniers & sleeping bag ready to go into the bike box The small box contains pedals & is used to wedge the front tire to limit bike movement. Note the Styrofoam protection for the derailleur.  . Harvey Botzman has written 7 bicycle touring guide books:  'Round Lake Ontario: A Bicyclist's Tour Guide, Erie Canal Bicyclist & Hiker Tour Guide, 'Round Lake Erie: A Bicyclist's  Tour Guide, 'Round Lake Michigan: A Bicyclist's Tour Guide, 'Round Lake Huron: A Bicyclist's Tour Guide, Finger Lakes Bicyclist's Tour Guide, & Long Distance Bicycle Touring Primer.     Harvey will answer your questions on bicycle touring if you write to him at Cyclotour Guide Books,  PO Box 10585, Rochester, NY, USA; e-mail: cyclotour@cyclotour.com -  .

If you are traveling via train or plane then purchase the carrier’s box.  These boxes are designed so that you simply have to turn the handlebars and remove the pedals to fit a bicycle into the box.  Very simple!  Scroll down for detailed directions.

Using the carrier’s bike box assures that the carrier can not claim your box was too weak for holding a bicycle.
 

Bike Box Charges (As of January 1, 2000)
Carrier	Bike Box Charge	Excess Bag. Chg.	Tandems etc.	Notes
Amtrak	US $7.00	US $5.00	Yes	Only on trains w/ baggage cars.
VIARail	Free	CN $10.00	Yes
A few trains have facilities for carriage of unboxed bicycles.
Commuter Trains	Free.  ~ $5.00 for a permit	No	Sometimes	Usually a lifetime permit is needed
Airlines: Domestic flights	US $15.00+	US $25.00+	Sometimes	No bikes on US or Canadian commuter flights. Make certain that bike boxes are available
Airlines: Overseas flights	US $15.00+	Free	Excess bag chg. may apply
Bus, Intercity: US	Your own	Sometimes	Must fit in baggage hold	Travels w/ passenger
Bus, Intercity: Canada	CN $10.00	CN $3.00
Bus: Local	Free	Free	Must fit on rack	Some local US & Canadian local transit buses have bike racks.

Other Notes: 

On domestic US flights you will also have to pay an over limit (excess) baggage charge which can be as much as an additional US $60.00.  This excess baggage charge does not apply to international flights.

Generally, commuter airplanes do not have facilities for the transport of bicycle boxes on their planes.  Your bike may be shipped on a different flight.

Unless you have a folding bicycle or use a Japanese rinko bukuro (a bicycle bag, 2m.x2m./6.5ft.x6.5ft.) Amtrak & VIARail only carry bicycles in baggage cars. This is significant!  Not all Amtrak stations have baggage facilities!  Make certain that both your originating and terminating stations have baggage facilities for the train which will be transporting both you and your bike.  Otherwise your bike will be at one station and 
you at another.

Amtrak's policy concerning bicycles in passenger cars is changing.  As the National Railroad Corp. (Amtrak) purchases new or reconditions older passenger cars it is making provisions for the carriage of bicycles directly in the passenger compartment. Check with Amtrak.  Some trains on California, Vermont & New York routes already have limited space for bicycles in the passenger compartments or carriage of unboxed bikes
in baggage cars.

VIARail Commuter, GO (Ontario, Canada) trains; New York City's MTA trains; Chicago's commuter trains; and most municipal subway/rapid transit systems permit unboxed bicycles on their facilities during non rush hours.  A permit is needed and must be obtained before boarding a train. 

Bus travel presents a different problem.  Bus line offices in the US do not stock bicycle boxes. In Canada you must call the office (5 days before departure) to arrange for a bike box from Greyhound Administrative Services.  Thus you will have to do one of the following:
  1.  Obtain a bicycle box from a bike shop;
  2.  Go to Amtrak/VIARail or an airport and obtain a box from those carriers;
  3.  Construct your own box from two or more smaller boxes;
  4.  Put your (unboxed) bike into the baggage compartment when the driver’s back is turned.  Many drivers suddenly disappear with the implication that you should do this heinous crime! Many local buses (city buses) in the US and Canada now have bike racks on them. Use is usually free of charge. 

Ah!  To be back traveling in Africa (Peace Corps ‘66-’69) where bikes are simply placed on top of the bus or lashed to the wall of the train’s baggage car.  How simple! And rarely were the bikes damaged. 
For more information check these web sites:
Airlines: Use a search engine to find a specific airline.New York City MTA: www.mta.nyc.ny.us -

How to Box Your Bike  The first time I boxed my bike I did it at home.  I inserted extra cardboard into the box to reinforce the long sides of the box.   I double sealed all edges using reinforced sealing tape.  I loaded the box into my station wagon and brought it to the terminal the day before my departure date.  It took an interminably long time to do all this > 2  hours. What a chore! Make life simple for yourself.  Pack the box at the terminal.  Allow an extra 45-60 minutes to pack the box.  I’m down to 15-20 minutes bike into box packing time now!  Before you start on your cyclotour, take pictures of your bicycle, with and without panniers.  Open the panniers and take some pictures of the contents of the panniers. If any damage occurs in transit you might need these pictures to assert your claim.

A view inside the bike box.

The Directions, finally!

Box Preparation
    1. Obtain
        a. Filament packing tape ~2" (~3.2cm) wide.
        b. Cord (you have it in your panniers).
        c. Black permanent felt tipped marker.
    2. Obtain a bicycle box. 
    3. Clearly mark all six sides of the bike box.  Use a black permanent marker.  Write 
        in big letters and numerals:
            Destination: 
            Departure date: 
            Train or Flight number:
            Ticket number:
            Your name:
    4. Make the box stand up!
        a. Square the box and tape closed one end.
            Use filament packing tape ~2" (~3.2cm)  wide.
        b. Some folks place a small triangle of cardboard at the closed end of the box to 
            minimize bike in the box movement.

Bike Preparation
    Or what You must do to your bike to make it fit into that slim box!
    1. Tools
        a. Hex wrenches for
            1) Brake cables
            2) Stem bolt
            3) New fangled pedals
        b. Cone wrenches for old fangled pedals
        c. A screw driver, flat & phillips, might also be necessary.
        d. Tape or cord for tying up cranks.
    2  Pedals & Cranks
        a. Remove the pedals using a cone wrench; on newer bikes the pedals (cranks) 
            are removed using a hex wrench.
        b. Tape or tie one crank (if not removed) to a chain stay.
        c. Put your pedals into a pannier.
    3. Handlebars
        a. Loosen the front brake cables.
        b. Loosen the handlebar stem bolt.
        c. Twist the handlebar stem. Usually you do not have to completely remove the stem.
        d. Turn the handlebars so that they are parallel to the bike's top tube.
        e. Wrap or tie the handlebars to the top tube or front rack.
    4. Tires
        a. If you are travelling by plane, deflate your tires at least 20 psi.  Airplane 
            baggage compartments are not pressurized. You might find a flat tire at your 
            destination!
    5. Pack up your tools and put them back into your panniers!

Into the Box the Bike Goes!
    1. Wheel the bike into the bike box. Yippee!
    2. Secure the bike by wedging your sleeping bag and a pannier between the bike and 
        the box sides.  Transportation companies officially forbid anything besides the 
        bicycle to go into the bike box with the bike.  Heck, your panniers are permanently 
      attached to your bike!
        a.  Do not overload the box with heavy panniers.
        b.  Seal the open end of the Bike Box with filament packing tape.
        c. You can place a few extra lengths of packing tape wherever you want on the box!
    3. Bring the filled bike box to the baggage room and obtain a baggage claim check. 
        Keep it with you.  You will not be able to claim your bike without this claim check.
    4. Time needed to disassemble your bike and pack the bike box: = 20-45 minutes.

At your Destination:
    1. Claim your bicycle!
    2. I have to preface this discussion of damage claims with the fact that my bike has 
        never been damaged traveling via Amtrak and only once on a plane trip. Amtrak 
        stores bikes in an upright position in its baggage cars. Airlines and bus lines store 
        bikes on their side in baggage holds.
    3. Check the bicycle box for possible in transit damage.  If you see any damage to 
        the exterior of the bike box, immediately take a picture of the damage and show 
        the damage to the baggage personnel before you open the box.
    4. Open the bike box, check your bike for any damage or missing items.  If damage 
        occurred, immediately show it to the baggage personnel and complete the damage 
        claim form.
    5. Assemble your bike.  I hope you brought the hex wrenches and cone wrench!
    6. After assembling your bike, take a short ride in the terminal to make certain there 
        is no non-visible damage to the gearing, frame, wheels, etc. If you determine that 
        there is some damage, take a picture of the damage and immediately show it to the 
        baggage personnel.  Ask for and complete the damage claim form.
        a.  If your bike was damaged:  Find a local bicycle shop (look in the phone book.) 
        Purchase the part, etc. Copy the receipt and make copies of your completed claim 
        form.  Send a copy of the receipt with the original claim form to the carrier. Mail 
        home the original receipt and one copy of the claim form.  It takes 2-6 weeks for 
        most airlines, bus lines or Amtrak to begin to settle baggage damage claims so 
        simply enjoy your cyclotour.
  7;  No damage!  Hurrah!  Yippee!  Enjoy your cyclotour!

© Harvey Botzman, 1994, 2000.  Mr. Botzman has written 7 bicycle touring guide books: 'Round Lake Ontario: A Bicyclist's Tour Guide, Erie Canal Bicyclist & Hiker Tour Guide, 'Round Lake Erie: A Bicyclist's  Tour Guide, 'Round Lake Michigan: A Bicyclist's Tour Guide,  'Round Lake Huron: A Bicyclist's Tour GuideFinger Lakes Bicyclist's Tour Guide, and Long Distance Bicycle Touring Primer.
Harvey will answer your questions on bicycle touring if you write to him at Cyclotour Guide Books,  PO Box 10585, Rochester, NY, USA; e-mail: cyclotour@cyclotour.com