How much do you know about bikes and public transportation?

Did you miss the latest issue of the Journal of Public Transportation? Don’t worry. They’re posting them free online. The latest issue contains “Integrating Bicycling with Public Transport in North America,” a review of bikes and transit policies in eight North American cities by researchers John Pucher of Rutgers and Ralph Buehler of Virginia Tech. The authors conducted case studies of San Francisco, Portland, Minneapolis, Chicago, Washington, New York, Vancouver and Toronto.

Among the questions considered: what happens when a well integrated system that encourages bicycling and transit use leads to crowding? Many European cities provide ample secure parking at stations. In this article, the authors take a page from Complete Streets and recommend “Complete Stations,” which offer easy bicycle access to platforms and fully accommodate the needs of cyclists — an inexpensive solution compared to Park and Ride stations for cars.

Speaking of bikes on buses here is a great video from Chicago on how the two can safely share the road.

[vimeo 7949969]

Using some of the findings in the report above, let’s play a little bikes-on-transit trivia.

(Note: the word “subway” is used below as a blanket term and does not refer only to New York City. Answers are subject to change as cities compete for the best transportation network in North America.)

1. Which city provides the most bicycle racks city-wide, including bike parking at almost all subway stations?

(A) Minneapolis

(B) Toronto

(C) New York City

(D) Chicago

2. Which city offers indoor or sheltered bike parking at the most subway stations?

(A)   Washington

(B)    New York

(C)   San Francisco

(D)   Chicago

3. Which city offers no secure or dedicated bike parking at rail stations and no bike racks on buses?

(A)   New York

(B)   San Francisco

(C)   Vancouver, BC

(D)   Washington

4. Which city allows bikes on subway trains at all times?

(A)   Washington

(B)   Chicago

(C)   Toronto

(D)   New York City

5. Which city has a bike ordinance encouraging parking bikes at sign posts, which are within a block of most bus stops?

(A)   Portland

(B)   Vancouver, BC

(C)   Minneapolis

(D)   Washington

6. Which city has five of the ten “bike stations” in the United States?

(A)   Washington

(B)   Portland

(C)   New York

(D)   San Francisco

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Scroll down for answers

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Answers

1. (B) There are 15,000 post and ring racks throughout Toronto
2. (D) Secure parking is available at 83 CTA stations, funding is secured for more in 2010
3. (A)
4. (D) Cyclists are asked, but not required, to avoid rush hour
5. (C)
6. (D)