Schumer Applauds New Amtrak 'Bike on Board' Demo - After Schumer's Push, Amtrak Tests Retrofitted Cars Carrying Bikes on Ethan Allen Line
Press Release
After urging Amtrak to test bike-carrying cars on New York regional lines last month, U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer announced today the details of the Amtrak "Bike on Board' demo, which took place Wednesday and carried bikers on the Ethan Allen line from New York Penn Station with a variety of stops that ultimately ended in Glens Falls. Sen. Schumer and State Sens. Betty Little and Brad Hoylman pushed for the demo last month, noting the economic impact bicycle tourism has on the Capital Region, North Country, and throughout Upstate New York.
Today, Amtrak arranged for a retrofitted café car to carry bikers from Penn Station to Yonkers to Glens Falls, with different bikers getting off and on at stops along the way at Croton-Harmon, Poughkeepsie, Rhinecliff, Hudson, Albany-Rensselaer, Schenectady, Saratoga Springs, and Ft. Edward-Glens Falls. Local regional chamber of commerce representatives were among the participants taking part in the demo. After today's demo project, Amtrak and New York State will evaluate feedback from riders, popularity of the trip and other factors to determine the next steps in permanently implementing the "Bike on Board' program on the Ethan Allen line and throughout New York.
"Bike riders across the state are gearing up to visit the miles of scenic bike trails along Lake Placid, Lake Champlain and throughout the Adirondacks and North Country, and I applaud Amtrak for testing bicycle-carrying cars to help take them there. Today's demo on the Ethan Allen line could kick start the process towards full-bike service on New York's regional lines, which will be a huge boon for both recreation and tourism in Upstate. I applaud the efforts of both Sens. Little and Hoylman, and will continue to work with the New York State and Amtrak on bringing bike service full-time to these regional lines, and expanding the service throughout New York," said Senator Schumer.
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