How To Use Bike Racks
Sportworks® and BykRack designed the Bike-Rack-for-Buses to make as low an impact as possible on transit operations. All loading and unloading of bicycles can be done by the bicycle rider. Sportworks® suggests that children’s bicycles be loaded by an accompanying adult, but the rack can be easily loaded by young children. These steps should be folowed when using the rack. Please note: At this time we can not allow electric bikes either on the rack or in the bus.
Loading Bikes
Prepare your bike for loading. Remove water bottles, pumps and other loose items that could fall off while the bus is in motion.
Inform the bus driver that you will be loading your bike. You must load your bike from the curb or in front of the bus. Do not step into oncoming traffic to load your bike.
Squeeze handle up to release latch, then fold down the bike rack. You only need to use one hand to unlatch and pull the bike rack down, so you can hold your bike with your other hand. It is not necessary to lean your bike against the bus.
Lift your bike onto the bike rack, fitting wheels into labeled wheel slots. Each wheel slot is clearly labeled for the front wheel. (NOTE: The rack operates properly even if a bicycle is loaded in the wrong direction.) The purpose of the directional placement is to make the bike nearest the bus easier to unload.
Raise the Support Arm up and over the front tire so that the hook rests at the highest point on the front wheel. The Support Arm adds lateral support for the loaded bicycle. Many bikes will sit in the wheel well without the use of the Support Arm, but the rack must not be used without the use of the Support Arm.
Board the bus and enjoy the ride! Choose a seat near the front of the bus to keep an eye on your bike. DON’T FORGET you have a bike with you when you get off at your stop. New riders often do!
Unloading Bikes
Inform the bus driver that you will be unloading your bike as you approach your stop. Unload your bike from in front of the bus or from the curb, not from the street side.
Raise the Support Arm off the tire. The Support Arm automatically folds down to a secure position.
Lift your bike out of the bike rack.
Squeeze the handle and fold up the Bike-Rack-for-Buses if there are no bikes on the rack and no one else is waiting to load a bike. The bike rack locks in place with a snap so you know that it is secure.
Step away from the bus with your bike. Always step to the curb, for your own safety and to allow the bus to proceed onward.
Ztrans buses are equipped with bike racks. All racks hold two bikes. If the bike rack is full, drivers, depending upon passenger loads, will allow bikes inside the bus. There is no additional charge to use the bike rack.
An instructional web video on use of the bike racks can be found at: Sportworks® Bike Racks