4 ms·

There's a route that so many bikers have been waiting for in Atlanta of, taking amtrak west, getting off at the first stop (Anniston Alabama, 1 hour car drive a

by durkie 4y ago

There's a route that so many bikers have been waiting for in Atlanta of, taking amtrak west, getting off at the first stop (Anniston Alabama, 1 hour car drive away), and then riding all of the mountain bike trails at Coldwater Mountain. You could conceivably take the train back, or camp overnight in Piedmont Alabama and then ride the silver comet rail trail all the way back at some point. Or just skip the mountain biking and take the train out and bike the silver comet all the way back home. But! Amtrak won't let you take your bike off the train at Anniston. You have to go all the way to new orleans. It's really dumb and frustrating.

pengaru 4y ago
> But! Amtrak won't let you take your bike off the train at Anniston. You have to go all the way to new orleans. It's really dumb and frustrating. With some chatting up of the staff/conductor before you reach your actual desired premature destination, it's not uncommon for them to be cooperative on getting the bike out of the luggage car and into one of the entrances near the other carry-on luggage for you to get off prematurely with it. But you have to talk to them early enough in the ride but not so early that they've been replaced, and it probably won't work out if the train is packed and they're understaffed or otherwise super busy. On my aforementioned Zephyr trip the conductor offered to let me off with the checked bike @ Colfax when he learned I had a bike and SAC ticket intending to ride to Pollock Pines. They're entirely capable of getting you off with the bike prematurely at any stop, you just gotta talk to them and give them enough advance notice. Agreed that it's annoying Amtrak can't officially offer it for all stops...
- BXLE_1-1-BitIs1 4y ago
  In Canada on what local trains exist you can take your canoe and they will stop at a river crossing where you can get your canoe off. There's quite a few flag stops in the middle of nowhere for settlements, lodges and camps.

by durkie 4y ago

pengaru 4y ago

> But! Amtrak won't let you take your bike off the train at Anniston. You have to go all the way to new orleans. It's really dumb and frustrating. With some chatting up of the staff/conductor before you reach your actual desired premature destination, it's not uncommon for them to be cooperative on getting the bike out of the luggage car and into one of the entrances near the other carry-on luggage for you to get off prematurely with it. But you have to talk to them early enough in the ride but not so early that they've been replaced, and it probably won't work out if the train is packed and they're understaffed or otherwise super busy. On my aforementioned Zephyr trip the conductor offered to let me off with the checked bike @ Colfax when he learned I had a bike and SAC ticket intending to ride to Pollock Pines. They're entirely capable of getting you off with the bike prematurely at any stop, you just gotta talk to them and give them enough advance notice. Agreed that it's annoying Amtrak can't officially offer it for all stops...

BXLE_1-1-BitIs1 4y ago
In Canada on what local trains exist you can take your canoe and they will stop at a river crossing where you can get your canoe off. There's quite a few flag stops in the middle of nowhere for settlements, lodges and camps.