I've been riding Amtrak's Hiawatha service for nearly 6 years, and have struggled only with my mode of transportation between home in Chicago and Union Station or Milwaukee's Intermodal station and my office in Milwaukee.  Living and working 2+ miles from each station, I need to take a train, cab or walk on either end of the Hiawatha.  Additionally, fellow riders have mentioned they can't bring bikes and therefore take cabs or bus at either end.

Allowing bikes on Amtrak's Hiawatha's service between Chicago and Milwaukee will allow a much more cohesive use of multiple modes of transportation for folks who commute between these cities.  According to Amtrak, ridership on the Hiawatha has been up 8 out of the last 9 years, and appears to be on a nearly consistent growth path.  Amtrak advertises the Hiawatha as a mode of transportation to commuters between the two cities, avoiding traffic congestion.  Bicyclists help further this effort.

The City of Chicago is focused on expanding its bicycling accomodations (more bike friendly streets in particular), and more folks will be using biking as a mode of transportation.  Passengers commute both ways on Amtrak's Hiawatha service, and allowing bikes would save on taxi or train/bus transportation on either end, for those who live or work more than a few blocks from either train station.

While the future of new rail cars and high speed rail on the Chicago-Milwaukee route is still uncertain, Amtrak could allow bikes now or soon with minimal investment.  We realize the cars and stations are not setup for roll-on bikes as some cars/stations on the east coast are, but many bikers would be comfortable lifing their bikes up and down the Hiawatha cars' stairs.  Additionally, while ridership on the Hiawatha has consistently risen, there are regularly many seats open on most trains, and several luggage racks are often empty.  

Converting luggage racks or even a few rows of seats to accomodate a few bikes on one or more cars of the Hiawatha trains would have likely no impact on non-bicyclists.  Many of the weekday riders on Hiawatha are commuters who do not carry luggage, and several already park bikes at one of the stations (Chicago or Glenview), while others have bought folding bikes to accommodate the need.  

We look forward to Amtrak reviewing this proposal and making space for bikes on at least one Hiawatha car of each run of the Hiawatha.