Department of Public Works & Transportation

Introducing a great new way to make all your important connections in Montgomery County, get into shape, and protect the environment...all at the same time! It's RIDE ON's new Bike Program, allowing you to "park" your bike on our buses and travel even further throughout the county. It's also our way of helping you make bike riding a part of your daily routing, whether you're going to work or to play.

You'll find a bike rack mounted on the front of all RIDE ON buses. As of February 2002, Ride On is 100% bike rack equipped. Our racks allow you to bike part of the way to work and let RIDE ON worry about those big traffic jams. Or, rack your bike and take a ride to your favorite bicycle path without having to worry about car racks or secure parking near the bike route. Either way, it's a good-for-you remedy that can help to ease your commuting frustrations, reduce your gas bill, improve air quality and keep you healthy and in shape!

RIDE ON's Bike Program

Each rack holds two bikes and supports most wheel and frame sizes - even children's bikes. However, we cannot carry motorized bikes. You'll find bike racks on RIDE ON's kneeling buses (kneeling buses are equipped with a button that lowers the bus to curb level to assist those who need help boarding the bus), making it easy for anyone to mount a bike.

Just let the operator know if you'd like the bus to kneel. Then, simply follow the instructions posted on the rack, board the bus, and in seconds, you're ready to RIDE ON!

As the bus approaches, prepare to mount your bike from the curb side. Let the operator know you're using the rack, making sure to remove water bottles, air pumps, or other items that could slip from your bike and potentially create a hazard. For safety reasons, the operator may not leave the bus to assist you, but he or she can answer your questions.

Be prepared for the arrival of the bus in order to minimize delays in service.
Release the rack by gently pulling up on the center handle. Unfold the rack.
If you are the first to mount your bike, use the slot nearest the bus, making sure the handlebars face curb side. If you are mounting the second bike on the forward slot, make sure the handlebars face the road.
Lift the support arm up and over the front tire and secure it.

As you near your stop, tell the driver you'll be unloading you bike. Raise and lower the support arm from your tire, making sure to unload your bike from either the front of the bus or the curb side. Lift your bike from the rack. Move from the travel portion of the roadway while you prepare to continue your trip.

If there are two bikes on the rack and yours is mounted nearest the bus, unload it by rolling the wheels off the rack and toward the curb. If yours is the only bike on the rack, please fold the rack up after unloading your bike. The rack will automatically lock into place; however, we ask that you double check that it is secured because the operator cannot see it. Signal the driver when you and your bike have cleared the bus' path.

Thanks for riding with us!

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