TransLink customers can now take their bikes on SkyTrain at all times and in all directions on both the Expo and Millennium lines. This change will make it easier for customers to cycle and take transit during the COVID-19 pandemic, while the ridership is still low.

“We’re always looking at ways to improve our customer experience, especially as we navigate these unprecedented times,” says TransLink CEO Kevin Desmond. “This change will give customers more opportunity to integrate cycling into their daily commute with transit and will hopefully encourage more people to leave their cars at home and support more greener modes of transportation this fall.”

This rule change is temporary and will run through until March 31, 2021. Previously, bicycles had been banned on the Expo and Millennium Lines during weekday rush hours of 7 a.m. to 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. Bicycles have always been allowed on Canada Line at all times given the larger train configuration.

“By allowing bikes on SkyTrain during rush hours, TransLink has helped create a safer, more resilient, and more equitable transportation option for people who want to ride their bikes as part of their regular trips.” Said HUB Cycling Executive Director Erin O’Melinn,

TransLink ridership is currently at 43% of pre-COVID levels. TransLink is also taking many safety measures to ensure customers are safe while taking public transit. these measures include:

• Mandatory masks on transit vehicles.
• Increased cleaning and sanitizing.
• Deploying cleaning “pit crews” to disinfect SkyTrain cars at high traffic stations.
• Increasing bus and SeaBus disinfecting sprays to twice per week in addition to daily cleaning schedules.
• Daily cleaning and disinfecting schedules on SkyTrain and West Coast Express cars, as well as HandyDART vehicles.
• Limiting fare gate access at busy stations to help manage the number of customers on SkyTrain.
• Limiting the capacity on buses to approximately two thirds full.
• Installing two-metre spaced decals at some bus stops and station entranceways to help guide customers.
• Expanding the availability of hand sanitizer dispensers, including on the entire RapidBus fleet, at key exchanges, and at more SkyTrain stations.
• Monitoring passenger loads in order to deploy additional service at times and on routes where physical distancing is more difficult.