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StarTribune I north metro Bicycles could give Northstar a kickstart Article by PAUL LEVY, Star Tribune Updated: August 4. 2012 - 10.10 PM The Minnesota Department of Transportation, National Park Service and local officials think bicyclists could add a new dimension to the line stretching from Minneapolis to Big Lake. Each Northstar car is equipped to secure only two bicycles. That's been a moot point, thus far, because the daily commuter trains have averaged about three * - A bicycles per train, said Metro Transit spokesman John Sigveland, an avid bicyclist himself. Could the regularly scheduled commuter trains handle dozens of bicycles? Sigveland said that Metro Transit must abide by Federal Railroad Authority standards that require bicycles to be secured on moving trains. Possible adjustments include altering or adding cars to each train. The 140 riders squeezed onto the special Northstar train, their bicycles beside them. For the fledgling "We crammed 140 people and made it happen," said commuter line, bicycles represent wheels of potential David Gepner, who helped organize last month's fortune --traffic that could support a line striving for Saturday special train filled with cyclists, who biked on growth. trails beyond the final stop in Big Lake. Struggling after 2 1/2 years to meet expectations, The cyclists, for the most part, stood in aisles with Northstar is attempting to attract riders by lowering their bikes. Gepner asked if train seats could be fares in August, adding trains for Twins and Vikings removed. That was not an option he was told. games and building a station in the city of Ramsey. But the Minnesota Department of Transportation. It didn't matter. National Park Service and local officials think bicyclists could add a new dimension to the line "It was tight," Gepner, 68, said. "It was an adventure. stretching from Minneapolis to Big Lake. Many will And it was successful. We weren't blocking doorways. leave the train and bike on trails near the Mississippi We opened up possibilities." River, while others would complete a commute. Northstar can use a boost. From January through "We envision the day when St. Cloud State students June, riders were down 4 percent, compared to the living in the Twin Cities will bring their bicycles aboard same period last year. The weekday commute the train every day as they commute to college," said numbers are similar to last year. But Northstar Stearns County Commissioner Leigh Lenzmeier, officials say that special events (Twins games) are chairman of the Northstar Corridor Development down significantly, contributing to the 13,970 fewer Authority rides during the first six months of 2012. "If bringing bicycles on the train helps to get Northstar 'Great opportunity' moving, we're all for it," said Lenzmeier, who hopes the line will eventually be extended to St. Cloud as In Michigan, adjustments have been made to Amtrak originally planned more than a decade ago. train cars to accommodate more bicycles, said Dan Collins, MnDOT's principal planner for the Mississippi River Trail. He and Liz Walton, MnDOT's landscape