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Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad will continue popular program next year
By Bob Downing
Beacon Journal staff writer
Published on Thursday, Nov 13, 2008
The Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad's $2 fare for bicyclists was a big hit this year.
Ridership in the Bike Aboard! program nearly tripled — with 18,691 bicyclists from April through October.
The program, which is designed to get bicyclists, especially families with children, into the Cuyahoga Valley National Park, attracted about 6,500 riders in 2007.
''It's a great program and it's a big success,'' said Steven W. Wait, president and chief executive officer of the Peninsula-based tourist railroad.
''That's a lot of people and a lot of passengers, mostly families. It's a three-fold increase and that's pretty big growth.''
Bike Aboard! will continue in 2009 with the same $2 fare, Wait said.
The program is not a big moneymaker for the railroad, he said, but it is a way to increase the number of people visiting the national park.
Officials had predicted 13,000 bicyclists might ride the train in 2008. The railroad provided bicyclists with their own passenger coach near the baggage car where bikes were stored.
Last year, bicyclists could only ride the train if there were open seats and some had to be turned away on busy days.
Wait said this year the bicyclists also got their own boarding areas and their own onboard concessions, making the trips more convenient for them.
In addition, the railroad hired a younger crew of bike handlers in 2008 rather than relying on older volunteers to load and unload the bikes. That sped up the loading and unloading process, especially in often-busy Peninsula, he said.
The program will resume on weekends in April and May and again in September. It will be offered Wednesdays through Sundays from June through August and in October.
Bicyclists can pedal along the Ohio & Erie Canal Towpath Trail, board the train and ride it back to where they began cycling. Or they can take the train into the park, get off, hop on their bikes and pedal back to their starting point.
The service is available from Akron's Northside Station, Independence (the railroad's northern terminus) or at six designated stops along the rail route: Botzum in North Akron, Indigo Lake in Cuyahoga Falls, Peninsula, Boston Mills, Brecksville and the Canal Visitor Center in Valley View.
Bicyclists can flag down oncoming trains if they want to board with their bikes. They can pay cash or buy tickets in advance.
Bob Downing can be reached at 330-996-3745 or bdowning@thebeaconjournal.com.
The Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad's $2 fare for bicyclists was a big hit this year.
Get the full article here.
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