Three-bike racks!

From a Metro press release:

Currently, all Metro buses are equipped with two-bike racks, but that isn’t enough on some routes where bicyclists must wait for an open rack on the next bus. The addition of a three-bike rack has been long awaited by bicyclists, especially those who want to travel across the State Route 520 Bridge where there are no bike lanes. That is why the first of these racks are being installed on buses assigned to routes that travel between Seattle and the Eastside. …

The purchase and installation of the [three-bike] racks is being funded through a $195,000 federal grant, which should cover the cost at the first two bases. More racks will be installed on the rest of the fleet as funding becomes available, plus any new bus purchased in the future will come with a three-bike rack already installed.

Metro has installed the racks on nine buses so far (Bus Nerd’s already seen one), and they’ll be adding about 25 a week for the next 10 weeks.

I’m (still) not much of a biker, but I know a useful improvement when I see one. This is goodness–except maybe for the drivers, who’ll have to maneuver already enormous buses with those big ol’ contraptions on the front. And of course, we still need to find a safe, warm environment for folks to learn how to use ’em…