[SDCBC] Sprinter is Sprinting

[Philip Erdelsky]

Today (March 13) my bicycle and I took a ride on the
long-awaited and recently-opened SPRINTER train, which
runs along the railroad corridor between Oceanside and Escondido.

I took the Coaster to Oceanside, rode my bike to Escondido,
took the Sprinter back to Oceanside, and returned to San Diego
on the Coaster.

The trains run every half-hour on weekdays, and every hour on weekends
and holidays. A one-way trip takes about 50 minutes.

Bicycle facilities are better than the San Diego Trolley and not
quite as good as the Coaster.

    On the San Diego Trolley, you stand and hold your bike.
    On the Sprinter, you sit down and hold your bike.
    On the Coaster, you secure your bike and sit down elsewhere.

Access is quite good. The entrance is flush with the platform, as
with the newer San Diego Trolley cars. The Coaster and the older
San Diego Trolley cars have steps, and the latter also have
stanchions to grab your handlebars.

Capacity is limited. The San Diego Trolley is limited to two bikes
per car (and I have seen a third cyclists forced to move to another
car). The Sprinter could probably take four to six bikes. The Coaster
capacity appears to be unlimited.

Despite the signs, you can't secure your bike in the bike area
on the Sprinter. The NCTD Web site says bring your own straps,
but there's nothing to strap them to.

The fare is $2, or $1 for senior/disabled. San Diego monthly and
daily transit passes are accepted.

I didn't check the Coaster-to-Sprinter connection. However, it
was announced that a Coaster ticket is accepted for a single ride
on NCTD buses if used promptly. It would probably also be accepted
for a Sprinter ride.

The Coaster and Sprinter stations in Oceanside are adjacent. In fact,
if they were any closer, the trains would collide.

Photographs:

      http://www.efghmaps.com/temp/34876.jpg inside of train (faces obscured)
      http://www.efghmaps.com/temp/34877.jpg bicycle securement area