SCAT Buses to Offer Bike Racks

All South Coast Area Transit buses will be equipped with bike racks by today, transit officials say.

The agency received federal funding for the racks, which allow passengers’ bikes to be carried free on buses and encourage people not to drive to bus stops, said Laura Caskey, director of planning and marketing for SCAT.

Any adult or child’s bike with a wheel span of 16 inches or greater will fit on the rack, she said. Bikes are safe from damage because only the tire touches the rack, she said.

“If someone lives far enough away from a bus route, they have to park at a park and ride or they just drive all the way to the office,” she said. “So if a person can ride a bike and ride the bus to the destination, it will keep cars off the road and help with congestion and air quality.”

SCAT surveys identified high demand for bike racks from Ojai passengers, Caskey said.

The bike racks are first come, first served, but Caskey said she didn’t expect more than two passengers on a bus at a time to use the service. SCAT and VISTA are the only transit services in Ventura County that have bike racks.

People interested in learning about the three-step process for loading bikes onto the racks can pick up a brochure on any SCAT bus or call 487-4222.