Hi All,

Now that plans for 2002 tours are taking shape, here's a discussion about touring cyclists who expect to fly into an airport and bike away from that airport. This also assumes they want to reverse the process to get back home.

My wife and I had a recent experience with this and want to share what we learned. There are new considerations to factor in since 9-11. Some general bike travel comments are included here too.

First. The mindset of non-cycling personnel you may deal with can't imagine WHY you'd want to cycle to/from an airport. There won't be much enthusiasm for your needs.

Everything in a box, bike boxes included, are suspected items and may be subjected to additional searches and inspections. Getting cardboard boxes from airlines was a hassle before. Promised availability now is even less reliable. International flights also include a Customs check point.

We use one hard case for our S&S coupled tandem frame parts. Wheels go in a soft-sided bag. If you're not familiar with these 26x26x10 cases, they are designed to pass the luggage size limit for no additional charge for checked baggage. Once packed by us, it's not comforting to think about someone else opening this case for inspection. We padlock it when packed. Will that be allowed in the future security routine? Who knows?

In brief summary, here's what happened to a group of 22 British cyclists flying into Dulles airport for a three week tour of Virginia at the end of September 2001. We were contacted to help with some logistics (we live in PA, but know the tour leaders well). In turn we contacted someone near the airport for some local knowledge of roads in and out of the terminal area. Glenn Fahey, from Herndon, VA did a tremendous job of mapping out routes. He even checked with airport security for an OK, but that was prior to 9-11.

A few days before the group was to arrive, we decided to ride the route. Near the terminal, we were chased off the road by an airport cop. NO Bikes allowed. Huh? Now what? The Airport Authority Police commander had no empathy--Security, ya know.

BTW, I even asked for a police escort for the group. No way.

Our role was to pick up and store many bike boxes in, ready for this, a U-Haul trailer at the terminal, so the cyclists could just ride away with panniers. At the end of the tour, they reverse the process. No big deal, just a bunch of foreigners with tools and knives working on bikes outside the terminal. Could they use the Cargo area which is a short distance from the terminal? Nope, Security, ya know.

A frantic call to WABA (Washington Area Bicycle Association) produced no response. The concern for this access issue was passed along to some state committee for a future agenda.

Our last minute solution was to rent a BUS to get the tired riders away from the airport--a regular coach bus at $345 for a 15 mile ride (one way). Divided by 22, the cost wasn't too bad, but all the bikes didn't fit either. That U-Haul trailer came in handy after all for eight of them (including one fully assembled tandem). BTW, the cost of airport shuttle service vans was greater than the bus (typical 15 passenger vans with seats). Quoted price was $455 and I had no faith that they understood the capacity needed for bike boxes.

To add a complication, some of the tour group was to end their trip on different days. No problem. We'll just get their bike boxes to a terminal storage area for them to pick up on their own. Wrong answer. The Smart Karte storage area at Dulles was closed--Security, ya know. So, now we wonder how other travelers will count on left luggage arrangements elsewhere.

To end this saga, at the end of the tour, the group arrived at a hotel parking lot near the terminal to box their bikes. We shuttled them four at a time in our van with an 8' U-Haul trailer to the terminal. No time for long good-byes. Roving patrols zeroed in on us each trip--move it! The weather was beautiful. There were no backup plans for bad weather.

I began writing this because Kelly from CO posted her plans to fly to Baltimore this summer and bike from the airport to Pennsylvania. Others have suggested, as I would, to take the Light Rail at BWI to points north. There's just that little gap from the baggage gate to the Light Rail terminal that I need to check into. The free shuttle service buses may work for this if the Light Rail terminal is a route stop. I believe bikes are allowed on LR, but I'm not sure about peak hours. One or two bikes might work, but a large group may be denied use. Tour groups may complicate the process for any one flight with so many bikes to deal with. Timing may be important here to coordinate flight times.

If no bike box is used (or needed, say with folding bikes) when a bike is checked, then I suppose anyone could just ride away to/from the terminal. The problem seems to be that terminal access roads may prohibit bikes.

So, does anyone have recent experience with this at BWI or other airports? I'm not trying to be pessimistic, but new changes require a Heads-Up for flying with a bike

I hope this helps without discouraging anyone. If someone who lives near or commutes to work at an airport can share some info on this, it may mean the difference between a smooth trip and a hassle.

Joe Stafford Dallastown, PA