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Some cities are best experienced on two wheels. Picture cruising through Central Park in New York, pedaling up the hills of Griffith Park in L.A., or cycling to see the Bean in Chicago’s Millennium Park.
Whether you’re planning an epic bicycle tour across an entire state or just a leisurely bike tour of San Francisco, sometimes traveling bike-less is not an option. And there’s no guarantee your hotel or AirBnb will have a Peloton, either.
No, the safer choice is clearly to bring your own bike with you. When you travel by bus or train, you can pack your trusty bicycle in most cases with just a bit of planning ahead. To help you out, we’ve gathered all the intel you need for traveling with a bike on a bus or train.
Can you take a bike on the train?
You can! In general, bicycles can be transported in bike racks on trains which have them. Most Amtrak and VIA Rail trains are equipped with bike racks, but we recommend calling ahead to check if your train has bike racks in the passenger cars (to carry on your bike yourself) or in baggage cars (for your unpackaged bike to be checked at the station).
If you’re traveling on a train without bike racks, you can also pack your bike in a box or bag to be checked as normal luggage. More details about specific carriers’ policies are included below.
Can you take a bike on the bus?
For most intercity bus trips, bus carriers require bikes to be packaged in a box or a bag for safe transport under the bus. This does require a bit of effort before your trip, but hey, your bike is precious cargo!
There can be a fee for transporting your bike, and the cost and requirements vary by bus carrier. You can see specific policies below.
How to pack a bike in a bag or box
For bus and train carriers that require bikes to be transported in a bag or box, this entails partially disassembling your bike and packing it securely in one of several options. Once packaged, your bike will take up less space and is protected from damage during transit in the baggage area.
Remember to pack any tools used to disassemble your bike (like an Allen wrench) so that you can put everything back together when it’s time to hit the bike trails!
Packing your bike in a bike bag:
Investing in a high-quality bike bag protects your bike during travel and also makes it easier to wheel the bag to the station. However, a large enough plastic bag or duffle bag would also work in a pinch.
Remove the bike’s pedals, wheels, derailleur, and handlebars to place them in the bike bag’s protected slots. Put the body of the bike into the bag, and secure all the loose parts.
Packing your bike in a box:
A cheaper option is to pack your bike in a large cardboard box. You can normally get big enough boxes from bicycle shops if you haven’t had a hefty Amazon order in a while.
Remove the bike’s pedals, derailleur, and handlebars, and at least one wheel. Slide the bike frame into the box upside down, to rest on the seat. Then slide the wheel(s) in next to the frame, and slot all the other parts into the remaining space in the box.
You’ll have to do some delicate packing with bubble wrap and/or duct tape to make sure loose parts are secured to the body of the bike or the sides of the box. Once everything is packed and protected, tape the box securely shut and write your contact information on the sides.
Specific bike policies for popular bus and train carriers
The requirements for transporting bicycles vary from carrier to carrier, so be sure to check the specific details for the bus or train company you’re traveling with.
For easy reference, we’ve collected the policies of the most popular bus and train companies on Wanderu. If you still have any questions, you can always call the bus or train carrier for further details or to reserve bike space for your trip.
| Amtrak |
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| Greyhound |
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| FlixBus US |
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| Peter Pan |
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| Trailways NY |
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| OurBus |
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| BestBus |
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| Wanda Coach |
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| GoBuses |
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| VIA Rail |
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TLDR: How to travel with a bike by bus or train
Okay, we get it, that’s a lot of information. But if there are three essential tips we can leave you with, they are:
- Call the carrier before your trip to make sure there’s space for your bike (and reserve it if you can).
- Label your bike with your name and contact information.
- Arrive at the station plenty early to snag baggage space and allow time for careful loading of your bike onto the bus or train.
And then you’re on your way! For even more information about carriers’ bus and train luggage allowances beyond just your bicycle, check out our complete luggage guide.
Now you’re ready to explore a city in an exhilarating and environmentally-friendly way. Well yes, on your bike, but also on the bus or train. These forms of ground travel produce significantly less greenhouse gas emissions per traveler than driving or flying.
Plus, with the bonus of bringing your bike with you, it’s a no-brainer to go by bus or train. For your next trip, Wanderu is here to help you find the cheapest bus and train tickets to go green and save some green while you’re at it.
