David's dilemma just became first person for me! Following the link salsa supplied, I've just realized I've been getting on the 17:50 from Union to Kitchener illegally by thinking I was being legal getting on at Bloor at 18:00!
Just got home, and glanced through this:
[...][You may take a bicycle on any GO Train on a Saturday, Sunday, or statutory holiday.
On weekdays, due to rush-hour crowding, upright or non-foldable bicycles are not permitted on trains scheduled to arrive at Union Station between 6:30 and 9:30 a.m. or that leave Union Station between 3:30 and 6:30 p.m. Non-foldable bicycles are also prohibited inside Union Station during those times. Foldable bicycles, however, are permitted on inside Union Station and on peak-hour trains.
Bicycles are permitted on all other trains, including weekday off-peak, and those travelling opposite to peak direction.
For example, you may bring your bicycle on trains travelling away from Union Station in the morning peak period as long as you do not board at Union Station. Similarly, you can bring your bicycle on trains travelling towards Union Station in the afternoon peak period as long as you get off the train before it arrives at Union.][...]
http://www.gotransit.com/public/en/travelling/leaveyourcar.aspx#cycling
Huh? Very poorly written....but I*think* I know what they're stating...but here's the *essential* question:
Have they defined "foldable"? To get on the TGV and many rush-hour and regular trains now in the UK, since they no longer have a 'guard's van' in most cases, the 'tout bag for a bike' has become the way to do it. And GO is going to have to bend a bit on this. Can most cyclists take off their wheels and reinstall them in a minute? No...not helped by the fact that 'hangers' on frames (that little 'nail head' that's brazed (lol...sorry kids, 'welded') to the right rear seat stay to hang your chain on so as to make re-installing the rear wheel quick and easy, and stop the chain from dragging everywhere until you do.)
See:
http://www.velocipedesalon.com/forum/f2/where-have-all-chain-hangers-gone-18328.html
It makes it a lot easier to get the disassembled bike into the carry-bag too. Add-on chain hanger clips are available from any real bike shop (MEC, Urbane, etc)
I have limited sympathy for cyclists who can't do that, let alone change a flat, but I'm 'Old School'...but if you wish take two spaces in a packed GO coach, and be unwieldy doing that during peak time, then the onus is on the cyclist to compact his/her machine into the space, *or less* of a 'foldable bike'...which in essence, is what you are doing.
GO could make a tidy little profit selling the 'tout bags' from a stall at major stations, or better yet, allow a franchise to do it, and show people how to do it. The demand would be enormous. And I think the idea of one or two cars of a 12 car train allowing passengers with 'tout bags' to travel would be an excellent idea. Is this too pricey for some? Inevitably, but if you have a machine that cost you over thousand bucks, you'd be an idiot to leave it locked-up somewhere unsupervised. If you have an expensive machine, you're *exactly* the rider that would pay a hundred bucks for a bag, to keep it clean and safe, and keep those travelling around you clean and safe.
This has to happen...
Edit to Add:
Taking a bike on TGV High Speed Trains France SNCF March 26 2014
Many people like to travel to France with their bike and why not, it is of course a fabulous country for cycling, quieter roads, more space and great scenery a real cycling country.
The TGV high speed train network covers much of France and is relatively bike friendly as you would expect with the volume of bicycle tourism that the country attracts. Bikes can be carried on as hand luggage and stowed on the luggage racks within the carriages as long as the bike is in a bag with maximum dimensions of 120 cm x 90 cm. Full size bikes unpacked can be accommodated but need to be booked in advance and may not travel in the carriage with you. Failure to comply with these regulations can involve an on the spot fine which can make a hole in your holiday budget.
Our duffbag Stealth soft bike bag is 120cm x 90cm and has been successfully used on many journeys on the TGV High Speed Train network with SNCF France. The big advantage with a Stealth bike bag is the light weight, (under 2kg) together with the ability to fold down really small to stash in a support vehicle or pannier which makes negotiating the TGV High Speed train network in France with a road bike, mountain bike or touring bike that much easier.
[...]
http://duffbag.myshopify.com/blogs/news/13138145-taking-a-bike-on-tgv-high-speed-trains-france-sncf
March 18 2014
Technically you are allowed to take a bike on the London underground Tube network at certain times of day and on certain lines. In reality turning up with a bike at a Tube station is going to cause a few problems.
For example you cannot take bikes on moving escalators at any underground station, which means you have to find one with a lift. You can’t travel at peak time either (07.30 – 09.30 and 16.00 – 19.00, Monday to Friday, except for public holidays).
Well to be honest if you have ever traveled at peak time on London Underground you really would not take a bike down there unless you wanted to end up wearing it.
As part of our product testing for our new duffbag Stealth bag we decided to see if we could take a bike in our bag through the London Underground network unhindered, possibly passing through sections where bikes were not allowed. Would we be arrested? Get thrown off the Tube network, end up on News at Ten? This is what happened…
[...continues at length, with vid linked and more...]
http://duffbag.myshopify.com/blogs/news/12944253-taking-a-bike-on-london-underground-tube
Mountain Equipment Co-op and other local bike emporiums sell this (albeit this is ridiculously pricey)
Much cheaper ones can be had, and you don't have to remove your pedals to satisfy "folding bike" criteria. The main thing is to take off *at least* your front wheel and bag-it, to keep the other sardines clean and safe.
I'll detail more later. The answers are there! If the Province *really* wants to get people off the roads, they'll do like US jurisdictions do: Put a bike rack in one of the cars. Short of that, then allow two cars to host people with 'bikes in bags'.
David: How does that sit with you?