Amtrak: Oy Vey

I'd like to organize a bicycle trip to South Carolina at some point. Over spring break, I dunno.

But that's a long way. I'd like to ride down and maybe catch a train back.

In Germany this is a very simple process. They've got train stations all over the place and many, many trains have some way to conveniently transport a bike.

Specifically, they've realized that there is always, always a need to have some provision for baby stollers, suitcases... and other bulky baggage. So the trains have a car which is half empty where you can park your bike, pay a few extra Euros, and you're on your way.

It seems so simple.

There is one bicycle-friendly train car in NC. And it doesn't go to South Carolina.

Otherwise, you can go to the station early, have a reservation, give your bike as checked baggage... and it has to be at a staffed station.

This means that you can't load a bike in Hamlet, NC, which lies conveniently on the South Carolina border.

My next thought was that I could load a bike in Raleigh, ride to Hamlet, and offload there. I shot some emails to Amtrak, which weren't returned, and finally gave them a call.

The lady at Amtrak says I can't offload a bike in Hamlet. Nothing against bikes. Apparently, you just can't offload checked baggage at a non-staffed station.

So if you're going anywhere between Raleigh and Columbia, SC, (maybe to a little nowhere like, say, Cary) and you've got checked baggage, you're screwed.

Some folks say we need a reasonable, reliable, environmentally-friendly train system in this country.

Other folks will say our current system is a decrepit, pathetic sick horse that just ought to be taken out back and put out of its misery.

So help me, I'm trying to prove them wrong, I'm trying to take the train, I'm trying to give them my money... but Amtrak isn't helping.