The Potential Carrying of Bicycles Inside the Train Carriage: An Experimental Pilot Study Based on Valparaíso Metro, Chile

This study analyses the potential carrying of bicycles inside a train carriage. To this end, an experimental methodology based on observation and experimentation is implemented. The survey is conducted on the metro system in Valparaíso, Chile, highlighting the importance of intermodality between bicycles and trains. It identifies that the current capacity of the carriages is not adequate to ensure safety and efficiency during boarding and alighting. As a result of the survey, a solution is tested to reduce the number of seats in the carriage and create a designated special waiting area for cyclists. This test is conducted experimentally in a laboratory, using a full-scale model of a metro carriage and its corresponding platform. The experiments show that the designated special waiting area for bicycles reduces boarding time and results in a better distribution of passengers inside the carriage, offering a solution that improves both safety and efficiency. This study could contribute to the development of incentive policies for intermodality, which is a key aspect in achieving sustainability in railway transportation systems. Future research will aim to expand this study by including other carriage configurations and a wider variation of demand levels.