Metro Transit bus runs over bike that fell from bike rack

Now that it's warm out plenty of people are opting for alternative modes of transportation. However, as one man learned, if you bring your bike on the bus you better be ready to pay for repairs in case something goes wrong.

Because of a broken femur, Courtney Morgan rides his electric bike to the bus stop every day for work. For the ride from his stop in North Minneapolis to his job at Ikea in Bloomington, Morgan hooks his bike to the rack on the front of the bus. One day all it took was a swift left turn and his bike was instantly ruined.

"Next thing I heard, she said, someone's bike fell off," Morgan said.

Now Morgan is concerned what consequences might come from not having a way to and from the bus stop.

"I can't lose my job because my bike fell off a bus," he said.

When Morgan contacted metro transit to pay for the $300 repairs, they refused.

"She [the Metro Transit employee Morgan spoke with] mentioned that I did not lock the bike properly, so how did the bike ride down the hill, go all the way south, and never fell off until that moment?” Morgan said.

Metro Transit said, while it is terrible Morgan’s bike was destroyed, the damage isn’t their fault.

“Obviously we're not happy that this happened, obviously it's something that we wish wouldn't happen. But the truth of the matter is, that's why we have standards on our buses," Metro Transit spokesperson Howie Padilla said.

Although there are no visible warning signs on the bus, the website clearly states that Metro Transit isn't liable for damage.

"Because we're not the ones who load it, we're not the ones who unload it, we can't be liable,” Padilla said.

Metro Transit suggests riders go online and re-visit directions on how to use the racks.

"If you have questions, call our customer service they'll be able to help you and direct you," Padilla suggested.

Morgan said he knows how to load the bike -- he does it every day without any problems. For now, even if he never gets paid for the repairs, he wants others to know the risks when you strap you bike to the rack.