BART Permanently Lifts Rush Hour Bike Ban

[marmar]

The Bay Area's transit agency voted unanimously last week to lift the long-standing ban on bikes aboard trains during rush hour. After the five-month pilot program ends on December 1st, bikes will be permanently allowed on all BART trains, at all times.

Previously, riders couldn’t bring bikes onto most trains during peak commute hours. There’s still some restrictions: bicyclists aren’t supposed to board crowded trains, and bikes are never allowed in the first car, or the first three cars during rush hour.

It’s a big victory for bike advocates, who have been pushing BART to do away with the ban since the 1970s, when bikes were completely banned. Surveys from three pilot programs (one is ongoing) showed most riders don’t mind sharing trains with bikes. In the latest survey, 79 percent of those surveyed were in favor of allowing bikes on board during commute hours.

Still, about one quarter of riders surveyed said allowing bikes on board made their commute worse. Common complaints included cyclists pushing their way onto crowded cars or taking up seats reserved for seniors and disabled riders. .........................(more)

The complete piece is at: http://www.wnyc.org/story/bart-permanently-lifts-rush-hour-bike-ban/

[babylonsister]

1. Progress! Recommend! nt

[Gormy Cuss]

2. BART added bike spaces on many cars

and that meant that a few seats were removed.

It's still a crapshoot trying to board during the heart of rush hour (first three cars are forbidden, other 7 only on a space available basis) but the real improvement is that bikes can easily board during the quieter parts of rush hour, like really early or after 8:30 AM in the morning and between 3:30-4:30 in the PM.

The station access is still convoluted though -- bikes must be carried up or down stairs or use the elevators -- if you can find them, if they're operational, and if no one with disability needs them for the same trip because most elevators can't accommodate a bike and a larger wheelchair.

Still, I'm glad that I have the option to get a train a few more hours each day.

[KamaAina]

3. Speaking of wheelchair access,

some chair users report that the addition of bikes makes it even more difficult for them to get on and off the crowded rush hour trains.

The news on the new car designs isn't good, either. Poles right in front of the doors, and chair "seating" areas at only one far end of each car.

[Gormy Cuss]

4. The new designs stink

and from what I've observed the biggest problems are bicyclists getting on cars that are already crowded and bicyclists being crowded out on a car that fills up after they board.

I've noticed that most passengers don't understand that there are now bike spots as well as chair spots. Then there's always been the clueless crowd who don't cede the open space for chairs, or who block the senior/disabled seats with their bikes.

[KamaAina]

5. Bikes are officially not allowed on crowded cars

but not only is there no definition of "crowded car", there is no such thing as a "non-crowded car" heading into or out of The City at rush hour.