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Uploaded: Friday, August 3, 2012, 7:28 AM
Updated: Friday, August 3, 2012, 6:38 PM
Friday first day of new BART pilot program for bicycles
Cyclists allowed to use trains during commute hours on Fridays as transit authorities test impact on commuter patrons
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Bike riders had a little more freedom when using BART Friday.
BART is now allowing bike riders to use trains during commute hours on Fridays as part of a pilot program to test the impact bike riders have on passengers during rush hours, BART bike program manager Steve Beroldo said.
The program is lifting all restrictions on when bikes can be on BART trains, and will be in effect each Friday in August, Beroldo said. Regular restrictions apply for bikes on Monday through Thursday, he said.
Beroldo said August was chosen because it is a lighter month for commuting. Friday was chosen because it is the lightest work commute day at
BART, he said.
All the regular BART bike rules will remain in place during the program for safety reasons, Beroldo said. No bikes will be allowed in the
first car, no bikes can enter a crowded car, and bikes can't block aisles or doors, among other restrictions, he said.
The San Francisco and East Bay bicycle coalitions went to BART six months ago to look for ways to improve riding for bikers, Beroldo said. A "bold and exciting" plan was in place about a month after their meeting, he
said.
The coalitions will help retrieve feedback for the program from both bike and non-bike riders.
"We want to hear from everyone using BART to find out if it would work," BART spokesman Jim Allison said.
The program will be evaluated from an operational standpoint from the perspectives of bike riders and non-bike rider passengers, focusing on rush hour times of about 7 to 8:50 a.m. and 4:25 to 6:45 p.m.
"We've never done it so we don't know what sort of problems we will encounter," Beroldo said. "We want to get first-hand evidence."
But the program, even as a test, is a step in the right direction, a bicycle coalition spokeswoman said.
"This is a great step forward to open up bike travel throughout the Bay Area," San Francisco Bicycle Coalition Executive Director Leah Shahum
said.
Shahum said with a greater number of people riding bikes throughout the Bay Area, this program will help people crossing city and county lines.
Shahum said BART has done great at exploring new ways to allow bike riders to use their transit system. "This is a great way to grow their
ridership," she said.
Despite having never experienced it before, Shahum believes the program will show bike riders can use BART during all hours.
"This will allow the whole Bay Area another choice to a healthy and active commute, East Bay Bicycle Coalition Executive Director Renee Rivera said.
If all goes well with the evaluations, the bike coalitions will bring a proposal to BART in October to lift the bike restrictions completely,
Rivera said.— Bay City News Service Are you receiving Express, our free daily e-mail edition? See a sample and sign-up for Express.
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Posted by Share the Road, a resident of the Downtown neighborhood, on Aug 3, 2012 at 10:48 am Critical Mass, do ya think!? See what happens on the last Friday of this month! Cork It!! Bikers need to obey all traffic laws if they expect a piece of the road. Try driving through Sausalito on the week ends. And this, right out of Wikipedia:
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Main article: Conflicts involving Critical Mass
Critical Mass rides have generated controversy and public opposition.[42] Some critics claim that Critical Mass is a deliberate attempt to obstruct traffic and disrupt normal city functions, asserting that individuals taking part refuse to obey traffic laws.[43] Altercations with police and motorists have occurred. Although uncommon, protesters are sometimes present at Critical Mass events to oppose the group's methods.
On 27 July 2012 the London Critical Mass event was kettled by police when it disobeyed police stipulations to remain south of the river and approached the Olympic stadium.[44] 182 arrests were made.
Some bicycling advocacy groups have expressed concern that the nature of Critical Mass and altercations with motorists could weaken public support for bicyclists.[13] Though it does not condone incidents of violence and rudeness, the San Francisco Bicycle Coalition credits Critical Mass with spotlighting bicycle issues and aiding their efforts in advocating for cyclists.[2]
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Posted by Steve, a resident of the Parkside neighborhood, on Aug 3, 2012 at 11:44 am I have it on good authority that expanding bicylcysts' rights is a plot by the United Nations to take away our property rights. Their is more at steak hear then meets the eye.
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Posted by b, a resident of the Another Pleasanton neighborhood neighborhood, on Aug 4, 2012 at 4:25 pm Only socialists ride bikes and BART. This is clearly a conspiracy.
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