Reader takes issue with focus on BART escalators

Q

In your response about improvements on BART, your answer focused on escalators.

As someone who occasionally uses BART, I would claim that escalators, or the lack of them, is not one of their biggest issues.

For some with mobility issues, escalators might be important, but for the vast majority of riders, getting the urine smell dealt with and getting the restrooms functional should be a lot higher up on BART’s list of priorities.

Rider safety should be paramount.

The convenience of escalators should not have been the first thing dealt with.

Poll readers to see what they think that BART should focus on first.

— John Schultheis,

Sparks, Nev.

A

BART is spending more time cleaning restrooms and cars, but working escalators are important for both safety and handling large numbers of riders at peak times.

The suggestion box is open as to what BART needs to work on most.

Q

I’m not advocating unsafe speeding in the express lane on Interstate 880, but you might point out that slower drivers have responsibilities, as well.

The driver’s handbook (page 69) states “If you choose to drive slower than the other traffic, do not drive in the fast lane. Move (over a lane) when another driver is close behind you and wishes to drive faster.”

Drivers do not have the right to use the express lane at the speed limit if prevailing traffic is moving faster.

Claiming this right places themselves and others at risk.

— Gary Chambers,

Brentwood

A

The difficulty with express lanes is that drivers cannot move across double white lines except at marked access points. Express lanes require greater cooperation than some drivers are used to using.

Q

I have come to the conclusion that the people most inconsiderate of the handicapped are the handicapped themselves.

I thought that the idea of handicapped parking spaces was when a parking lot was full there would be spots up close for the handicapped to park.

But I have seen many, many, many, many times when a lot was empty or almost empty with regular spaces open right next to a handicapped spot and even regular spots open closer to the entrances.

People with handicapped plates park in a handicapped spot just because they can.

— Bob Burke,

Livermore

A

Bob, relax.

If a person has a disabled placard or plates, they can park in disabled spots if available, no matter what the rest of the lot looks like.

They may have parked in regular spaces when other drivers parked so closely that it was hard for the handicapped person to get into their vehicle when they returned to it.