Bikes on BART:
Most commuters say bike experiment has been no trouble.
“With the … modifications we’re making, we think we can make life without the bike blackout period work.”
A weeklong experiment allowing bikes aboard all BART trains has apparently convinced most commuters — and BART officials — that they can coexist with bicycles.
A random-sample survey of 1,720 BART riders found 76 percent in favor of allowing bikes on all trains, except for the first three cars, at all times, and 23 percent opposed. That’s a big increase over the 37 percent who supported removing restrictions in a survey after an initial test in which bikes were allowed on all trains during five Fridays in August.
BART staffers will present the findings of the study — and suggest allowing bikes on most trains — at the Board of Directors meeting Thursday, which happens to be Bike to Work Day. While directors are expected to discuss the issue, any change in the bike policy won’t be made until the May 23 meeting, which will be held in the evening so that more commuters may attend.
Tom Radulovich, BART board president
BART’s staff is recommending that bikes be allowed on all trains — but never in the first car, and not in the first three cars from 7 to 9 a.m. and 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. on weekdays. Bikes would continue to be banned from overcrowded cars.
“The ultimate decision is up to the board,” said Tom Radulovich, board president. “But with the additional car interior modifications we’re making, we think we can make life without the bike blackout period work for everyone.”
Whether or not to allow bikes aboard BART trains has been an issue since the system started in 1972, when they were prohibited. But the issue has grown more contentious as the number of bicycle commuters has climbed in the Bay Area and BART ridership has surged to nearly 400,000 each weekday. BART currently allows bikes on trains except for a couple of hours in the most-congested times of the day, and in the first car.
After the August experiment found relatively few problems, BART officials decided to try a second test in March. According to the scientifically conducted survey, just 13 percent of passengers said they experienced problems. The most common problems cited were bikes blocking doorways, aisles or seats, bikes entering crowded trains, bikes on escalators, rude behavior, and delays.
Allowing bikes had little or no effect on their trip, said 75 percent of the survey respondents, while 8 percent said it made the trip better and 17 percent said it made things worse. Those surveyed were more divided when asked if there was enough room for both bikes and passengers, with 39 percent saying there was sufficient room, 42 percent saying the trains were crowded but OK, and 19 percent reporting that they were too crowded.
About 25 percent of those surveyed said they would be more likely to ride BART if they could take their bikes along, while 11 percent said they were less likely to ride if they had to share the trains with bikes. Six percent of those surveyed brought their bikes on BART during the experimental period, and 3 percent said they avoided BART because of the test.
In addition to experimenting with easing the rules, officials are trying to accommodate more bicyclists by modifying all BART cars, expanding secure bike parking, participating in the Bay Area’s planned bikesharing program, creating bike boarding areas in crowded stations like 12th Street and 19th Street in downtown Oakland, and expanding bike etiquette education campaigns.