Basic courtesy would go far on BART
Delays. Power failures. Questionable service and cleanliness. Track deficiencies. All these problems continue to plague BART, but there’s an even more disturbing problem: The behavior of certain regular users of BART.
Priority seating is supposedly available to seniors and the handicapped in each coach. But good luck in finding one of the seats when the train is crowded. Millennial riders — and even middleaged clients — seldom hesitate to occupy the “preferred seats” when other seating is not available, but very often are hesitant or simply refuse to relinquish the seats when elderly riders or individuals with disabilities enter the car. Not that courtesy is never shown, but a greater display of compassion and empathy would definitely impress the individuals for whom the seating is intended and might even improve intergenerational and interpersonal relations.
Loud conversations too often occur and may annoy riders not engaged in the verbal exchange. Not everyone in a BART car may be interested in the topic under intense scrutiny by the individuals engaged in the subject-oriented shouting match. Nonparticipants in the conversation may even be distracted from their texting or cell phone games.
The homeless intrusion on BART cars while the train is in motion can be disconcerting and produce capricious riders. Very often the less fortunate rider doesn’t find a seat and settle in for a ride but instead marches up and down the aisles asking for donations. No one can or wants to deny the needs of the homeless population, but moving BART trains hardly seem the appropriate venues for such solicitations. BART station entrances would seem to be more nearly appropriate locations for the solicitation of donations for and by the less fortunate.
Granted, BART doesn’t represent the perfect system of transportation. It too often is delayed and may keep a number of riders from traveling comfortably to and from work. A frequent lack of courtesy and the attitude of entitlement among the passengers, however, result in problems that far exceed any mechanical, maintenance or other problems that might develop.
Perhaps the level of courtesy could be raised through periodic, recorded announcements on each BART train emphasizing the importance of designated seating and noise restraint. Informal signage explaining BART courtesy might also be helpful. Awareness usually precedes practice, and simple but consistent reminders of courtesy can certainly raise needed awareness.