For the next five Fridays commuters will see bicycles on BART trains during rush hours. The change is courtesy of a pilot program BART is running as part of its new goal to double BART ridership among cyclists. The Draft 2012 BART Bicycle Plan has more on BART’s goals for the coming years.
Normally bikes are not allowed on BART trains during rush hours in the morning and the evening, so those people from the East Bay region who might combine public transportation and cycling in order to avoid the frustrating, expensive and environmentally degrading commute, are unable to do so.
The pilot program lifts the ban on August 3rd, August 10th, August 17th, August 24th and August 31st. The SFBC encourages riders to take advantage of the program and to help make a statement. This ban is good for BART and good for the community.
In order to make the program as great a success as possible, SFBC encourages riders to remember a few key rules:
1. Bikes are still not allowed in the first car
2. Bikes are not allowed in crowded/full cars
3. Bikes must give priority to elderly and disabled persons
4. Please be as courteous and polite as possible. The success of the program depends on you!
For those of you who are interested in ways to combine public transportation and cycling outside of the designated pilot program days, there are a couple of alternatives in the Bay Area:
2. AC Transit
Sources:
http://www.sfbike.org/main/bart-announces-pilot-to-lift-rush-hour-bike-ban/
http://www.sfbike.org/?bart