Rapid Transit District-Bart

BART is an embarrassment to the Bay Area. The cars are filthy and poorly designed. There are frequent delays. The stations are disgusting and their escalators are down more often than not, which leads to crowding on the stairs and possibly a fire hazard during commute hours.
Every major city that I have traveled to outside of the US, including places like Tashkent and Tbilisi, has a far better metro system. BART is the worst I have ever seen. This city is supposed to be a center of innovation, but you wouldn’t know it from BART.

This was the primary mode of transportation that my best friend and I took during our CA Holiday 2 years ago (Coachella and surrounding). We had the option of renting a car and or taking a cab everywhere, however, we decided to take the local transit to save time and window gaze at the system. Compared to Vancouver it was very decent. We were in mostly touristy areas, therefore, everyone was friendly and mostly out of town, very few locals. Bart saved our ass at the end of the San Fran stretch of the trip when we were low on money and needed to get to the airport.

If you can get wifi while on the train, that’s worth the extra star ;) Where I’m from, we’re still trying to get our reloadable cards working lol.
But I like the feel of the trains, carpeted, padded seats and certainly feels like a train. Even would like to stretch it to say compared to my hometown, it feels cozier b/​c it’s not like a clinic-​type setting. Our’s is all white, bright lights – granted, one of our new lines was built for the 2010 Winter Olympics.
And where my friends lived in by Walnut Creek, whatever station that was, the platform is absolutely huge, easily 10 trains connected so didn’t feel so cramped waiting in line.

I heart BART.
BART is one of the many, many great things about San Francisco, and it makes it easy for an out of towner to get to San Francisco and to get to many of the places that make San Francisco such a great city. I NEVER rent a car when I visit San Francisco, and thanks to BART I don’t have to.
BART goes to the airport. If you stay at a hotel near a BART station (many are), you don’t need a car, and you don’t need a cab.
BART will get you within easy walking distance of many places in the city and to lots of places across the bay.
BART is much, much cheaper than renting a car without the hassle of getting and returning the car, to say nothing of finding a place to park the car and paying to park it.
BART is much, much cheaper than taking a cab.
BART is very user friendly and easy to navigate. There’s a learning curve, but it’s not steep.
BART is fun.

Compared with other subway systems, BART is about average. On one train, I heard that the train conductors, who don’t have to deal with the public, earn $ 80,000/year and they now want more or will strike. Well, no wonder why it cost $ 8.25 each way to ride from SFO to Powell Station! Seems rather expensive.
The station managers really need to be more attentive especially at Powell Station. Last weekend, there was one teenager that just opened the handicap door at the ticket gates and went through without paying. If they don’t have to pay, then why should any of us?
Some train conductors really need to speak up and announce the stations clearly especially for visitors who might be less familiar with the city. They must know that they have visitors on the train when the train originates at SFO!

Bart, all though your padded clothed covered seats carried the odor of a curry dinner someone ate three days ago… you were prompt and dare I say even early! This could also mean that you were really really late. But I say EARLY!

I ride BART Monday through Friday. I wish there was a screening process for passengers, instead of just allowing any Tom, Dick, or Harry to get on. For example, yesterday, a really, REALLY smelly man just had to follow and sit next to me on the train even though there was ample seating. I got up to move, and then he began to yell across the train at me that he knew here I worked (due to my work uniform shirt), and then he went into talking about other things. Umm. yeah…not what I like to hear when trying to relax after a long day. Also, people being allowed on the train with 600 plus suit cases. If you have more than one giant suitcase, shouldn’t those passengers be treated like the bike passengers? No riding BART until certain times of day. Those darn people look at you like you just offended them because you tripped over THEIR 12 monster size suitcases that are messily taking up the entire aisle and emergency exit. Huh??? Really?
BART…get some screeners at your entrances. Don’t allow certain people to ride the train… at least at certain times. Let’s have special trains that run once per hour for all of the stalkers, bike users, suitcase haulers, and stinky people. Thanks so much!

Getting out at Civic Center is always an adventure.!! Watch your back & prepare for the SF version of night of the living dead… Lol

Even though the people who ride you range anywhere from sheer entertaining to positively grotesque, BART, you don’t fail me.
Super easy to use ticketing, surprisingly kind staff, and extra efficient when I need to hit the FiDi midday from my office in less than 10 minutes.
So it’s not perfect and no, it’s clearly not the cleanest but it’s also not so bad. Ever been to NY people? Don’t touch anything and you’ll be fine.
If only BART had better hours and a station past Millbrae, they’d get a 5.

Took the BART from SFO to Powell. Took us a lil while to figure out the cost structure but we did it. Kind of expensive but still less than a taxi.
The trains are a little old and everything is carpeted and the seats are fabric. Unfortunately, fabric retains a lot of weird smells and god knows what. Also, if you’re not familiar with the stops, the train does not call out or display the stops on reader signs. You have to keep looking out of the hazy windows at weird angles.

Here are all the BART phone numbers.
I don’t think there’s actually any physical location for riders to get information other than the stations themselves.
The phone system is decent at calculating trips.
and google are easier to use, but the phone option is nice, so save these on your cell!
BTW, 2278 spells BART on a keypad…
–Oakland/​Berkeley/​San Leandro 510−465−2278
–San Francisco/​Daly City 415−989−2278
–South San Francisco/​San Bruno/​San Mateo 650−992−2278
–Concord/​Walnut Creek/​Lafayette/​Antioch/​Pittsburg/​Livermore/​Orinda 925−676−2278
–Hayward/​San Leandro/​Fremont/​Union City/​Dublin/​Pleasanton 510−441−2278
–Richmond/​El Cerrito 510−236−2278
–All other locations 510−465−2278

Comments and Complaints
8:30−5:00 M-​F, ²⁴⁄₇ voice mail 510−464−7134

BART Police:
Emergency 911
Non-​emergency 877−679−7000

Reporting Security, Safety or Hazardous issues
For urgent matters on BART dial 911, call (510) 464‑7000, use the train intercom or contact a station agent. For non-​emergency matters, call (877) 679‑7000.

TDD 510 839‑2220

Elevator Availability 510−834-LIFT or 888−235−3828

Lost & Found 510 464‑7090
or


Graffiti Hotline 510−464−6740