Pilot Program Expands Bike Access on BART

Family Bicycling Day in San Francisco. Photo Credit: Kate Michelle McCarthy, thanks to sfbike on flickr

Starting tomorrow, BART will allow bikes on trains at all hours every Friday in August. This is a pilot program that eliminates, at least for one day a week, the current ban on bikes during rush hours.

There will still be some restrictions on which stations can be used by bicyclists and which cars of the trains can be accessed. You can find all the rules for the pilot program here.

This will be a huge benefit for the many bicyclists who would like greater access to BART, and helps show the Bay Area’s commitment to encouraging both active and public transportation.

If the pilot is successful–that is if there are few reported problems and BART surveys indicate passengers like the changes–it could lead to a permanent easing of the restrictions on bikes on BART.

The San Francisco Bicycle Coalition lists some tips for riders to help make the pilot successful:

• If the car is full, wait for another train and do not try to wedge a bike into a crowded car.
• Refrain from holding doors to get your bike inside, as this delays the train.
• Be mindful of your fellow riders and leave other people adequate space.
• When possible, use the designated “bike space” on the cars that have it.
• Yield to pregnant, disabled and elderly passengers.