BART Bike Restrictions To Be Lifted In Week-Long Pilot Project
OAKLAND (KCBS) – Bay Area Rapid Transit will begin a week-long pilot project on Monday that will allow riders with bikes access to trains at all times.
The transit agency is testing out the possibility of lifting its restrictions of bikes on trains during commute hours.
BART Board of Directors President Tom Radulovich said there are a few changes since the last bike pilot project in August.
BART Set To Launch New Bike Pilot Program
"There's more bike space on trains. We have some ideas about how to manage the flow of bikes and passengers at specific stations where there's pinch points," he said.
Leah Shahum with the San Francisco Bicycle Coalition said the opening up of access will bring more riders who need their bikes to BART.
"They may have a mile or so on either end of their trip. And for them, the bike is a critical link to using BART," Shahum said.
Radulovich said they want to accommodate riders with bikes without inconveniencing other passengers and they'll gauge feedback and survey results before moving forward.
"If it's a real success, my guess would be that it would go to the Board," he said.
The first pilot program in August 2012 was held on five Fridays, normally the lightest commuter day of the week. This second program, to be held March 18-22, will be a more important test because it will entail the full work week.
No bikes will be allowed on the first three cars of each train next week. Current bike rules, like no bikes on escalators or in crowded trains, will remain in place.
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