SINGLE-TRACKING
If BART is going to be delayed for 10 minutes or more due to single tracking, it would be nice if they would let passgenrs know that before they enter the system instead of after they are on the train. It would be nice if it was announced throughout the week on the signs so people can plan extra time for their weekend commutes. We were delayed significantly last Saturday due to single tracking and if people are trying to catch and flight or something, gheese, tell them before they board the train.
Obviously, they didn't think to pick up the trash.
Then they would lose too
Then they would lose too much money because people would just drive instead. This is why when I fly I always drive to the airport, I can not depend on BART to get me to the airport on time.
First of all, in most
First of all, in most instances, the decision to single-track is a last resort. Very rarely will you, us, know that trains are single-tracking way in advance.
Secondly, I'm curious to know where you were that a single-track delayed you for 10 minutes. On a Saturday no less when trains are spaced farther apart. There's only one place where single-tracking could cost you 10 minutes. Let's see if you get it right.
Lastly, when you ride BART, AC Transit, drive, whatever, and you have to be somewhere at a certain time, you LEAVE EARLY. Give yourself some wiggle room just in case the bus breaks down. There's an accident, or BART is single-tracking. It's public transportation. It's not gonna run smooth 100% of the time, and things happen.
To the guy that was complaining about the 10 minute delay, and what if people have a flight to catch, here's some basic math for you.
Trains on Saturday run 20 minutes apart.
Instead of catching the train that will get you to the airport right on time, catch the previous one.
Even with that 10 minute delay, since you left 20 minutes early, you still will get to the airport 10 minutes early.
See how that works?
i do give myself wiggile you
i do give myself wiggile you jerk. they were doing track inspections in turned so they knew well advance that was going to happened. trains were delayed from 10:00 a.m. until 2:30 p.m. because of single tracking so don't tell me BART didn't know in advance. i allow one train of wiggle room.
I was delayed between
I was delayed between Lafayette and Orinda due to track inspections. You can't tell me BART didn't know they were going to do this in advance. I'm well aware that the trains run 20 minutes apart; I ride BART even when I don't have to to spare the air but jerks like you make me want to rethink this decision. Especially with those stanky trains.
Trackway inspections occur
Trackway inspections occur when something abnormal enters or happens on BART property and could possibly interfere with operations. Deer, vehicles, people, holes in fences, earthquake aftermath, and debris being sighted and or reported near the tracks warrant a track inspection. Stuff that you can't possibly predict when and where will happen. Once it is deemed that is safe to resume normal operations, we do so.
You act like we just up and decide to do track inspections for the hell of it. Sorry to blow up your conspiracy theory, but it doesn't happen like that. BART doesn't like a late train anymore than you do, so YES I'm gonna tell you that it wasn't known in advance.
Hey here's a brilliant
Hey here's a brilliant idea:
Build a third track. No, I'm not saying build another transbay tube (but that would be nice), but build a third or fourth track in SF or in the East Bay, so that 1. You won't have to single track 2. You could run express trains, and 3. It will give you one more brand new track to inspect.
It is remarkably simple. There is space to build a third track (or even a fourth) along many of the east bay routes and also in downtown San Francisco.
Now, maybe we could get some service to Marin one day . . .
No space to build a 3rd
No space to build a 3rd track in the city. Sorry. That would require building a third platform in the stations as well. Secondly, each mile of track built costs about a million dollars. BART riders would have a coniption fit about that because that would require a fare increase. If it were as remarkably simple as you brilliantly deducted, it would have been done already.
Lastly, you will never have BART service to Marin because for one, Marin County residents don't want to pay for the cost of the expansion (which would require building another underwater tube)and Marin county residents have expressed that BART service to Marin would bring too much of the "wrong element" to their communities.
what exactly is "the wrong
what exactly is "the wrong element"?
I dont see how BART going to marin could possibly hurt them, aside from the money itd cost to pay for it.
blacks
blacks
marin hates blacks
marin hates blacks
Yep, that's the same reason
Yep, that's the same reason San Bruno and Millbrae fought BART for so long. They didn't want "the BART element" in their cities! Actually, it doesn't translate to just blacks. It translates to homeless, panhandlers, low income people in general....you know, all the ones who ride the trains (without paying) and use them as trash cans, toilets, motels, massage parlors, make-out joints, a place to puke, a place to find robbery victims, a means to transport their drugs to and from dealer/seller/user and the list goes on. Sadly that's what's noticed. What's NOT noticed are the people who PAY to ride BART to attend the opera, the ballet, sporting events, college, WORK (!) and for a whole slew of other legitimate reasons. Those are the people who DON'T eat,drink or smoke on the trains. They don't use the trains for anything other than transporting themselves from point A to point B. It never occurs to them to urinate on the train or in a station elevator. They would not dream of leaving greasy french fries on a train seat or an empty pizza box on a platform. These same people don't blame the Station Agent if their ticket doesn't work, nor do they curse the Train Operator if they are delayed because some tragic soul took his life by jumping in front of the train. Isn't it too bad we have to share the world with "the BART element"?
You really summed it up
You really summed it up well! 90% of BART riders arent the "BART element"-- it is really a shame that the other 10% makes riding the BART such an unpleasant experience. For some reason (maybe its the urine and vomit absorbing upholstered seats) I havent been as bothered on other metropolitan transit systems as I am on BART. The riders on the NY subway, Chicago "El" and DC subway are all just as diverse-- perhaps more so, but dont necessarily make riding those systems unpleasant. I think the combination of 1) high cost to ride BART 2) unsanitary feel of BART and 3) ineffieciency of BART tip the equation such that the majority of average, decent BART riders find the whole system unsatisfactory. Voted the Best Transportation system? That claim is completely unsubstantiated and infuriating!
The Best Trasnportation
The Best Trasnportation system thing is purely political. Supposedly BART got the award for getting more done with less money than the other transit systems in the nation. HAH! You're right about the upholstered seats. Get rid of 'em already. Put in seats like MUNI has and use a high pressure hose on those cars every night and see how much cleaner they look and smell. One of the reasons the homeless like to sleep on BART is because the seats are so comfy compared to MUNI.