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PollWould you all be happy with Configuration C or Configuration B for the new BART Cars?
1. Concept C http://bart.gov/docs/cars/interiorConepage.pdf
80%
2. Concept B http://bart.gov/docs/cars/interiorBonepage.pdf
20%
3. Concept D http://bart.gov/news/articles/2012/news20120112.aspx
0%
Total votes: 5
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Car Stolen from Ashby StationOkay so my beloved vehicle was stolen from the Ashby BART station last Thursday. Within 30 seconds of discovering this, the BART police rolled up to greet me and help me file a report. This drives me nuts. Seriously, having to pay $1 a day and there's not even security cameras or an officer that will do a walk around every half hour to at least give the feeling that the lots are being watched. |
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That's interesting that they
That's interesting that they were close enought to show up in 30 seconds, but not around when the car was being stolen
Not to diminish your loss
Not to diminish your loss because I know that sick, sinking feeling when what is yours is not where you left it. But, if your car was so beloved did you have a club on the steering wheel? Car thieves will bypass such devices because they take too much time to mess with.
BART Police and Community Service officers are responsible for patrolling 2 or 3 stations during their given shifts. That's why you see them out on the road - it's a lot faster if they drive from one station to another. Then they will cruise through the parking lot or garage, hang around the station for a bit, then go back to the other station and repeat the process. You may see them doing what you think is only chatting with the station agents because it's in those booths they can also watch the various security cameras for potential problems. Maybe they can do that in one station every 30 minutes, but what do you expect them to do when they're at their other station or in route between the two? Experienced car thieves need mere seconds to be successful.
The reality is that there are not enough officers to cover every train, every station and every parking facility 24/7. Officers are on duty around the clock because you'd be surprised what crazies will try to do in BART areas at 3 a.m. As in any group of working people there are those who will be slackers, but I think the under-staffed BART police do their best when they are responsible for more square miles than any other law enforcement agency in California outside of the Highway Patrol.
Yes, they are responsible
Yes, they are responsible for many square miles, but as a previous poster enlightened us, Bart police officers spend more than 50% of their time writing reports because Bart is so scared of getting sued. With this in mind, including the fact that they are so understaffed as you said, is it any wonder they're not there when you need them or if they are, issues are handled with kid gloves?
And to the person who had their car stolen, I feel so sorry for you. Bart station parking lots are not patrolled often enough.
BART could definitely take
BART could definitely take steps to improe this situation. Anyone watching lot, not even a police officer, would deter crime. BART owes it to their patrons to do a better job of protecting the lots; it is part of the cost of doing business. At the very least, there should be video cameras at every station. That guy who checks to make sure people paid to park could definitely stay and watch the lots. How much do they him? I'm sure not as much as an officer. This just isn't fair to people who work hard for what they have. If there was better public transportation available to the stations, we could all leave our cars at home.
First, do you think an auto
First, do you think an auto thief will steal a car in front of an officer? When an officer must respond to a call, it's a simple signal to the auto thief that his target will only take about 30 seconds to enter and drive away. Put a club or other steering wheel lock on the car to deter the thief. Regardless, if a thief wants your car, he/she will take it.
Maybe the 50% of parking
Maybe the 50% of parking fees that go into the general fund could actually be used for parking: cameras, security guards, etc.
TRY USING THE CLUB
TRY USING THE CLUB
Are you kidding, the Parking
Are you kidding, the Parking fees are subcontracted out to some company in Huntinton Beach.. BART gets some, but not much..
They mostly put the parking fees to scare off the casual carpoolers since alot of folks were complaining about no parking.
The "Permit" parking is a joke at Rockridge, If you pay for a permit, you don't have to validate inside the station.. I know several people that work at the nearby businesses that have permits.
If you REALLY know these
If you REALLY know these people who work at nearby businesses, pay for permits but don't ride the train, why don't you report them to BART Police? You would be freeing up parking spaces for those who PAY to ride the train.
If you don't know them personally, but have seen them walk out of the BART parking lot, get the car license number and report it to BART Police. The permit will be voided and paying riders will have an extra space or two.