The way I see it

There are many problems with BART, some are patron related and some are employee related.

Employee Reated problems:

1). Some Agents are rude, over bearing and have no business working with the public, try dealing with the agents at Bay Point, Concord, and Del Norte, on any given day, they are by far the worst, mean spirited people, I have ever had to deal with!

Solution: It is a given, they are union, so getting rid of them is next to impossible, but there must be a system of review and evaluation. Most people, will deal with the cost of the ride, but most will not deal with rude, mean employees, who are not helpful.

There should be a system in place to reward the outstanding employees and a better system of getting rid of the dead weight.

2. Better police presence. I understand police have a lot to do and it is a difficult job, but they need to be more visible on the trains and in the stations. There are no if's, and's, or but's about it. I am not sure what the solution is, maybe an officer on the list can help me out on this one.

3.The trains are a mess, I mean a fucking mess!
agents need the authority to enforce, the no eatting and drinking rule.

Solution: The first step in the right direction is, agents will no longer allow coffee into the stations, period! No more starbucks, Unless it is in a spill proof cup! This is at the very least a step in the right direction. Going back to better police presence, I feel this would naturally, cut down on the whole food issue.

4. People without permits parking in the permit area, should not be just a ticket, but should result in towing. I pay for a permit and when, I can't park someone should get more than a 25 dollar ticket, consider I pay 64 dollars a month for parking.

5. people who do not pay their fare. I know fare skippers are out there and I understand, it is not a priority with management.

Solution: Before BART can raise it fares, I believe they should be good stwards of what they do have, up and util BART makes fare evasion a piority, they should not ask to raise the fares!

Elavators, should be like atm doors and not allow access without a valid ticket--yes, I know there are some problems with this, such as more than one person entering the elvator with one ticket, but it is a step in the right direction. Going back to better police presence, I think would help solve this issue.

6. Bums asking for money by the ticket machines. I have to tell you, I hate it when I am rushing to work and I need to buy a ticket and some bum is trying to hit me for a a little cash! speaking of bums, what is up with the bum, who LIVES in the Concord BART station? One of the agents told me his name is Dave, and he does not cause any problems, so he gets to stay. WTF, nothing like parking you car, next to bum sleeping in the parking area!

Solution: Not really sure?? Free speech and all.

7.Ticket exchanges. Nothing I hate worst then to have to exchange a ticket and they are difficult to get too and have hours that don't work for a lot of people! I know agents can send them in for you--unless you ask the lazy agent doing the week, who always seems to be out of forms or too busy reading her Bible (Yes, I am talking about the lazy agent at Concord), everytime I see her she is reading her Bible and not doing her Job, how and why she gets away with this is beyond me.

Solution: there needs to be more ticket exchange locations. Maybe one every four stations or one per line or sometime, I should not have to go to Berkely or the city to exchange a ticket.

Well, I am done with my Rant! I like BART, but there needs to be some improvements, that is the way, I see it.

Heimdal