CA: BART to Decide on Relaxed Rules for Bikes on Trains

[marmar]

CA: BART to Decide on Relaxed Rules for Bikes on Trains

Denis Cuff
Source: Contra Costa Times
Created: May 22, 2013


The BART board appears ready to drop its ban on bringing bicycles on trains during rush hour after a survey found few rider complaints during a one-week test of relaxed rules in March.

The board is expected to vote on the issue Thursday. However, two BART directors said they want to lift the ban only conditionally and decide in five months whether to make the change permanent.

The concern is potential conflicts and collisions between cyclists and other riders on crowded train cars and station platforms.

"I'm in favor of allowing bicycles on our trains, but I think we need a longer test period to evaluate passenger reaction," said Gail Murray, a BART board member from Walnut Creek. ..................(more)

The complete piece is at: http://www.masstransitmag.com/news/10947158/ca-bart-to-decide-on-relaxed-rules-for-bikes-on-trains

[KamaAina]

1. Some of those "other riders" are people using wheelchairs

who will soon be faced with a barrage of cyclists not only colliding with them but placing their bikes in what would otherwise be space for their chairs on the trains.

And what about the other restrictions: no bikes in the two downtown Oakland stations at rush hour (a third, Lake Merritt, is within easy cycling distance), and all SF-bound bikes must exit at the first stop, Embarcadero?

Plus, why no bikes in the first car??