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BART - Bay Area Rapid Transit
Rating Details »
Category: Public Transportation
Neighborhood: East OaklandPO Box 12688
Oakland, CA 94604
(415) 989-2278
235 reviews for BART - Bay Area Rapid Transit
i'm sorry. i ragged on you for years.
"BART is NOT an option for me. TRUST ME. my office is too far away. it would take me HOURS to get to work. HOURS, I TELL YOU!"
i so clearly see now why my friends think i'm a lunatic.
after the onslaught of EpicBridgeFail2k9, i was forced to sit down, pull up http://511.org, and firgure out a way to get to work on public transit. i am by no means a public transit snob - i took the bus every day whilst living in chicago and adored it, and just figured that the bay's methods would pale in comparison.
and whaddaya know. my commute has morphed from a hectic, hand gesturing, arm-flailing, gas-brake-gas-brake frustration fest to a peaceful, punctual, predictable green jaunt. excellent for people watching, and i even get a little extra exercise in walking to and from the station.
of course, there's plenty of work to do. much like the argument "mcdonald's should serve breakfast all day!", i think BART should run all night. no, the economics behind it don't make sense. but it would be incredibly convenient. the trains can be a bit grimey and smelly, and it's not the cheapest thing in the world. but i'm proud to say i'm a total BART (and bay area public transit) convert. hell, anything beats driving over the bridge of DOOM.
It's far from perfect. Spend a little time riding East Coast transit and you'll understand. And its cloth seats are vile and stained with bodily fluids. And it should go further East. And it should go to more SF neighborhoods. And I am well aware of the fact that they don't run as late as the NY subway because they need to repair the tracks. (Though a good alternative could be to start and end later on the weekends. Just a thought.) And I know that we were all on pins and needles earlier this fall when we thought they were going to strike. (Thank you for not doing so).
But, you know what? I see so many people bitch about the Bay Bridge and I've not seen too many people applaud BART for really stepping up and doing the best they could to accomodate the Bay Area when the Bay Bridge fell apart and was closed. Seriously. Give it up for BART.
Also, who can resist the freakshow that is the last train out of SF on a weekend? Only the 3 am PATH train to Jersey City is more entertaining.
B is for BETTER than driving into the city.
A is for the AWESOME people watching. Seriously.
R is for the RIGHT on time. At least most of the time.
T is for TRIP planning online. Easy and convenient.
BART is a timely, clean, reasonably efficient, reasonably quiet way to get between select major destinations in San Francisco and the East Bay during the daytime. Expansion plans to the rest of the Bay Area, which will obviate the need to transfer amongst other major public transport systems like Caltrans, may finally alleviate the requirement of owning a car in the Bay Area, but in the meantime, it's a cluster of 'planes, trains, and automobiles' for getting around town.
Short answer: if BART goes precisely between your start and end, and parking is going to be a problem, take it.
FYI, BART's ticket machines often fail to take credit card, and the make-shift merchants who set up shop in their stations surcharge for the payments by CC, in violation of e.g. Visa's policies.
Not as good as a European subway (what is?) but a whole lot better than your average commuter train. Don't hate, appreciate.
My tune could change if I have to start using BART for a daily commute, but I've really loved it for weekend trips into San Francisco, Oakland, and miscellaneous points 'burbward.
* http://bart.gov has a nice, quick-loading interface (unlike http://511.org) and seems to contain up-to-date, accurate info (eff you, http://mta.net)
* BART runs late, for what it is. AC Transit buses can pick up the slack for those of us in the East Bay, and SF's owl system served me well the once I used it.
* nice wide seats for fat American bottoms!
* just enough freaks to be entertaining for people-watching and eavesdropping, but not enough to be scary
* for some short trips in the East Bay, it's actually cheaper than the bus (N. Berkeley to/from Ashby is $2 on the bus and $1.75 on bart, for instance). In general, it can get expensive depending on where you're going -- but compared to NJ transit, the Boston commuter rail, or other rail systems that link a region's major city to nearby smaller cities and suburbs, it's not unreasonable. Remember, this is regional transit, not city transit.
* after six years in LA, it'll be a while before it gets old that this train has a schedule, sticks to it, and has LED signs in the station telling you when to expect more trains.
* I love, love, loved the timed transfer points. When I have to switch at MacArthur, I know I'm going to make my connection because the next train will be waiting. Period. I wish multi-leg flights worked like that ;)
* You can take it right up to an SFO terminal! YEAH! No, you can't take it right to the airport in Oakland, but a) it's at least well-linked by that shuttle bus and b) are you really surprised they screwed Oakland?
I'd like to see tickets that can't be so easily demagnetized. The way I carry my pass, I'm not affected, but it's silly. Oh, and it would be nice if some BART workers were a little more helpful. But overall, there's a reason real estate near BART stations is so expensive. I rent a block away from a station, and I may never ever move!
I take the BART about 3 times a week and today as I was on the Richmond line heading to work I decided it's about time to give a Yelp review :)
The only complaint I have with the BART is the price. I think it's very pricey. From Richmond to Glen Park station I pay $4.30 one way.
Now I'm an NYC girl where taking public transportation is like breathing for me. Hmm...maybe I'll Yelp that too :) And with all the crazy traffic on the Bay Bridge, hmm maybe I'll Yelp that too :) I've started taking BART more often because it's comfortable, I get to relax and enjoy a book or people watch and I don't have to deal w/too much stress.
If the BART prices dropped I can honestly say this transit system would surely see an increase amount of people.
I love BART!
I also not only wish the prices were a little more affordable but I also wish they'd extended it to other locations such as Vallejo, though I realize Vallejo isn't really considered the Bay Area :)
I know it's expensive and it's teaming with weirdos and people that smell but you got me where I needed to be today on the double. Thanks!
PS Remember that time there was a bag of rocks under the seat... only on BART
Being someone from Boston, where the subway system is woefully inadequate, I must say that BART is one of my favorite transportation systems in the country. The seats are cushiony, comfy (similar to the DC Metro), and provide ample room. Plus you can catch the BART right in SFO (just like the tube at Heathrow).
But the big thing for me is the announcement system- there are screens that tell you *exactly* when the next few trains are coming. You have no idea the public transport envy I feel when I come to the Bay Area or London and see that. It screams efficient.
Hence, I love the BART. It is expensive, as other reviewers have pointed out, but it is a sweet ride.
I like bart.
lower prices and service more areas.. and you'll get more people
and quit chargin to park our cars too.
Minus one billion stars for having cloth seats and flooring. What design genius thought it would be sanitary to use fabric?! The thought of those filthy, festering, swine-flu-infested seats is enough to drive any well-adjusted person into the first stages of OCD. Yes, that's me standing by the stainless steel pole on an almost empty train, germaphobia levels at orange alert.
On the other hand, BART is generally reliable (on-time), easily accessible, and allows me to trek into the City without having to deal with traffic congestion, the toll, dumb asses who drive in the FastTrak lane who don't have FastTrak and hold everyone who does have FastTrak up while they merge into Cash Only lanes, and of course - exorbitant city parking fees. Plus, from the Rockridge station I actually get into downtown SF quicker than most people who live in SF themselves. So with all of that into consideration, add one billion and four stars.
I like BART. I don't love it. It's limited and it's expensive for what it offers. When I've returned from trips to Boston I've been angry at how few places BART goes in comparison to the T, which covers the Boston area, going to myriad museums and university campuses. It's been several years since we've been to Boston though, so I'm no longer feeling that anger. We use BART in a very limited way, mostly to go to San Francisco to the theatre, and for that it works well. This past couple of weeks we've taken it several times and it has been undeniably convenient. For us it's mostly a way to go into the eastern part of the city and play, although a few times we've taken it to and from SFO, and that's been terrific. The airport BART station is clean and convenient.
It is the worst rapid transits I've ever experience. Not to mention the ridiculous limited stations it has, it is dirty and stinks. Why stations only run along Market Street in SF? Why it only runs down to Fremont, not to San Jose? Why do they build a Dublin/Stoneridge station and not a new Livermore station instead? Why are they using cloth seats that absorb stains and odors and hard to clean and replace? Why are they still using this old stupid paper ticket system? Why they always ask for more tax-payers' money but nothing has been improved? Why why why?
Comparing to other subway/transits in big cities like NY, DC, Europe, Japan and Hong Kong, BART is the worst! It is a shame to San Francisco and to Bay Area. How can one of the world's famous cities has such a bad and out-dated transit system. Whoever in charge of BART and those decision-makers should be fired or resigned.
Look at what other cities offer to their citizens! We deserve a modern, smart, convenience, clean transit system, not BART!
I absolutely loathe BART. One time my friend made the mistake of hitting one of the BART seats and we were both appalled by all of the dust and dirt that flew out of the seats. Totally disgusting and now I feel like any clothes I wear on BART I should wash when I get home.
I'm also frustrated b/c I commute on a BART, and at least once a week there seems to be some type of delay. BART keep raising prices, but I don't see any improvements. Plus its frustrating to see how much more efficient and cheaper public transportation is in other major cities like New York and Chicago, and even in Europe like Paris and London.
Really a 2.5er, but I got to drop a star for their recent renovation. When are cloth seats acceptable for mass transit? They're not. They recently renovated many of their trains and had the brains to rip out the nasty-ass carpet, so why keep the cloth seats? Of course the trains still stink. Take a lesson form the NYC MTA, London's Tube and Paris' Metro: these people-movers have one thing in common: plastic bench seating. Why would a brash upstart like BART try to reinvent the light rail? And then to charge what they charge is pretty weak.
Why does it stop running at midnight on weekends? Are they in cahoots with the Taxi association or do they think that it's a good thing for people to drive across the bridge buzzed? One train per hour from Civic Center to 12th Street would maybe save a few live every year. That's a good thing.
I'm going to try AC Transit for a few weeks and see how it compares to my old stand by, BART.
NYC fare is 2.25$ enough said
BART is too expensive, Fremont to Powell is 5.60$, 5.60$/pp (!)
It's not that I can't afford it, sure easy. It's my belief that public transit needs to be cost competitive to driving into the city. Our genius city planners made it such that we need a car anyway (and pay for its maintenance),
It's better than nothing, I guess.
I agree that context IS everything and compared to SEPTA in Philly and NYC Metro - BART is clean, safe and efficient. It is not nearly as expansive as NYC's system - but it is newer and way cleaner.
And it beats the heck outta SEPTA.
I was a big BART user and I support BARTS expansion and use.
BART is great. It gets me to where I need to go and fast! Tis why I pay the extra $2.55 to ride BART instead of hoofing it onto AC Transit.
However, there are some ways BART can improve:
1. Designated bicycle tie-downs in ALL cars. Seriously, holding a bike the whole trip is a bitch.
2. Cleaner seats and floors. I did not ride BART to contract Hepatitis, thank you very much. If I want that (And more), I can visit my friendly neighborhood prostitute.
That's all I can think of for now. Hopefully the problems above can be saved with BART's new cars, which should arrive sometime next decade.
So... it's better than having no public transportation around the bay area and it is definitely better than the muni...but that's not really saying much.
Whoever thought it was a good idea to use fabric seats?
Everytime I sit down, I think about the possible other people who have sat there after doing whatever it is that they do and i think that it's seeping into my clothes and skin....disgusting ... and unlike stainless steel or other kinds of metal, fabric can actually hold moisture and harbor bacteria... has the public health department been notified? i think it'd be interesting to see how much bacteria, fungi, and other stuff they can find on the bart seats.
Why aren't the stations cleaner? Bathrooms?
It's not like it already doesn't cost a ton of money for all of the bay area to ride bart. You'd think they'd have a little bit of surplus to do some remodeling or AT LEAST cleaning of the stations and bathrooms.
Other things BART should do:
-make changes to make it less noisy
-make some sort of card/device to which you can add money OR a one time fee for monthly use.
-run later (although multiple drunk people put together on a train doesn't seem to be the best idea at time, in addition to the fabric seats, which would probably now also contain vomit)
-more security
-workers with less attitude
other than that, bart is ok...but then again, that is almost like changing everything but the logo.
My last weekend was my first time using the BART. My friends and I were spending the weekend in the Bay Area. We flew into Oakland Airport and took the BART over to SF. It was a good trip. The subway reminded me of my times in Hong Kong. I was would take the subway all the time when I was there. It's a good way to get from the airport to SF. We were staying in Union Square so we were able to get off the Powell Street exit and just walk a couple of blocks to the Hilton where we were staying at. It's easy on the wallet so there's more money to party with. =)
I love BART
BART BART BART, I have a weird love-hate relationship with you...
First I love you, because - normally you are dependable and fast and quiet and efficient and I get to look at the bay area glide by beautifully as if i were in some weirdo German or French movie.
Then I hate you because you end your service at the dumb-dumb time of twelve or so, cause me to stay stuck in the East Bay and never romp till late night in the city unless i or another friend drives.
Then I love your cushy seats and and all the fantabulous people watching- because, well, everyone rides BART.
But I hate you, because everyone rides BART and during high traffic times I'm smashed into one of your cars like a freaky clown sardine.
Sunny days = loves (sunny, relaxing, half naked hot people)
rainy day = hate (smells, wet, cranky people)
late night service = loves (awesome for holidays!)
late night service = hate (never happens- except for once or twice a year...every plastered person in the Bay Area crammed on BART)
What am i going to do with you BART?
PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION HAIKU
small bloody tampon,
cyclops albino mouse perched
on the BART stairwell
My BART ride was short enough that I stayed awake on BART usually, but long enough that I thought. A lot. And that's with the iPod going.
I have a lot of revelations and thoughts about life, the world, existence, yadda yadda yadda...
Don't get me wrong, coming from a state that has only one form of public transit *cough*TheBus*cough*, it's very fast, it's efficient, and it's USUALLY on time.
HOWEVER
The worst realization to have while sitting on BART:
"They don't actually....*wash* the seats...do they."
Funny how much denial your brain can be in for a couple of months. This is what it progressed from.
"I'm sure they clean these seats. I mean just because I don't see it doesn't mean it doesn't happen"
Turned into
"So they walk up and down the aisles and pick up paper. I hope that's not all they do."
Which eventually, after a couple of months, has finally turned into.
"No. They don't actually wash the seats."
and then of course the further epiphany that would make my Art History prof proud:
"Now I know why that one guy stands all the way from Millbrae to the East Bay."
I love BART. I save so much money from taking it. It's convenient, usually pretty dependable, and with gas prices the way they are these days...really, public transportation is the way to go.
I've met my fair share of interesting people on this thing though. There are the nice old Chinese ladies who don't really know what stop to get off at, so I help em' out if I can understand them. There are the hippies and the drunks.
And then there are the pervs, like the one that decided it'd be cool to sit a couple feet away from me and stare (and stare, and stare some more...) while openly masturbating. Yeah, that was pretty freaking disgusting.
But other than that, I can't complain.
"The doors are closing. Please step away from the doors."
"San Francisco/Daly City train now approaching Platform 2."
"Richmond bound train. Richmond bound train"
I've been riding BART since I was in Junior High.
Minus one star for making me wait 23 minutes exactly on Sunday's whenever I miss and Eastbound train.
p.s. Did you know that you can get a ticket if they catch you eating on BART?
I'm obsessed with you BART.
Whoever brought this fantastically convenient transit to the Bay Area deserves the Nobel Peace Prize as far as I'm concerned...
how else would we have gotten to all those metal shows in the city when we were kids (and the TOOL show I went to last night, via a North berkeley to Civic Center sprint)? All the A's games since I was born? Giants games since they moved to Pac Bell or [enter bullshit corporate name here] park? All the shopping sprees in the Haight and downtown? OR Castro Halloween adventures (before they cut us off..)?
None of this would have been possible for us without the BART station in CV. And now, my hook-up is North Berkeley (Richmond line, WHAT!).
And they take 'tiny-tickets' now for whichever organization you wish to donate to.
Thank goddess for the piss-smelling, fast-moving, call-dropping, ear-pressure-popping, takes-way-to-long-on-weekends Bay area rapid transit!
So tell a friend... don't be skuured! Public transportation is HOTT.
I do like (appreciate, even) the fact you're *around*, and thinking back to the 70s when you debuted all space age and shit. But more than 30 years down the road, you haven't evolved much. Yeah, you've got new stations here and there, but those dumbass destination signs go on the fritz so frequently, it's fun watching all these people scratch their heads and panic after they get on the wrong train (nevermind that your typical rider wouldn't dare approach someone else and TALK to them, god).
And you spent a bajillion building a way to get up close and personal with SFO (we all know that airport passengers account for like 75% of your riders, right?). Oh, ya -- forward thinking for that Bay Area loop you keep dreaming about, and should that miracle ever come to fruition, it will cost US twice what the new Bay Bridge span is. Then it will cost the average citizen $15 to take an average round trip in the Bay Area.
You're backwards and adolescent, BART. Expensive, spend thrift, can't get your priorities straight, and ill-mannered to some of your biggest allies in the movement to reduce carbon emissions on a daily basis (um, that would be cyclists). Do something so my 2-wheelin brothers and sisters don't get their rides jacked at your stations, and can take their rides in the stations trains ANY time of the day so they can complete their travels. And quit you're "don't do this" and "ya can't do that" and "shouldn't be doin' that" bullshit. Bikes on board *aren't* toys, OK... unlike half the shit people are hauling in those suitcases they put on the chairs where PEOPLE should be sitting. Again with the airport passenger bunch.
I have fond memories of an emergency situation that arose in San Francisco some years ago during the Bay Area's last humong-o power outtage. I was stuck in the transbay tube on the way to SF in a train so packed, that all the techie-pros on board didn't even have enough elbow room to reach for their mobiles (which would never have worked back then anyway). We were in that tunnel, immobile for 1 hour and 35 minutes, with ONE lame ass announcement made about "Oh the power's out in the Embarcadero station, and we're trying to move a train out of the way". We were less than 500 feet from the station, you imbecile. Wouldn't it have been at the very least courteous to offer an evacuation?
Despite your hefty cover charge, you're always complaining that you're broke, can't pay your bills, or owe too much on your credit card. You piss me off to no end, but I depend on you. You're the worst f*ckn kind.
5 stars for enabling the reverse commute, and therefore enabling me to live in this beautiful amazing city and work in the inner 'burbs
-1 star for 20 minute headways after the peak hour
-1 star for the disgusting "bart stench" that I've sadly become used to
-1 star for not having a smart card, and instead having those crappy cards that get demagnetized so easily
-1 star for BART and the region as a whole not even considering transit as a tool to curb drunk driving (closing the BART at midnight and the bars at 2 -- huge disconnect here!)
+1 star for making me driving free for the past 4 months!
+1 star for preserving polar bear climates one BART ride at a time.
Ok I am totally erring on the side of the BART gods and giving this place a four instead of the 3.5 I'd like to give it. Really I depend on BART a lot (as I do VTA, CalTrain, Light Rail and the occasional jaunt on AC Transit and MUNI but hey who's saying utilizing public transportation is a bad thing). BART is an even contender heading with other Bay Area public transportation systems heading into this review and this is how I decided 3.5 was an adequate star rating:
efficiency: 4 out of 5--BART is usually on time (or within
a reasonable time frame). However, when there's a problem
at one station, there are problems with ALL trains heading in
that direction. unforeseen upside: if this was to happen to your
train under the transbay tunnel you could wind up on the news!
All joking aside, BART is well timed to commuter bus shuttles
and local bus services throughout/leading to 5 counties.
cleanliness: 2.5 out of 5, two things-don't ride the suspiciously
empty car on New Year's Day and hey, it beats MUNI.
comfort level of the trip: 3 out of 5--tip one during commute
hours, if you want to sit, always go for one of the first cars. For
every beautiful sunrise over SF in the wee hours you get five
people screaming on their cell phones, 2 homeless people
talking to you/themselves, 4 teenage girls squealing and one
guy sleeping for what feels like a dozen times over. Still it beats
MUNI.
convenience: 3.5 out of 5--during commute hours all is well. But
there is limited service between the lower East Bay and San
Francisco at night and on Sundays. As some have pointed out
they do close before the bars do, so that can kind of suck.
those creepy voices (the soft robot voice/robot boy voice) and
the flashing minute signs: 2 out of 5. Creepy. Plus when the
attendant or station agent blares across the loudspeaker you
can really detect the rhythm of the electronic voice afterwards
From when I use to have a car, I do remember that the parking lots I
use to park in (Millbrae and Fremont) were both well lit and quite safe.
I also feel like I get more than my fair share of late trains right in a row but that's a whole other story....
Dear BART,
I remember 3 years ago when we first met. I had just moved to Berkeley and needed to find a way to get to San Francisco everyday for work so that I would stop hearing those voices in my head on the Bay Bridge chanting "everyone must die" during my 90 minute commute. I must admit, you intimidated me at first. I mean what was I supposed to think when I heard the stories about how you so stealthily move about the dark underground like a massive metal rat, even fearlessly diving deep underwater from time to time without missing a beat! But after all the time we have spent together I have gotten to know the real you and I wouldn't be a good friend if I didn't make you aware of several major flaws in your seemingly well built system:
1) Your stations smell like urine and feces
2) You are not bike friendly
3) Your interior is filthy and disgusting
4) You poop out at 12:20, I go all night
Although these defects make our relationship a bit rocky from time to time, they won't stop me from sliding my debit card into your waiting slot and gently tapping my private numeric combination onto your slick metal buttons so that I can ride you. Of course if you really love me you will work on these things. Because you never know when a better option may come along and sweep me off my feet. Then my dear BART, you can kiss my ass goodbye - if you're lucky.
God, where do I start.
1.) I take serious issue with the magnetized ticketing system imposed by BART. While thankfully in the last 5 years they have discovered something known to most of us as a credit card, they are still behind the times. Regular users should get a key chain transponder. No, I'm serious, just like fasTrak you should have an online account and a little thingy that beeps when you walk past. It should be attachable to your keys or purse just to make digging in your bag and therefore exposing yourself to robbery a thing of the past. Also, we could hook it into MUNI and the SF Buses and AC transit. WOW, what a thought!
2.) Bart, I don't care if you list 10 bazillion reasons why you can't run on the weekends late, but whatever they are, they are dumb or a cover for the fact that your union is twisting your arm. Frankly, I think SF cities need to pass a law that says public transportation needs to be open until 3 on Friday and Saturday nights. The fact that people still need to drive after drinking is freaking retarded. Anyone want to start getting signatures?
3.) Your computer system is ridiculous. Who thought of the idea of having a finite number of trains. When you installed the SFO stop, the trains now have to LITERALLY switch over to a new system. Don't you guys plan ahead? I honestly can't believe you didn't think of getting new computers before now. I'm telling you, you pay your drivers too much if this is why.
4.) I am uber annoyed by stupid jerks standing in the way of the doors. I personally like the new marking system you have, but you need to do a better job or clearly stating what travel etiquette is. Also, have some staff at the platforms during rush hour to make Barters behave. I know, police state, but pushing and shoving is just stupid. (You assholes know who you are).
5.) I honestly think http://511transit.org trip planner is really really annoying. Why the heck can't you see where the address of the various Bart tunnels are? A map included in the interactive system would sure be nice. Ever heard of using google? I mean, what if you need a pick up. Or don't know where you are going to be. So dumb that I have to google it. C'mon people! Basic user interfacing.
Sometimes when waiting for my train, trying not to think about the vomit under the bench or the unreasonable price I'm paying to get across the Bay, I imagine that the disembodied computer voices that announce approaching trains (female for northbound, male for southbound) will someday find each other and fall in love.
*I HEAR YOUR VOICE ALL THE TIME AND BOY OH BOY DO YOU SOUND SEXY. MY COLD ROBOT HEART IS ALL A-FLUTTER.
-YEAH BABY, I WANT TO INTONE YOUR TIMETABLE.
*HOW ABOUT WE GO BACK TO MY PLACE AND I WILL SHOW YOU MY TRANSFER POINT.
-TWO CAR TRAIN FOR ROMANCE NOW BOARDING, PLATFORM ONE.
I've Barted nearly my entire adult life. Here are some of the highlights.
THE GOOD:
~ After searching my pocket desperately for my newly purchased $45 ticket I came up emtpy. I get frustrated and take off my backpack to pull out my debit card to buy another. I then see it neatly tucked into a little slot on my bag. I had been unaware, with headphones on, while standing at the door and the kind citizen who saw me drop it chose to place it discreetly rather than disturb my groove.
~ Heartbroken by a break-up I sat crying softly on the last train to the East Bay at 12:30 am. A woman turns to me, gets up, pats my arm, smiles and says softly, "Don't worry. It'll be alright." Her legitimate concern and kind words turned my tears into a smile.
~ The time I sat in conversation with a Bart Police officer, dressed fully in Halloween costume as a "just bitten and turning vampire", complete with make-up paled skin, long black nails, long black wig and fake blood oozing from my "bite". After several moments of conversation he sees my neck and says "Oh my God! Are you alright?"
I say, "Dude, it's Halloween. This is my costume. You hadn't figured that out this whole time?"
He says, "Oh, well, you never know. This *is* West Oakland."
THE BAD:
~ A fifteen minute high pitched screaming argument with some dude who refused to stop hitting on me after I told him I was not interested. During said argument Mr. Harassment proceeds to tell me I am:
Rude
Not a humble human being
Going to die of a heart attack
In need of reading the Koran to get myself "some knowledge"
Upon, finally, escaping argument and unwanted, unnecessary advances and hopping aboard my train he peeks through the door and asks "So, can I have your number?"
~ The dude who proceeded to sit across from me, in broad daylight, and yank one out while watching me read a book. No lie.
~ The time in junior high my loud mouthed friend loud mouthed the wrong man and he pulled a gun out to "scare" us. Um, ya, I think it worked.
~ The time the African man followed me from train car to train car confessing a love at first site and asking me to become one of his wives.
Bart. It's a love hate relationship.
BART, n. Bay Area Rapid Transit. A railroad, with 104 miles of track, in Northern California. Rapid, in this case, stands for 80 mph. Originally built to reduce traffic across the Bay Bridge and to facilitate commuting to downtown San Francisco, its immediate effect was to inspire a network of suburban office parks at stations throughout the system. Walnut Creek, Concord, and Pleasanton enjoyed a renaissance due to this real estate boom. In the past two weeks BART officials have discovered some operating money and have been actually cleaning the trains, leading to a pleasant riding experience. You can still hear them a mile away, as those electric paddles, steel dragging on steel, scream like jet engines.
BART, v. To commute by rail, as in "I BARTed to Concord for nine months, which was cheaper than driving."
BARTable, adj. Near a BART station, as in "Will you take a contract with our client, if it's BARTable?" Listen. The best contracts, with the highest billing rates, are inside the City limits. If you want me to BART to the suburbs again, you have it ass-backwards. Call me when you have a client in San Francisco.
I still use BART to go to church near MacArthur Station, and I have used BART to get to both SFO and OAK.
Am I cheating or something? There are so many reviews of BART stations, but why not one, all encompassing review of BART itself? I mean, the actual train does not change from station to station. As far as I'm concerned, it smells, feels and looks the same from Millbrae to Pleasanton (with the exception of riders who come and go).
I like BART. Yes, sometimes it smells like someone snuck a cat on and let it use the train as a litter box, and sometimes it is painfully delayed. And yes, it's loud! (What did you say? I SAID, IT'S LOUD!!!). And of course, there are those times when it's so crowded that you push and squeeze and abuse your bowels in hopes that passing wind may disperse the crowd that's smashing you.
But overall, I commend BART. It's easily accessible, more timely than MUNI, generally comfortable and always full of interesting people.
Why on earth are you people reviewing BART? It's a public transport system. There is no alternative. Do you think if someone reads a bad review, they'll take the *other* subway system?
Tips about avoiding panhandlers or weird station features would be useful, but most of these 'reviews' are just inane descriptions of reviewers personal feelings.
If your review isn't useful to others, it's just clutter. Validating your own existence or deluding yourself into a false sense of importance are not good reasons to post something on Yelp. Those are reasons for using Twitter.
Thank you BART for taking me to work every day.
My dad has a fear of getting trapped in a BART station. It's a good thing he doesn't live in the Bay Area, but once he came to visit and he didn't put enough money on his ticket, and couldn't get through the exit gate. My mom tried to show him how to add money to his ticket and get out, but it was too late; he was already in red button panic mode. Did you see that guy running in circles and shouting and ranting?
No, no, not that crackhead...over there...look over there. Yeah, the old balding Chinese guy with thick glasses. Yeah, that's him. That's my dad.
After that infamous incident, my sister and I liked to joke to my dad that all the crackheads playing guitars in the BART station used to be successful working professionals until the fateful day they did not put enough money on their BART tickets, and could not get out.
Well, as fate would have it, I got trapped in the BART station today. I had enough money on my ticket; it just didn't work. I told myself not to panic. The message on the automatic gate said "See Agent," so I tried to find an agent. I walked up and down the Civic Center BART station looking for an agent, but every single booth was devoid of human life. Maybe they don't pay their agents enough to show up for work. Finally, I gave up and just opened the metal side gate and went out.
I felt so sneaky, but I really had tried to see an agent, and I just couldn't locate one.
And I wasn't about to live there among the crackheads, you know.
I don't even know how to play a guitar.
New Year's Eve was probably not the best time to take BART.
I've seen some interesting people on BART
For instance this one guy that sang with all his heart and gave me a splitting headache, but I didn't say anything because I was afraid he'll knock me over with his bike.
And then on my way back, fight erupted and I was in the middle of it. I felt like I was on the set of Jerry Springer..minus the nudity and flying wigs.
But still I love BART because it takes me to SF ever so swiftly.
