BART Considers Several Proposals To Expand Bicycle Access
OAKLAND (KCBS) - As thousands of cyclists celebrated Bike to Work Day, transit officials considered several proposals Thursday to better accommodate the growing number of Bay Area Rapid Transit riders who have made biking part of their commute.
Five percent of BART riders now pedal to the station instead of driving or walking, said Steve Beroldo, manager of the BART Bike Program.
"It was four percent a couple of years ago," Beroldo said.
"Our goal is to get that up to eight percent and beyond in the next five years or so."
BART Considers Several Proposals To Expand Bicycle Access
BART has been modifying its train cars to make room for more bicycles, wheelchairs and luggage.
One idea before the BART board of directors would eliminate the rush hour time restrictions on bicycles, so that riders could bring a bike aboard at any time.
A recent pilot program found most riders were okay with bicycles on the car during commute times. So instead bikes would be prohibited on the first three cars of any train regardless of the hour.
Beroldo said plans to expand bike access on BART assume that not everyone who bikes to a BART station will want to hop back on the bike after reaching a destination.
"If the board does decide to allow bikes on trains, we're very conscious that there is a limit. There can be only so many bikes on the trains, but not everybody needs their bike on both ends," he said.
Beroldo said BART could add as many as 2,000 secure parking spaces for bicycles at 18 stations that are most popular with cyclists.
The BART board will vote on the bicycle proposals at its May 23 meeting.
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