Quality of Life Issues - Rant and Rave
It would be amiss not to acknowledge the quality of life issues and political issues on BART.
BART is by no means a perfect system, and this page serves as the place for criticism and praise of the system.
BART is by no means a perfect system, and this page serves as the place for criticism and praise of the system.
Rant
Designed as a world-class system, the BART system is faced with a rash of issues making an appreciation for the past half-century of progress, a journey for only the hardiest of passengers. Sometimes it’s even said that BART commuters are the toughest in the nation – battling cancelled trains, spoiled seats, needles, drug addicts, panhandlers, sleeping homeless, fare evaders, and fugitives to varying degrees on the trek to and from work, shopping, and other purposes. Not to mention apathy and complacency, in varying degrees, throughout an entire agency - see "pattern of obstruction", top to bottom (some staff don't even ride their own system). BART is often times far too concerned about building housing than running a railroad (a look at the never ending rounds of bus bridges for replacement of wooden switch ties which were installed over 50 years ago (and designed to last 20-30 years) - a golden example of deferred maintenance). That being said, the best time to replace these switch ties was over a decade ago, and the next best time to replace them is now. More about various maintenance concerns (and many other BART concerns) here, here, here or even here. BART's Board, Unions, and Management has repeatedly obstructed BART's Office of Inspector General (OIG) (an independent office specifically designed to promote efficiency, accountability, and transparency; identify fraud, waste, and abuse) in their oversight efforts, not to mention the general public and their rights to know as the very owners of the system. The role of the BART OIG is to be the taxpayer's watchdog, ensuring that taxpayer funds are spent properly and efficiently, and pointing out when they are not. It is almost incredible that BART would be against its own OIG – perhaps a sign of major troubles.
It is a treasured Bay Area pastime to rant about BART, from the construction of the 1960s to the present day. One will have no problem finding other BART topics to rant about, all too often with good cause ("BART is the gravy train with biscuit wheels"), so this is only a small sample of such problems. As a great supporter and rider of the system (this site is an unpaid effort), I must also be a great critic of the system. BART is no bed of roses nor should that condition be hidden. That being said, I think most people know that there are many, many problems with the system.
At times, even I have struggled with continuing onwards in research and even making this site (trust me, I’ve seen just about all of these quality of life issues, and a victim of harassment from one of these bums riding the rails). As of late, I hardly venture out past 6 P.M. – it’s simply too risky in my opinion. Even going home after work can be a gamble at times, and all too often, it is.
This year marks 50 years of BART service. This is certainly a momentous occasion for the Bay Area and for the history of Rapid Transit. It is simply a shame that a system designed with an unequaled innovative spirit is, at times, the equivalent of a rolling…institution. The respectful, fare-paying riders of BART, and the taxpayers, have a right to demand the system to be a safe, economical, and timely method of transport it was promised to be a half century ago. BART should also be an accountable agency – an efficient and responsible user of taxpayer dollars and fare revenues.
BART - For the past 60 years of the District, the citizens of the San Francisco Bay Area voluntarily taxed themselves to build a world class rapid transit system. Today, they now ride something akin rolling garbage can.
Naturally, there are some good people in the District, both past and present, doing their job with world-class pride and professionalism. They care about making BART a better system and they show it. They have kept the system rolling in times when it could have ground to a halt. It is to them I give many thanks. This hobby, and hundreds of thousands of commutes, would not be possible without these fine people.
It is a treasured Bay Area pastime to rant about BART, from the construction of the 1960s to the present day. One will have no problem finding other BART topics to rant about, all too often with good cause ("BART is the gravy train with biscuit wheels"), so this is only a small sample of such problems. As a great supporter and rider of the system (this site is an unpaid effort), I must also be a great critic of the system. BART is no bed of roses nor should that condition be hidden. That being said, I think most people know that there are many, many problems with the system.
At times, even I have struggled with continuing onwards in research and even making this site (trust me, I’ve seen just about all of these quality of life issues, and a victim of harassment from one of these bums riding the rails). As of late, I hardly venture out past 6 P.M. – it’s simply too risky in my opinion. Even going home after work can be a gamble at times, and all too often, it is.
This year marks 50 years of BART service. This is certainly a momentous occasion for the Bay Area and for the history of Rapid Transit. It is simply a shame that a system designed with an unequaled innovative spirit is, at times, the equivalent of a rolling…institution. The respectful, fare-paying riders of BART, and the taxpayers, have a right to demand the system to be a safe, economical, and timely method of transport it was promised to be a half century ago. BART should also be an accountable agency – an efficient and responsible user of taxpayer dollars and fare revenues.
BART - For the past 60 years of the District, the citizens of the San Francisco Bay Area voluntarily taxed themselves to build a world class rapid transit system. Today, they now ride something akin rolling garbage can.
Naturally, there are some good people in the District, both past and present, doing their job with world-class pride and professionalism. They care about making BART a better system and they show it. They have kept the system rolling in times when it could have ground to a halt. It is to them I give many thanks. This hobby, and hundreds of thousands of commutes, would not be possible without these fine people.
Rave
BART was a watershed moment for US public transportation. Here are a few examples of BART’s impact to the Bay Area and US public transportation.
BART introduced the next generation of Public Transit in the United States, one that is still felt today, the start of a transit renaissance, in some respects.
BART was the poster child of public transportation using modern technology. BART was supposed to be synonymous in the world of transit, with computers, automation, new materials, new technologies, comfort, and sophistication - bringing the most advanced technology of the time to create a modern transit service worthy of the current day and age. When the NYC was under a plague of vandalism, BART’s designers promoted building a system so attractive it would deter vandalism. It was going from “broken windows theory” to "transit beautiful.” But now, we weather a similar storm in vandalism and crime.
"Recognizing that the new Bay Area system had to compete with the automobile far more effectively than any of the traditional transit systems in eastern urban centers, BART's engineers adopted extraordinary high design standards intended to establish a wholly new level of performance, passenger comfort, and aesthetic appeal that could attract the freeway commuter away from his automobile" - From Bullets to BART
The heavy local capital funding of BART provided an impetus for larger federal capital funding of transit construction in the United States. Systems following BART, including metro/heavy rail, light rail, and even bus rapid transit lines, use this funding stream recognized following BART. BART followed the heels of PATCO in opening, but the following heavy rail systems opened after BART, in some cases, using technology pioneered by BART:
Lowering pollution, traffic, and energy use - promoted by environmentalists and during the 1970s energy crises, BART riders are able to lower their environmental footprint via riding electric railcars of BART.
Through the 2010s, BART had among the highest farebox recovery ratios in the nation – between 50% - 70%, varying by year. BART’s passengers paid their share of operating costs – contrast to other bus and rail systems in the Bay Area, whose farebox recovery ratio is typically between 10%-30%. In that Pre-COVID world, even with the quality of life problems, BART was able to fulfill an early promise of the system – to be able to support its own operating expenses (mostly). Nowadays, the course is uncertain with ridership that still hasn’t recovered, a looming fiscal cliff, and concerns over oversight and accountability. We shall see if BART weathers this storm to become a better system, one it was promised to be, or continues on this unsustainable path.
"The historical unparalleled innovative spirit, manifested (or perhaps lingering) through the design of the original, higher-speed system and its cars, and the technology making such operation possible, are the reasons I can look through the dirt, grime, and occasionally blood, most of the time. BART is a product of a time never to be repeated – one of local citizenry, voting for and willing to foot the ENTIRE cost of a highly advanced rail system by themselves. The goal to build a high quality rapid transit system, good enough to attract riders based on its positive merits, in turn solving the traffic congestion problem, allowing greater mobility for all, and increasing the wellbeing of all who call this area their home. An innovative transit system, one to elevate the spirit of its riders as much as it would elevate the viability of public transportation across the world."
Recognizing both sides of the same coin
“BART had gone too far, the critics, said, and history proved their argument was partially correct. Others argued that BART had to plow fresh ground because the industry was stagnant, and they were also partially correct.” - 1970s article on BART's construction and early operations.
Fin
It is left up to the reader and rider to decide what was argued long ago – “Is BART the renaissance of urban transportation or one of the most misguided public investments in recent history?” Or perhaps, it is a touch of both.
BART introduced the next generation of Public Transit in the United States, one that is still felt today, the start of a transit renaissance, in some respects.
BART was the poster child of public transportation using modern technology. BART was supposed to be synonymous in the world of transit, with computers, automation, new materials, new technologies, comfort, and sophistication - bringing the most advanced technology of the time to create a modern transit service worthy of the current day and age. When the NYC was under a plague of vandalism, BART’s designers promoted building a system so attractive it would deter vandalism. It was going from “broken windows theory” to "transit beautiful.” But now, we weather a similar storm in vandalism and crime.
"Recognizing that the new Bay Area system had to compete with the automobile far more effectively than any of the traditional transit systems in eastern urban centers, BART's engineers adopted extraordinary high design standards intended to establish a wholly new level of performance, passenger comfort, and aesthetic appeal that could attract the freeway commuter away from his automobile" - From Bullets to BART
The heavy local capital funding of BART provided an impetus for larger federal capital funding of transit construction in the United States. Systems following BART, including metro/heavy rail, light rail, and even bus rapid transit lines, use this funding stream recognized following BART. BART followed the heels of PATCO in opening, but the following heavy rail systems opened after BART, in some cases, using technology pioneered by BART:
- Washington D.C. (1976)- WMATA Metrorail
- Atlanta, GA (1979) - MARTA
- Baltimore, MD (1983) - MTA Baltimore Metro Subway
- Miami, FL (1984) - Metrorail
- Los Angeles (1993) - MTA Red Line, Purple Line
Lowering pollution, traffic, and energy use - promoted by environmentalists and during the 1970s energy crises, BART riders are able to lower their environmental footprint via riding electric railcars of BART.
Through the 2010s, BART had among the highest farebox recovery ratios in the nation – between 50% - 70%, varying by year. BART’s passengers paid their share of operating costs – contrast to other bus and rail systems in the Bay Area, whose farebox recovery ratio is typically between 10%-30%. In that Pre-COVID world, even with the quality of life problems, BART was able to fulfill an early promise of the system – to be able to support its own operating expenses (mostly). Nowadays, the course is uncertain with ridership that still hasn’t recovered, a looming fiscal cliff, and concerns over oversight and accountability. We shall see if BART weathers this storm to become a better system, one it was promised to be, or continues on this unsustainable path.
"The historical unparalleled innovative spirit, manifested (or perhaps lingering) through the design of the original, higher-speed system and its cars, and the technology making such operation possible, are the reasons I can look through the dirt, grime, and occasionally blood, most of the time. BART is a product of a time never to be repeated – one of local citizenry, voting for and willing to foot the ENTIRE cost of a highly advanced rail system by themselves. The goal to build a high quality rapid transit system, good enough to attract riders based on its positive merits, in turn solving the traffic congestion problem, allowing greater mobility for all, and increasing the wellbeing of all who call this area their home. An innovative transit system, one to elevate the spirit of its riders as much as it would elevate the viability of public transportation across the world."
Recognizing both sides of the same coin
“BART had gone too far, the critics, said, and history proved their argument was partially correct. Others argued that BART had to plow fresh ground because the industry was stagnant, and they were also partially correct.” - 1970s article on BART's construction and early operations.
Fin
It is left up to the reader and rider to decide what was argued long ago – “Is BART the renaissance of urban transportation or one of the most misguided public investments in recent history?” Or perhaps, it is a touch of both.
The Owners of BART
BART has always been paid for by the people of the San Francisco Bay Area. As such, BART owes their entire existence to the demands of the Bay Area public for a safe and clean system - something it was literally designed the epitome of, for rapid transit. If you are a taxpayer of the Bay Area, you are a BART owner, funding BART through your tax dollars. If you are a rider of BART, you are also a BART owner. BART is only as good as a system as the people who ride, operate, maintain, and fund it, and BART has such great promise to be a system of Bay Area pride.
“Our entire purpose in life, our only reason for existence is to produce a system so inviting that Bay Area travelers will choose to ride the 80-mile-an-hour trains instead of adding to the traffic congestion that has led such an undesirable effect on our urban way of life.” - BART General Manager B.R. Stokes, 1964.
"The owners of BART - you." From the BART document titled: 1982 A Decade of Service: Report to Owners.
BART has always been paid for by the people of the San Francisco Bay Area. As such, BART owes their entire existence to the demands of the Bay Area public for a safe and clean system - something it was literally designed the epitome of, for rapid transit. If you are a taxpayer of the Bay Area, you are a BART owner, funding BART through your tax dollars. If you are a rider of BART, you are also a BART owner. BART is only as good as a system as the people who ride, operate, maintain, and fund it, and BART has such great promise to be a system of Bay Area pride.
“Our entire purpose in life, our only reason for existence is to produce a system so inviting that Bay Area travelers will choose to ride the 80-mile-an-hour trains instead of adding to the traffic congestion that has led such an undesirable effect on our urban way of life.” - BART General Manager B.R. Stokes, 1964.
"The owners of BART - you." From the BART document titled: 1982 A Decade of Service: Report to Owners.
Thanks for reading the full page, or skimming through. Time to get back to the cool, and my favorite, points of BART - trains! The main point of this site and the reason I keep this site rolling.
Updated 3/1/23
