Strangest PSA Video Featuring BART 02.06.12
From what I can gather, the people who made the video are a part of the SMB MVP Community Roadshow (Sponsored by HP and Microsoft), an event featuring Windows Storage Servers. Alas, my geek cred has its limits. But who cares — there’s a talking Barbie and a garden gnome telling you to ride BART!
BART Plans to Order New Cars in May 01.12.12
Last summer we told you about the proposed new BART cars and seats. Today SFGate reports that BART plans to order the first batch of these cars in May.
BART plans to buy a slick new ride – 260 new rail cars – for about $1 billion in May. The cars will sport a sleek modern look, cleaner seats, digital information displays, even air conditioning that works on hot days. And if transit officials are pleased, and can come up with another $2 billion or so, they’ll buy another 515 cars.
Don’t get too excited, though. After BART orders the new cars and the contract is awarded, the first of the test batch of new cars may arrive at the beginning of 2015.
Read the rest of the report.
Three Bloggers Walk Into BART… 01.10.12
And the journey turns into the best BART ride ever.
From Brokeass Stuart, who always knows how to turn on the fun:
We were all coming back from Allan’s (from MissionMission) birthday in Oakland. Ariel (also from Mission Mission) started doing flips on BART and eventually there were like four people doing them at a time. It was awesome!
See the rest of the acrobatics (and the romantic connection they inspired) at MissionMission.
Takin’ ‘em off for No Pants 2012 01.09.12
Watch Out For Your Parked Bike at BART Stations 01.04.12
Photo by K. Todd Storch
I took away the following advice from them:
- Write down the serial number of your bike. You’ll need it if your bike is ever recovered. Seriously, do it now. Put it in your phone or something.
- Powell street BART is most secure. Due to people traffic and location of the bike area, they have had the least amount of theft there.
- Don’t park a bike in public for more than a couple of hours if you expect to keep the bike. Get a beater.
- Write BART about improving bike security. They don’t listen to the BART cops, they do listen to you. You can do so online here.
Vic also had some great suggestions for BART to improve bike security. Read all about his saga at MissionMission.
What tips do you have for fellow bicyclists?
Looking into BART’s crystal ball 01.03.12
Photo by Christopher Carfi
Sometimes I think of BART and Muni as siblings. It’s a complicated relationship. One is clearly spoiled, enjoying the easy life while the other gets beat up and mocked on an hourly basis. One gets arcade money while the other gets pantsed. BART lives in the hills, while Muni reconstructs cardboard shanties each night and begs for spare change.
Anyway, SFGate has an article up with the headline, “BART planners begin work on new vision for future.” Yeah, there are people whose job it is to plan for Muni’s future. But the details of what’s in store for BART make Muni seem like a bicycle with wooden wheels.
“Planners are working on a new vision for the future – one that could include express trains, all-night service, new stations along existing lines, trains traveling different routes and extensions to Livermore, Ocean Beach, Brentwood and Crockett.”
BART to Ocean Beach? Helloooooo!!!!! That would beat the hell out of the long slog of an N-Judah ride, amirite?
Read the rest of the story on SFGate. What do you think of the proposals? What would you do if you could plan for BART’s future?
Have you seen the accordion-playing cyclist on BART? 12.20.11
@pkannofisbump has. She shared the photo above, and thinks he’s quite good.
If you have seen or heard this fella, send us your stories, photos, and (we hope) videos.
Visualizing BART to Marin (and Napa and Sonoma) 12.07.11
Take that, George Lucas!
And we know full well this is bound to become reality, oh, never. Still. This. OMG, BART to shuttle me around wine country? Big yes.
Clicky for a bigger version of the map.
Thanks, Jake and Nico!
Bruce Lee Raps on BART 11.22.11
Click the video to see Bruce Lee in his full rhyming glory.
Thanks, Nick!
Man Struck and Killed by Train at 24 Street BART Station 11.20.11
Photo by Brandon
The 24 Street BART Station has reopened after closing for several hours this afternoon due to a fatality on the tracks. A man stepped out on the tracks and was struck by the BART train, reports The San Francisco Appeal:
According to BART spokesperson Luna Salaver, a man reportedly laid down on the tracks in front of A San Francisco International Airport-bound train at 3:20 this afternoon.
As of 5:15 PM, BART says major delays continue in the SFO, Millbrae and East Bay directions, but the 24th Street station has reopened.
MissionLocal has an eyewitness report:
The train travelling from 16th street came to an abrupt stop at the 24th St. Mission station, according to Mike Meenan, a passenger on the train. Meenan said the train driver announced an emergency evacuation over the loudspeaker. Meenan also noted that the conductor sounded shaken and out of breath when he made the announcement.
Then Meenan, who was sitting towards the front of the train, overheard the conductor ask: “Sir, are you under there?”
We’ll keep you updated if more information becomes available.
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