Category: transit

Bikes on BART’s Escalators

DavidMay 16, 20116 Comments on Bikes on BART’s Escalators

Bicycles are currently not permitted on escalators in BART stations. It’s always been a “safety issue.” This may soon change. Denis Cuff reported on this last Friday in the Contra Costa Times.

In the cyclists’ corner, BART board members Robert Raburn and Tom Radulovich are working to reverse the ban. BART did its own study on the “safety issue” years ago and concluded that escalators and stairs were equally safe for cyclists to use in BART stations. Despite that, the escalator ban continues. BART officials say they want to encourage people to bike to BART stations because it can increase train ridership without adding expensive parking lots, and it reduces pollution and traffic congestion.

BART, kindly put your money where your mouth is. End the escalator ban. Thank you.

Posted In advocacy | safety | transit | transportation

Bay Area call for transportation projects

Richard MasonerMarch 1, 2011Leave a Comment

The San Francisco Bay Area Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC), which oversees planning and financing of transportation in the nine-county Bay Area, issued a Call for Projects for the for the Regional Transportation Plan/Sustainable Communities Strategy (RTP/SCS). This is part of the process to determine what major regional projects receive funding for the 2013 Transportation Plan.

(more…)

Posted In transit

Bus vs rail

Richard MasonerFebruary 16, 201122 Comments on Bus vs rail

One of those contentious issues among some transit advocates is the promotion of rail versus bus (and especially Quality Bus or Bus Rapid Transit) for public transportation. I’ve mostly been on the fence about this as an interested bystander who rides both bus and rail, though I probably lean more towards the “bus” argument since I swing conservative as a natural cheapskate.

I’ve seen some interesting discussion lately that just may swing me more towards the ‘rail’ side of things, though.

(more…)

Posted In transit

Caltrain and bikes

Richard MasonerFebruary 8, 201110 Comments on Caltrain and bikes

Attention Caltrain bike riders: Caltrain has been running five car consists for some time now, and all Bombardier (“new style” aka “Bomb”) sets have had two bike cars for a while until last night! One Bomb set last night had only four cars with a single bike car, so beware! I saw reports last night of numerous bumps out of Palo Alto on Northbound train 369 last night, so keep your options open.

(more…)

Posted In transit

Bike + transit users needed for San Jose study

Richard MasonerApril 20, 2010Leave a Comment

Active transportation researchers from the University of Colorado are seeking participants for focus groups on cycling and transit integration in San Jose. The purpose of the focus group is to gain insight on cyclists’ preferences on a range of topics related to the integration of cycling and transit.

Bicycle at Caltrain Diridon platform San Jose

You must be employed and between the ages of 18 and 65 to participate, and you should be a cyclist who regularly uses both cycling and transit for commuting purposes.

The focus group will take place at VTA headquarters out north of Montague Expressway on North 1st Street at River Oaks. The date is to be determined, and the time will likely be early evening (5:30 to 7 PM time frame, give or take a half hour). Six to eight people will be selected to participate.

Light refreshments will be provided along with a small token of appreciation. Focus groups will be discussion based and recorded although individual responses will remain anonymous. Active dialog is encouraged.

If you’re interested in participating, please email Seth Tribbey @ seth . tribbey @ gmail.com, and briefly describe your level of cycling and transit use in the email.

If you have a Bay Area audience in your social media, please repeat, Tweet, post to Facebook, etc. A previous call for participants only netted a small handful of potential volunteers. Thank you!

Posted In transit
Tagged | | | | | | | | | |