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BART Dealing with Crowded Trains as It Sets Ridership Records

Transit officials are trying to find more room for its riders as it continues scheduled maintenance on its aging fleet. What's been your experience?

The good news for BART officials is the transit system is setting ridership records.

The bad news is there isn't enough room for everybody.

BART officials said today they are trying to ease what they call "train strain" because of the increase number of riders.

In 2012, BART carried 114 million passengers, breaking all previous ridership records. Transit officials are expecting even more customers in 2013.

The problem is this increase in ridership is packing BART cars, especially during commute hours.

BART officials said they are putting every possible car into service that they can. However, their aging fleet, one of the oldest in the nation, requires more and more frequent maintenance.

On a typical weekday, BART is using 573 of its 669 train cars during peak commute hours. That's one of the highest utilization rates in the country.

BART officials are asking riders to make things easier by moving to the center of the car when they board to make room for riders who will enter at later stops. They are also asking bicyclists to observe the rules when riding BART.

Relief is on the way, but it'll be a few years. which are expected to roll onto the system starting in 2018.

What has been your experience? Are BART trains more crowded? Are you able to find a seat? Share your knowledge in our comment sections.

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Just a short thought to get the word out quickly about anything in your neighborhood.
Share something with your neighbors. Write a new post... What's up? Make an announcement, speak your mind, or sell something
Gevin Says May 18, 2013 at 12:58 pm
Wish there was a foot patrol or even on bike's for the APD on the beach just for purposes like this.Read More Also might make the Shoreline Drive less of a speedway if APD was more present.
Lion's Mane May 18, 2013 at 10:51 am
Also, if I had to guess, I'd say he's Filipino or Asian; there's a remote chance he's White, butRead More definitely not Black.
Lion's Mane May 18, 2013 at 10:43 am
Karra--I definitely will. I can't give a great description because he always wears a dark blue orRead More black baseball-type hat and grey jacket. He's relatively short--maybe 5'6" - 5'8". Looks to be in his early to mid-50s, but may be in his late 40s. He is usually in the dune grass with binoculars pretending to look at something in the direction of Bay Farm and will swing around occasionally and pretend to look toward SF to throw off anyone who might be watching. I've only seen him in the area between Willow Street and Kitty Hawk, but I'm sure that's not his only haunt.
http://youtu.be/RhRFhyneFcw
Vicster May 18, 2013 at 08:36 am
I'm so glad he hadn't wandered away! I bike home from the ferry along Santa Clara and I kept an eyeRead More out for him. Sounds like he had himself a nice time, the cheeky monkey!
Analisa Harangozo (Editor) May 17, 2013 at 05:51 pm
Yay! I'm glad! Thanks for the update Suzanne.
Suzanne Chenier May 17, 2013 at 05:48 pm
Found!!! He followed me into my downstairs neighbor's house. I went to borrow some eggs. My neighborRead More was at work. I didn't know he followed me in, didn't see or hear him, got the eggs and left. I called that brat for over three hours. He raided my neighbor's garbage can and a bachelor nap on his sofa! Yay. I'm glad he's home and safe. Thank you everyone.
Gevin Says May 18, 2013 at 12:54 pm
Especially since there is a special DOG PARK just for your little Poopsie to play too!
Gevin Says May 18, 2013 at 01:08 pm
I would say it's the school's responsibility, but it all starts at home. How you are raised, howRead More you act, and how children around you watch how you act. If you do something wrong, and a child see's it, they may think it's okay to do it since they saw a grown up do it.
jason schabert May 17, 2013 at 12:01 am
sorry but the photo wasn't uploaded
Kimberlee MacVicar May 17, 2013 at 02:36 pm
Thanks for the info about your experience. I'm starting to hear the same story from about 7 peopleRead More now and I'm sure there are more. Store has been closed all week. Still no sign on the door. At a loss as to what to do to find out what's going on or what to do next.
bette page May 17, 2013 at 07:01 am
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photo originally posted by Dennis Domingo
Analisa Harangozo (Editor) May 15, 2013 at 07:15 pm
Carol, posted this on Facebook and got some responses so far:Read More https://www.facebook.com/AlamedaPatch/posts/666500700043838?comment_id=32723444&offset=0&total_comments=2
An accident occurred Monday, May 13 on Westline/8th Street turning into Crown Beach. Credit: Jessica McMahon
Carol Parker May 15, 2013 at 11:02 am
It is really dangerous coming out of the dog park/tennis court parking lot. We never try to turnRead More left coming out of it, always right - and even then you have to be super careful because cars just come speeding down the street.
Carol Parker May 15, 2013 at 07:28 am
Next adoption event is June 9 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Pet Food Express by Nob Hill Foods inRead More Alameda.