tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17347513.post1262993110240239730..comments2023-11-05T04:03:35.548-08:00Comments on BART Musings: BART Musings Special Feature-- Interview #1-- David Vartanoff, Transit Enthusiast/Historianbartmusingshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16327844700926513435noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17347513.post-92064639211434056252008-12-06T10:36:00.000-08:002008-12-06T10:36:00.000-08:00BART needs better station exit signage and maps. A...<STRONG>BART needs better station exit signage and maps.</STRONG> A system of exit numbering -- like you'd see in Tokyo and Singapore, among other places -- would be very helpful. It works great: you look at a map of the station and its surroundings, find where you want to go, find the exit number, then follow signs to that exit. <BR/><BR/><STRONG>Why doesn't BART have line colors or abstract names?</STRONG> This isn't a complaint, but more of an inquiry. It's a curious thing about BART that there is no "red line" or "A train" or other abstract naming convention. Many other cities give their lines colors. Why didn't BART do this? Too lowbrow? Not futuristic enough?Marchttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14108059997977496770noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17347513.post-70916526201280525412008-12-04T17:39:00.000-08:002008-12-04T17:39:00.000-08:00" They also do what I consider "silly" lining up a..." They also do what I consider "silly" lining up at platforms"<BR/><BR/>What is so silly about it? Being 28, fit, 6'3", and 225lbs I could easily push my way through a mob to get a seat, but that is not a world I, nor anyone else, would want to live in. The lining up ensures that people get on the trains in a first-come, first-serve manner, similar to all other crowded resources in America.<BR/><BR/>Also: Your claim that we "exhibit "amateur commuter" behaviors like staying seated until the train has arrived at their station" is nonsense.<BR/><BR/>Why would I stand up early unless I had to? If there is a crowd blocking my exit, then yes, I would consider it. If there is not, then why not remain seated and avoid being jerked around by the often stilted braking action of the train? I'll just wait for the train to stop, get up and exit.<BR/><BR/>If you want a list of ACTUAL amateur transit activities, here it is:<BR/><BR/>1) Standing on the left side of escalators, blocking those who are trying to walk (and potentially preventing them from catching their train).<BR/><BR/>2) Putting ticket into the machine backwards. It has arrows on it for Christ's sake! When the exits are crowded, this causes a backup and confusion.<BR/><BR/>3) Bunching up near the doors on a crowded train instead of spreading out to the middle hallway. Never have I seen a train that could not fit 20%-30% more people, if only people would be willing to fill the entire standing space. I will not wait an extra 15 mins for another train because people can't get over their personal space issues.<BR/><BR/>So in short, this "lifelong transit enthusiast" you interviewed knows less about BART than your average rider. He complains about the orderly boarding and exiting habits of the riders but ignores the real faux pauxs that happen daily.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17347513.post-46683398805945437762008-12-03T23:20:00.000-08:002008-12-03T23:20:00.000-08:00reply to responses1better station design. let's s...reply to responses<BR/>1better station design. let's start with 12th, 19th,Berkeley dntn and north, 16th, 24th. All of these are a full level too deep. Mass transit works better w/ shorter time spent from street to platform. <BR/>Glen Park is an extreme example, exacerbated by a monumenbtalist stion building wasting spave that could have been a retail and residential building. Balboa Park features the escalator facing away from fare control. <BR/>Coliseum which has the most radical crowd issues is a narrow island platform where it should be two platforms and a center third track to lay up extra trains ready for the gamr/concert etc. <BR/>When mega millions were spent on the Dublin Branch, Bayfair remained an island platform instead of gaining an extra track and platform to facilitate running shuttles.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17347513.post-44239935192688847462008-12-03T16:25:00.000-08:002008-12-03T16:25:00.000-08:00"Bay Area suburbanites' cleanliness expectations o..."Bay Area suburbanites' cleanliness expectations of BART will never be met."<BR/><BR/>Hallelujah! Run later trains with the money you save! Build infill stations in the core!Pedestrianisthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03067236246319422235noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17347513.post-79365957268623190712008-12-02T19:58:00.000-08:002008-12-02T19:58:00.000-08:00I don't think expecting seats free of food (once I...I don't think expecting seats free of food (once I had a window seat for an entire ride because the aisle seat had nacho cheese spilled all over it) is unreasonable.<BR/><BR/>I think the design of the BART trains is currently not feasible for people to remain seated when their train pulls into the station. It's hard enough to get out if there's no one standing when everyone else is in various exit stages.<BR/><BR/>I'd rather line up than be a mob that BART sometimes devolves into. <BR/><BR/>I also like the seats. My ride is nearly an hour, and I can't imagine being on a hard plastic chair for THAT long.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17347513.post-78199685549113173512008-12-02T15:38:00.000-08:002008-12-02T15:38:00.000-08:00I would not mind an expansion of some of David's a...I would not mind an expansion of some of David's answers.<BR/><BR/>1) What is better station design?<BR/><BR/>2) What is "silly" lining up?<BR/><BR/>I am not a frequent BART user, so maybe this is obvious to others.SongMonkhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12186514862221578307noreply@blogger.com