Governor Jerry Brown calls Cooling Off Period to Avert Strike and Keep Negotiations Going

It's a temporary fix but I am glad.  At least we postpone the worst scenario by one more week.  Have a good week everyone-- I will keep sharing my thoughts on the negotiation progress through the week.

Thanks Jerry, for this one!

Strike on Monday Highly Likely! Who is watching out for us, the passengers??

I am sure you have all heard by now, BART union issued a 72 hour strike notice last night.   The unions and BART management seem to be no where close to coming to an agreement.  

According to SF Chronicle, BART medical insurance costs have increased by 251 percent in the past 12 years, from $24.6 million to over $86.4 million next year, while the employees' pay has increased from $25 to $92.  Sounds pretty reasonable to me, especially with the lax and generous overtime and sick policy.  

I don't think the rest of us had salaries and benefits that increased by that much in the last 12 years.  It's a much higher pace than inflation.

Do I side with management? Not exactly, their salaries make anything else look inequitable.  Do I side with unions?  Not really.  I don't feel that the level of service we, the passengers, receive warrant a significant pay and benefits bump.

I just want this to be resolved without the need to raise fares.  $10+ per day isn't easy for many to afford.  It's food for the family, school supplies for kids, money to pay medical bills and drugs, etc.  Can anyone please think about the passengers a bit here?  We work damn hard to do what we can to support our families and unfortunately, we have to depend on BART to get us to work and back home.

Who is there to watch out for passengers???  Why don't we have a say?

Are you ready for another BART strike?

Perhaps there will not be another strike since it does appear the two sides are making some progress and BART management is giving in to some demands but ultimately, it will be us, the passengers who will pay for it, literally!

SF Business Times reports that the settlement could raise BART fares by up to 18%.  I pay $8.50 daily already.  I guess I will expect that to go up to $10 per day.  Even more of a reason to work from home for a couple days a week.

I think employers in Bay Area should start offering commuter benefits, not just pre-tax but actually allow a $80 - $100 commuting allowance per month.  Adobe did that before and it was great!

What do you think?  Do you get commuter benefits?

Learn the facts? Here's something about BART overtime pay you should know.

This article was very helpful in laying out some outrageous facts.  And the writer is right, it should come down to what BART can ultimately afford to do.  Any additional burden would cripple riders who need the transit system to make an honest living.

Some of these employees are abusing the system and the policies.  I know it's not representative of the entire BART workforce but I'm sure it's not uncommon.  It's part of the overall attitude that all of us passengers can attest to.

What would I rate my daily encounters with BART employees?  Probably a C- at best.  There is no "customer service" and when I legitimately need assistance with something, I am being treated as if I just woke someone up from a cozy nap and I should be punished.

I welcome everyone to post the facts here.  If this article isn't accurate, I would like to read others.  So far, articles I've found represent what this one says.

http://www.mercurynews.com/opinion/ci_23221986/daniel-borenstein-prepare-long-hot-summer-bart-negotiations

It's time for companies to get more mobile!

Traffic to across the Bay Bridge is backed up all the way to Concord, on the 680.  24 is completely jammed and takes one hour to get through a mile.  Yet, the impact of the BART strike could have been a lot worse if school is in session, and if this wasn't July 4th week when many folks are on break!  (I guess we should be thankful that they picked this week to strike? ha!)

When will companies become a bit more open to remote work?  There are video technologies these days to keep the interactions live and keep group work productive, not to mention social collaboration tools to help us become more mobile when we need to be.  Heck, there are even tracking tools to see how long it takes someone to respond to an email!

I am very grateful that I work at a job where it is OK to work remotely-- our equipment was built for remote work from day one.   At a time like this, the roads should be left open for those who absolutely need face to face interaction at their jobs (healthcare professionals) to get to where they need to go.

Ultimately, it makes me a bit angry that we are so dependent on BART and that gives them (management and unions) so much leverage to dictate our ticket prices and others.  

Did you brave the roads today??

Ready for a BART strike next week???

It looks like a 72 hour notice has been given by the Union, and with the current contract expiring this Sunday at 11:59pm, we should all think of commuting alternatives come Monday should the strike happen!  

I am fortunate enough to have the option to work from home and stay away from the mess if BART shuts down but for everyone else, are ferry, carpool or transbay bus viable alternatives?  

As much as I complain about BART and its dependability and cleanliness, we are so dependent on it.  If it truly shuts down one day, the Bay Area economy could fracture.  That is way too much power in BART's hands, including the workers.  

Well, what are you going to do next Monday if BART strikes?

5 Best Practices to Keep in Mind When BART is Damn Crowded!

This morning, if you haven't heard, there was a nutcase who decided that jumping on top of a BART train at MacArthur station during high traffic hour was a smart idea.  Trains were shutdown, even the freeway was shutdown to ensure safety.  The massive delays lasted 3-4 hours after the incident.

Needless to say, the trains were crowded.  Piles of people forced their way in at each stop despite there not being anymore room in the trains.  It made the usual peak passenger volume seem leisurely.  I was literally hugging someone's backpack while another female passenger's rear end was leaning on mine.  Way too close for comfort.

I can't stress enough some courtesy rules people need to follow when trains are this crowded.  Please, please, please keep these in mind to make the ride less miserable for the rest of us.

5 Rules to Keep in Mind

1) If you have a big backpack, please DROP IT ON THE GROUND!  There's no room as it is.  Please put your bags on the floor to make room.

2) Please breath with your nose, not mouth.  Our faces are already inches away, it would help to not have to smell what you had for breakfast too, or if you happen to not brush that morning.

3) Get out of the train to make room for people who need to exit.  The train won't leave without you, and really, allowing people off the train would actually create more room inside the train.  So move!

4) On a similar note, if your station is coming up next, just wait until the train stops before you make your move towards the door.  People need to get off the train before you can exit.  By pushing your way to the door in the middle of the crowd only creates chaos and frustration because there is NO ROOM to move!

5) Hold your temper.  We all hate being delayed and being on an overly crowded train.  No need to be nasty.  If you don't want to bear the pain, just don't get on the train!  You're not entitled.

Do you give up your seats? Picking up the question again in 2013

I've written about this at least twice.  But as I ride BART each day, I see things, and it really makes me question who truly deserves a seat in the designated section.  Obviously, those who have any physical handicap, senior citizens and in my book, any pregnant women who look like they are past 2nd trimester.  I happily and willingly stand up for any of them.

Is that too little? Am I not being thoughtful enough?  I must not be since I've been increasingly asked to get out of my seat for someone middle aged with a few gray hairs, or someone who looks overweight.  Hey dude, I'm tired too, just because I don't have gray hairs and I happen to be slender, doesn't mean I didn't have a pain somewhere that day or have some illness that requires me to stay low!

And why am I being picked on?  The man next to me, and the women across from me, look even younger and are just listening to music!  Why am I, being on Facebook and Twitter, the one picked out of the bunch??

Also, when did female passengers immediately demand seats from male passengers??  We can't stand??  I don't think men need to always get up for women-- not like our society expects chivalry these days, so why demand it on BART?

One last thing, when will all the BART trains be updated with new flooring and seats??  The year is half over!

Over Sensitivity on BART due to Boston Marathon Bombing

Let me first make this clear!  Everyone has the right to be over-sensitive, especially given what had happened last week.  A friend of mine, who uses a black backpack (unfortunately), was detained by station agent to speak with BART Police because someone had reported him!  He is Caucasian, but what he did that triggered suspicion was he placed his heavy backpack on one of the circular "seats" on the BART platform, to give himself a break, as he walked 3 feet away to stretch.

An elderly man immediately reporter him!  I don't blame him-- he was doing his due diligence especially given last week's horrific events.  But are we all under scrutiny??

Separately, I've surfed Twitter for other complaints of over-sensitivity on #SFBART and found a couple incidences where racial profiling allegedly occurred.

This is the Bay Area.  We are the shining example of multi-ethnicity, tolerance and melting pot.  If it's happening here, I can only imagine how awful it is everywhere else in the US.  I believe there have been at least 6 racially charged beatings reported by news outlets, and that's just me counting by how many I actually read.  I'm sure there are much more reported and unreported!!

I pray for our safety, and our country's safety but for me at least, the increased racial profiling is a concern.  I do my part by learning and reciting facts to dispel ignorance and stereotyping when I hear it.  I was, after all, an Ethnic Studies and Political Science major at UC Berkeley...racial politics is of personal interest to me!

Have you heard or seen any racially-charged incidents lately due to the Boston events?

POLL: Should BART add more trains during commute hours?

I am sure that I'm not the only person who has been feeling the train over-crowding during commute hours.  The 8:14 and 8:24 trains from Orinda heading to SFO have become unbearably packed with hardly room to stand.  A typical 30 minute ride has turned into 40 due to how long it takes for people to find and readjust their standing position, and how long it takes for the doors to close.

What exactly is max capacity?  Shouldn't there be a safety standard?  Have BART officials actually tried taking the train amidst the most crowded hours to get a taste for what it feels like?

I've seen shorter women fall over due to lack of lower handle bar space to hold.  I've seen people hitting  faces unintentionally with their hand bags or backpacks.  Sweat, sneezes, coughs are often shared and transferred due to a new level of "closeness" between passengers.

Please answer the poll on the right and let everyone know if you believe BART should increase the number of trains during commute hours.

UPDATE: Poll tool did not work from day 1.  Every vote forced a reset.  Huge apologies!  BART lucked out this time!  Didn't they??!!

New downtown stations? Can't come soon enough!

Did you guys read the news?  http://www.sfgate.com/bayarea/matier-ross/article/BART-considers-rebuilding-2-SF-stations-4267383.php

Embarcadero and Montgomery stations are on track for a $900 million expansion, complete with new tunnels, elevators and extra platforms to boost rider capacity.  That's great news considering almost daily, around 5:15pm, the platforms are so crowded that the passenger lines have to wind around in circles, causing a back-up at the bottom of the escalator as people pour into the station.  I've seen people trip and fall due to the back-up since they have no where to step when the escalators come to an end.

What do you think about this upgrade?

SFO route, full of non-commuters

Yes, that is a very obvious statement, one might say. And it's a validation that the SFO direct line is a success. I use it to get to not only SFO but nearby meeting destinations.

It's how I know that the route is full of non-commuters that will be the point of this post. The suitcases give that away? Of course but that's a given. It's the behavior and demeanor that I find to be the most humorous clues that someone is a non-commuter.

They don't ever have their ticket or pass ready in advance. They block the left side of the escalators. They ask every other station which station is this. They enter the train asking...this the airport train (or this the SF train depending in which direction). They hold train doors open or are shocked when they close. They give money to homeless. And of course, they put suitcases on top of seats even when it's crowded.

I don't mind. As long as they don't delay my ride home. I applaud that SFO line has become so mainstream and it's taken many cars off the crowded freeways! Heck, I'd much rather deal with BART newbies than tourists on 80!

Now...if only we can get MORE frequent SFO trains!

P.S. I very endearingly dedicate this post to my boss who almost fit in as a BART commuter last week!

Nothing wakes you up better on a Monday morning

Than a huge whiff of the overpowering urine scent as I exit the Montgomery Station. In an effort to minimize breathing in the scent, I hold my breath as I jog up the stairs (hey, the year is young, resolutions still in tact!) I end up having to take in a little air before I make it in my building but didn't realize at the same time that I had stepped into a puddle of pee.

What a splendid way to start the day. Happy Monday, all.

Prayers, condolences and thoughts

Today, I am a mother above all other roles.  I take it for granted that when I say goodbye to my son each day during drop-off, I will see him back in my arms again later in the day.  Like all over you, I am heart-broken and sickened by the sinister act of violence that took place in Newtown, Connecticut today.  While nothing I say or do will help those grieving parents, family of the brave faculty members, and the traumatized children who've had to witness the events, I do want to give my thoughts and condolences.

It's been an emotional day.  This enlarging string of violence in our country needs to somehow come to an end.  

God Bless America.

5 things you REALLY should do in your own bathroom

I understand that we are sometimes in a rush in the mornings and perhaps didn't get all of our primping and grooming in at home. But there are a few people who take that too far. They have no shame and have zero regard for the rest of us who must endure their selfish and often unsanitary acts. Here are five things that must be forbidden on the train:

 #1 Do not floss on the train. I don't want to see or be in close contact with anything from anyone's mouth.

 #2 Do not style your hair with hairspray while on train. The rest of us do not want hairspray in our faces!

 #3 Do not paint your nails! BART already smells bad enough. We do not need nail polished in tight quarter! It stinks, please do it at home.

 #4 Men, don't shave with your electric razors on BART. It's loud and it's annoying.

 And the one other thing I absolutely cannot tolerate on BART is.....

 #5 DO NOT CLIP YOUR NAILS!!! That has to be the most disgusting act on the train. Seeing the clipping flick off in all directions. It is sickening! If only people would follow these rules....

Happy Belated Birthday to BART

If you don't know already from all the signs decorating the stations, this is BART's 40th year. I am still deciding if that's something worth celebrating or that's confirming that BART is long overdue for a makeover and upgrade. 40 years of wear on the tracks; 40 years of stains and spills on the seats and carpet; and 40 years of skin tissues and dander on the cushions, among other things. But the truth of it is, we are all better off because we have BART as a commute option. (No, no one paid me to say this.) I recently had to drive to San Carlos for work from Orinda and the 3 hours roundtrip gave me plenty of time to think through all the benefits BART brings to commuters. Not only does BART save time, it's probably saved plenty of hairs on my head as well, since I am not constantly tugging at it due to traffic frustrations! So, for the moment, all criticisms aside, Happy 40th anniversary, BART!

Bikes on BART today! Did you mind it?

If you didn't know, BART has been testing public reaction to a pilot that allows bikes on trains. A few thoughts I have there:

First, while I know why they are doing it Friday, it significantly skews results because Fridays are light for bikers and non-bikers. I haven't seen a single bike today so of course my reaction is....no negative impact, totally OK.

Second, it's rarely the actual bike (well, sometimes) that passengers can't stand. It's the biker and how he or she handles the bicycle in the train. Some know to line it to the side as quickly as possible or just not enter when it is packed to the door, others feel they have the right of way and will jam on your feet to get themselves positioned.

So, don't forget to share you feedback today but incorporate your reaction to train conditions on any other days when you share the train with bikes, and not just today, a light happy Friday!

Have a great weekend all!!

Question: Would you rather sit next to a homeless or stand?

This question has been on my mind for a couple days now. Call me weird, but I prefer to stand, even when exhausted and jam-packed in a tight train, than to sit next to a homeless man. This has happened a few times. You spot an empty seat, but see people standing around it, you think you've won the lottery by getting a seat, only to see just WHY it was empty! Let me clarify, the homeless man smelled heavily of alcohol and human waste. The seat was left empty for 3 stops, then a woman bravely took it. The homeless man stretched his arms open and hit her in the face. She cringed but remained seated. What would you do?? Take the empty seat next to the homeless man or stand? **This marks BART Musings' 600th post!! Thanks everyone for sticking with me and hearing my rants!

Escalators shutdown due to excessive human waste

After years of complaining about the smells around the Civic Center station, and more recently with a job change, the Powell Station, it is confirmed that there is, in fact, plenty of daily human waste being let out at the escalators and surrounding area. When a friend shared this SFGate article on Facebook today, I knew exactly which stations they are talking about!! I've heard it, smelled it and seen it for years! BART spokesperson Jim Allison says that BART officials must witness the action to cite. I, along with many other colleagues, have seen it happen plenty of times. I've seen fresh urine dripping down escalators and stairs from the top. Now if only BART police is present more often?!? I've seen feces piled up in a corner, I've seen pee, puke, you name it. It's not that hard to witness...just hangout near the exits during 8-9am when most of the homeless occupants wake up. There is a later crowd (the drunk ones) that wake up past 9:30am...follow them, and you will find the way!

BART Service and Maintenance Quality at ALL TIME LOW

Matier and Ross posted something disturbing but not surprising on SFGate yesterday. There are currently 28 BART escalators out of service and many have been out of service for more than 3 months. The escalator that I frequent in Powell Station has been out of service for at least 2 months. It's sitting there collecting layers of fallen leaves, trash, urine, you name it. This is ridiculous!! I've seen people with large suitcases having to lift their load upwards step by step and people with injuries or disabilities grimacing in pain as they walked up or down the stairs. BART is so poorly managed and views customer service as a low priority, if a priority at all. Just the other day, there was a turnstile with a jammed ticket (one of two open turnstiles during prime commute hours), and no booth agent in sight for at least 5 minutes to help fix the machine. Lines getting through the ticket turnstile became enormous. And is it too much to ask for the booth agents to actually politely answer a question from a tourist?? If you're working at the Powell Station, EXPECT tourists to ask questions about where to go. It is part of the job. Don't just point to the map! You are an agent, you provide service, so put in some effort to actually help someone from out of town. Enough griping for now but this is just another example of how poor service is on BART.