Category: BART

Photo by @kwpianist

Update: Really, they’re here. Have you sat on the new vinyl, easily wiped-clean BART seats? They arrived last week, and, according to a Bay Citizen report, have that new -car smell. We’ve got an “after” picture of these new fangled BART seats, fresh from the Twitter wires via @kwpianist. Here is another look, courtesy of @Bookpuppy.

If you’re one of the few riders who’s been lucky enough to sit on the new seats, tweet us about it!

Before:

Photo by the_gain_card

Original post: BART seats are about to become a lot less disgusting. BART has announced a trial run for its new, easier-to-clean, not-cloth-and-cushion seats. Cars with the new seats will be labeled with a decal, and riders are encouraged to participate in a survey to let the agency know what you think.

One hundred BART train cars have been fitted with the new seats and will be integrated into the fleet gradually.

From BART.gov:

Before BART purchases more seats, on-board surveys will be conducted to determine whether or not customers give the new material a thumbs up. The survey period is expected to run between April 21 and May 2.

If you are lucky enough to ride on one of these cars, let BART know about the experience. Feel free to share your thoughts here, too.

And we have to wonder: Once the entire fleet is fitted with vinyl seats, what will the BART Poop Bandit do?

Photo by Steve Rhodes

Remember when BART decided to cut down cell service? The F.C.C. hasn’t forgotten either. In fact, the agency is reviewing whether or when the police or other government officials can interrupt cellphone and internet service to protect public safety, according to The New York Times. The Times cited the cellphone shutdown on BART last summer in the story.

Late Thursday, the commission requested public comment on the issue, which came to widespread attention last August, when Bay Area Rapid Transit in San Francisco shut off cellphone service for three hours in some stations to hinder planned protests there.

The F.C.C. chairman has some strong words. From the same New York Times report:

Julius Genachowski, the F.C.C. chairman, said in a statement that such a shutdown “raises serious legal and policy issues, and must meet a very high bar.”

“Our democracy, our society and our safety all require communications networks that are available and open,” he said. “The F.C.C., as the agency with oversight of our communications networks, is committed to preserving their availability and openness, and to harnessing communications technologies to protect the public.”

The F.C.C. is now seeking public comment on the issue. Among the questions for public comment is whether the F.C.C. even has authority over such shutdowns and whether it can pre-empt local, state, or federal laws that prohibit shutdowns like the one on BART.

Hat tip: reader Brady F.

Photo by penny

A man who was walking on the BART track was struck and killed at MacArthur station around 7 p.m. Monday night, Oakland Tribune and SFist report.

According to the Oakland Tribune: “The unidentified victim fell in front of a Richmond-bound train leaving the station about 6:50 p.m., BART spokesman Jim Allison said. He fell at the far end of the platform, and officials found no witnesses other than the train operator during the early hours of the investigation.”

The police do not suspect foul play. BART was delayed until about 9 p.m. last night.