Northern California - BART Strike: Alternative Means of crossing the Bay

Despite reassurances that the public will receive plenty of warning before a possible BART strike, news reports indicate that a strike may be possible as early as tomorrow (Friday). I usually take my bike on BART to commute from San Francisco to the East Bay. The stop from which I disembark depends on how which route I'm riding that day, with the eventual destination being Hayward.

In case of a BART strike, I could take the NL line for AC Transit into downtown Oakland and ride from there but I am afraid that I may get bumped from the buses if they run out of bicycle capacity. I could also take the Ferry from SF to Oakland, but that is more expensive and takes considerably longer.

Has anyone here taken either options? Should I be worried about bicycle capacity on the buses? Are there any other options that I'm missing? Thanks.

what time do you commute? I take the ferry to Alameda/Harbor Bay, by the Oakland Airport. It leaves SF at 7:00 and 8:00, and there is always plenty of space for bikes. There are also ferries to Jack London Square.

http://www.eastbayferry.com/

I get into the office between 9 and 10 AM. The Ferry does look like a more predictable option. I'm just hesitant to spend $6.25 each way when it was about half that for BART.

I think you have to expect all public transit options to be overloaded if there is a strike. Think hard about telecommuting or changing your work hours to commute at a less busy time.

SF to the East Bay will be much less bad than the other way around.

Oh man I'm dreading this. I'm also fighting the urge to turn this into a political rant.

Anyway, it will suck if they strike and there will be no great option for those of us going from the East Bay to SF and back every day. Driving=nightmare. Bus or Ferry=probably an overcrowded mess.

If only we could bike across the Bay Bridge!!

Maybe they could put some planks over the rails in the transbay tunnel and let us bike across. That'd actually be fun!

I'm leaning towards just riding my motorcycle to commute. No bridge tolls + 60 mpg = $3/day vs $13/day for the ferry.

Ouch looks like it might happen starting Sunday night!

I would love to take my bike on BART, but they don't allow bikes on the Walnut Creek -> McCarther line in the morning. Plus, they have reduced the number of cars, so there isn't any room. I say just fire all the BART employees, there is nothing they do that would justify a 90K+ average salary (http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2005/07/03/BAGGMDILA21.DTL). Under new management, with direct oversight they might learn to make BART profitable. I have yet to meet the person that wouldn't rather take BART to work, but usually can't due to tracks not running nearby, insufficient cars to handle volume of people, inadequate parking and the list goes on. I once sat and ran the numbers and there is no reason why BART shouldn't be turning a massive profit (I used to do analysis for a living). The only reason they don't, is overpaying employees and just refusing to take people's fares. Despite the rhetoric they preach about wanting people to take BART, they turn away a lot people buy not being able provide the service that they sell.

WTF?? Can anyone post a one line synopsis as to what happened for an east bay commuter who happens to be out of the country right now? I thought we were done with this stuff for a while. :(

I used to take BART just about every day, but after I got married, I've been catching a ride to work with my wife since we only work a few miles apart. If our schedules are opposite, I will ride all the way from home (17 miles one way, takes a little more than an hour) and take BART home. On Monday, if traffic is really bad, riding there might not take that much longer than driving!

When I lived in the Bay Area (1980s), there were several private "bike taxi" services. A large passenger van pulling a trailer. Bikes rode on the trailer, passengers in the van. I clearly remember them linking SF-Oakland, and I believe that at least some connected further. Richmond, Hayward, maybe beyond.

Do such services still exist? It would be a shame if they didn't.

On the other hand, with a motorcycle it wouldn't seem like you have much of a dillemna there. Unless you REALLY want to pedal

I used to take BART just about every day, but after I got married, I've been catching a ride to work with my wife since we only work a few miles apart. If our schedules are opposite, I will ride all the way from home (17 miles one way, takes a little more than an hour) and take BART home. On Monday, if traffic is really bad, riding there might not take that much longer than driving!

I think if I had a 17 mile commute, I'd ride both ways everyday.

But, it's 30 miles for me so I don't want to have to get up early enough a 1.5+ hour ride in the morning.

But... I do ride to caltrain everyday (rain or shine). I used to ride all the way home one or twice per week.

However I'd rather just ride to the train, since I have a monthly pass and all, and go on a ride once I get home :p

When I lived in the Bay Area (1980s), there were several private "bike taxi" services. A large passenger van pulling a trailer. Bikes rode on the trailer, passengers in the van. I clearly remember them linking SF-Oakland, and I believe that at least some connected further. Richmond, Hayward, maybe beyond.

Do such services still exist? It would be a shame if they didn't.

On the other hand, with a motorcycle it wouldn't seem like you have much of a dillemna there. Unless you REALLY want to pedal

They still have that! It's only $1 too, but good luck getting on it... it's 1st come 1st serve, of course.

They still have that! It's only $1 too, but good luck getting on it... it's 1st come 1st serve, of course.

Yes, I've seen that bike trailer at MacArthur BART many times.

uspspro; San Mateo, eh? After leaving the city my girlfriend and I shared a house right near Aragon High School with two other couples. Man, it was a fun life for awhile until all three of these romances blew up at about the same time.

But I still remember San Mateo pretty happily.

I think if I had a 17 mile commute, I'd ride both ways everyday.



I've rode both ways a couple of times, but it always seemed super windy going home since I ride close to the water. That being said, riding actually doesn't take that much longer than taking BART when I count the time riding to and from the station and waiting for the train.

WTF?? Can anyone post a one line synopsis as to what happened for an east bay commuter who happens to be out of the country right now? I thought we were done with this stuff for a while. :(

Two unions voted to ratify contracts with BART that would save BART money. The station agents and train operators union turned it down, and BART is imposing a contract on them, so they will most likely strike Monday. The other unions are expected to honor the picket lines.
Meanwhile, BART still wants to go ahead and waste money building a line from the Coliseum to Oakland airport, instead of just running shuttle buses.

Two unions voted to ratify contracts with BART that would save BART money. The station agents and train operators union turned it down, and BART is imposing a contract on them, so they will most likely strike Monday. The other unions are expected to honor the picket lines.
Meanwhile, BART still wants to go ahead and waste money building a line from the Coliseum to Oakland airport, instead of just running shuttle buses.


Oh man. Thanks for the summary. I think I'll just stay where I am for a little longer.