Wednesday, October 8, 2008

Do you want increased access for bikes on Bart?

There's a petition here.
The text of the petition:
We believe that bicycles are becoming a greater portion of public transportation participants, and as such, deserve increased access to public transportation. As the price of gasoline raises, businessmen and soccer moms alike are leaving their automobiles in the garage in favor of a more cost-efficient, smog-reducing, and healthy mode of transportation. Part of this transition includes bicycles and part of it includes public transportation - and we believe they can co-exist.

Increased overall community health and wellness, reduced pollution, and money savings could go a long way towards BART's own public image. BART could follow, by example, international cities like Paris and Amsterdam, that leverage the bike commuting population's support to expand its system. Even national cities like Portland and Pittsburgh are already following suit, with the idea of stimulating public support during environmental campaigns. Children and adults alike would benefit from greater independence and access to new destinations within the Bay Area, benefiting the smaller businesses that make up the cultural communities that the Bay Area is known for. BART stations would become strong hubs of these communities.

We ask BART to mark one car on every train as "bike-friendly":
  • accessible to all bikes (not simply folding ones),
  • accessible during all operating hours,
  • permitted in all stations.

Such a car could be modified to fit more bicycles, without obstructing paths of travel, and have standing sections for cyclists dismounting the train at their departure.

We believe BART can be part of the solution by increasing access for Bikes on BART.

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