Bicycles will soon be allowed on BART during rush hour -- with a catch.
The BART Board of Directors voted last night to have another pilot program. This one runs for five months, from July 1 to December 1.
BART says it did not have an uptick of complaints during two much shorter pilot programs and bikes did not delay trains. Some board members are concerned riders won't like dirty bikes on trains when it's raining so they will revisit the idea in December.
Cyclist C.W. Johnson supports the idea.
Johnson says he has type two diabetes and his bike gives him freedom, "It's either this or a wheel chair I'd rather have this because it makes me mobile I'm afraid if I get in chair I will stay there."
Johnson says if BART really wants the program to be a success riders and bicycles need to be separated: "All bike car. If they had a car for all bikes no seats no fuss."
BART will spend the next few weeks educating riders about the plan. During the pilot BART will ask cyclists to stay off crowded trains completely and always leave the first three cars for passengers only.
