Community Corner

Theft Prevention Tips for Bikers Commuting on BART

BART Bike Task Force drafts up a new downloadable tipsheet for bike security.

More Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) riders are biking to and from stations every day.

With this in mind, the BART Bike Task Force and BART Police now offer a downloadable tipsheet for bike security with an identification form to record your bike's serial number that you can clip and save.

Almost all BART stations have bike racks, over half of BART stations have bike lockers and four stations — Ashby, Downtown Berkeley, Embarcadero, and Fruitvale — now have Bike Stations.

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Still, having a detailed description of your bike is important proof of ownership and increases the chance that the stolen bike will be returned to you. Knowing the serial number is particularly important. It is usually found under the bottom bracket (the part of the frame where the pedal cranks revolve) of your bike.

The BART Bike Task Force and BART Police also recommend taking photos of your bike and storing them along with the completed serial number form in a safe place.

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Theft prevention tips to help keep your bicycle secure include:

• Use highest quality U-lock, heavy-gauge chain, or handcuff-style lock. Cable locks alone are easily cut.

• Always lock your bike to a rack.

• Try to lock your bike in a well-lit, well-traveled area.

• Take any bike part that can be easily removed with you.

• BART Bike Stations and lockers provide additional security.

When it comes to bicycle and commuting safety, BART  has explicit rules about commuting on BART with bicycles. Bikes are allowed on most trains, except those highlighted on the schedule during peak commute times, or at any time on crowded cars. Folding bikes are allowed at all times.

Here are the rules:

  • Bikes are allowed on all trains except those trains shown in highlighted areas of the BART Fares and Schedules brochure. It is the rider's responsibility to refer to BART schedules.
  • Regardless of any other rule, bikes are never allowed on crowded cars. Use your good judgment and only board cars that can comfortably accommodate you and your bicycle. Hold your bike while on the trains.
  • Bikes are allowed in any car but the first car of a train.
  • Bicyclists must use elevator or stairs, not escalators, and always walk bikes.
  • Bicyclists must yield priority seating to seniors and people with disabilities, yield to other passengers, and not block aisles or doors or soil seats.
  • In case of an evacuation, leave your bike on the train and do not let it block aisles or doors.
  • Bicyclists under 14 years old must be accompanied by an adult.
  • Gas powered vehicles are never permitted.
  • Bikes must be parked in racks and lockers. Call (510) 464-7133 for locker availability. Bikes parked against poles, fences or railings will be removed.

Commute hours are weekdays approximately 7:05 to 8:50 a.m. and 4:25 to 6:45 p.m.

  • During morning commute hours, bikes are allowed in the Embarcadero Station only for trips to the East Bay (as indicated by the Fares and Schedules brochure).
  • During evening commute hours, bicyclists traveling from the East Bay must exit at the Embarcadero Station (as indicated by the Fares and Schedules brochure).
  • Bikes cannot enter or exit 12th and 19th Street Oakland Stations on weekdays between 6:56 - 8:50 a.m. and 4:35 - 6:40 p.m. (as indicated by the Fares and Schedules brochure).
  • Folded bikes are allowed on the trains at all times. During commute hours, folding bikes must be folded before entering the paid area at the Embarcadero, Montgomery, Powell, and Civic Center San Francisco Stations, and the 12th and 19th Street Oakland Stations. At all other stations, they may be folded on the platform, but must be folded before boarding a train.

Visit www.bart.gov/bikes for more information.


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