BART is embracing big bikes and rolling out improvements for all cyclists
Bikes are playing a big role in our ridership recovery. We are seeing more of our riders bringing their bikes on board for car-free work commutes and fun trips exploring the Bay Area. Trains are less crowded than before the pandemic, and BART is working on new ways to make it easier than ever to bring your bike on BART. Bike enthusiasts have even organized monthly East Bay Bike Parties that start at BART stations on the second Friday of the month. We are delighted to see such joyful events that combine bikes and transit, and we want to do all we can to promote life on two wheels.
Elevator Dimension Guide
BART understands that bikes these days are big. Over the last decade, longer and heavier bicycles, such as e-bikes and cargo bikes, have soared in popularity. We have created this Elevator Dimension Guide to assist cyclists in navigating BART elevators. It outlines the dimensions of each elevator in the system including measurements of the door, width, length, and diagonal space across the floor. As always, use your best judgment when utilizing system elevators because individual bikes and elevators vary in size.
Bike Stair Channels
New bike stair channels are in the works for eight stations: 19th Street/Oakland, 12th Street/Oakland, Lake Merritt, Coliseum, Walnut Creek, Embarcadero, Civic Center, and 24th Street Mission. These channels will make it easy to roll your bike up and down stairs. New wayfinding signs will be installed at the stations to guide you to entrances and exits with the channels. 19th Street Station will be the first station to get the bike channels and we plan to do extensive user experience testing to ensure the design works for larger bikes before we move forward with the other stations.
Fare Gate Design
As we roll out next generation fare gates and prepare to purchase new gates, we plan to improve the experience for those bringing bikes through the gates. Some of our prototypes have not been bike-friendly and we want to make it clear, this is not the direction we are heading. We plan to offer wide gates with a door style that allows proper time and space to bring a bike through the gate without stress.
Bike Racks on Board
Our new Fleet of the Future cars include two bike areas at each end of the car, creating a predictable boarding location for bicyclists. Each bike area will have a horizontal leaning bar and straps that bicyclists can use to stabilize their bikes. Some new cars still have bike racks, but these will be removed and replaced with the lean bar.
Safe Routes to BART
BART’s Measure RR infrastructure bond is helping pay for projects that improve bike connectivity to our stations. Funding has been awarded for the Iron Horse Trail Bridge near Dublin Station, the city of Fremont’s Walnut Ave. protected intersection project near our Fremont Station, the city of Pittsburg’s bikeway project near our Pittsburg Center Station, and the city of San Francisco’s 5th Street improvement project serving Powell Street Station.
Trip Ideas
BARTable offers detailed bike routes from our stations that make it easy to explore new areas and trails. From an adventurous ride to the top of Mt. Diablo to casual cruises around fun neighborhoods, our guide has you covered.
BART’s Trip Planner on our website and official app lets you select bicycling as a segment of your trip and offers end-to-end directions including how long the trip will take. Under options, turn on “bicycle transport.” You can even select various cycling speed to adjust travel time predictions.
Learn more about Bikes on BART including bike valets, lockers, self-park bike stations, and our bike rules at bart.gov/bikes.
Click to download the Elevator Dimension Guide.
