BART Riders Vanish, But Service Continues

BART's ridership has fallen 70% during the coronavirus outbreak and shelter in place order covering much of the Bay Area.
Photo credit Matt Bigler/ KCBS Radio

Related

With shelter orders active through most of the Bay Area, BART ridership has plummeted at least 70% from an average work day. The agency reported an 85% decline on March 17, the first day those orders took effect. 

Nonetheless, the transit agency said it will continue its regular schedule to ensure that essential workers can get to work.

BART is running regular service during the shelter in place order to provide mobility for essential workers including first responders, health care providers, grocery store clerks, news media and more. We have long trains for social distancing.Don’t ride if you are sick.

— SFBART (@SFBART) March 17, 2020

KCBS Radio reporter Matt Bigler spoke with riders at the San Leandro BART station on Wednesday morning. Among those still taking BART was a woman in law enforcement, and one who said she, “had to pay bills and just had to go to work.”

Another rider, Chris, just moved to the Bay Area from New York and works on the stock exchange.

“They refuse to close,” Chris told KCBS Radio. “And that’s the best way for me to get there from where I live. I live all the way out in Livermore and the best way to get here is to take the train.”

Chris said the silver lining of taking BART at this time is that there is plenty of room on the trains, and they are, “super clean.”

“I’d love for it to stay like this,” Chris said. “Keep it clean versus what it usually looks like.”

Meanwhile, CalTrain, Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority, Golden Gate Transit, Muni and Sonoma-Marin Area Rail Transit are all reducing service, with some transit agencies — including SMART and some ferries — are canceling weekend service. 

Written by Mallory Somera, with reporting by Matt Bigler.
Worldwide Coronavirus Cases Reach 200,000