Did You Use BART on Record Saturday?

Deborah October 7, 2012 at 06:56 pm

Agree. This is not urgent news, which is what I consider "Breaking News".

Ellen October 7, 2012 at 06:57 pm

Took BART in from North Berkeley on Saturday at about 5:30 for the ballgame. The main parking lots were full, don't know about the overflow. Train wasn't crowded at all. I suspect most folks were attending daytime events like HSB, Cal game or Fleet Week. Getting back from Embarcadero was VERY crowded around 10:30, mostly Giants fans. I was lucky enough to have a Richmond train show up 3 minutes after I got there from MUNI (and a lovely man who offered me his seat - apparently I looked as tired as I felt).
The direct trains for the Richmond line were HUGELY APPRECIATED! Wish we had them every weekend. Today with the parade, Castro St. fair and all the other events, it may be more crowded -- fine with me. Fewer cars spewing CO2 into the air with Sunday drivers confused over how to get around and where to park. Great weekend to be in the Bay Area... and, "Go Giants!" Agreed about the "breaking news alert." Please save those for actual, urgent/time sensitive alerts, not questions.

Rhonda J October 7, 2012 at 07:34 pm

I left Pleasant Hill around 9:30am and by the time we got to Lafayette it was packed! Standing room only by then. Coming back around 7:00pm getting on at Embarcadero it was packed like sardines!

Californicated1 October 7, 2012 at 07:35 pm

I am proud to say that I did NOT take BART yesterday.
Instead, I stayed close to home here in Livermore, which BART doesn't really serve but that the residents have been slavishly paying their taxes toward BART for the last 50 years! I cleaned up my apartment some, in anticipation of a family friend coming over to visit. All this did not require me taking BART, that overpriced albatross of a public transportation system. And it certainly did not require a "Breaking News" alert to ask me all of this and get my reply. But thanks for asking.

Ralph Hoffmann October 7, 2012 at 07:35 pm

I stayed in Walnut Creek to shop and spend money to pay sales taxes here to fund police, the free trolley and the Library. If we increase sales tax by 1/2%, I'd spend an extra $75/year, which I would save if Measure Q is defeated.

Ari Soglin (Editor) October 7, 2012 at 07:41 pm

Meanwhile, everyone I've talked to who's been in a car this weekend says the roads are far more empty than usual, something that's confirmed if you check online traffic maps. Lots of green, although 80 seems to be getting bunched up approaching the Maze as I type. http://berkeley.patch.com/commute

Chris J Kapsalis October 7, 2012 at 08:03 pm

Gas prices made more peopel take bart maybe or put off the Sunday drive today. Also lot's of sports on tv.

Dana Kilgore October 7, 2012 at 08:27 pm

How about Sunday service?

George October 7, 2012 at 08:34 pm

Charles,
Agree. This is not urgent news, which is what I consider "Breaking News"

Jojo Potato October 7, 2012 at 08:46 pm

What's a "breaking news alert"? Never saw that option and not likely to sign up for such a thing anyway. Is that where I hear about buying a house if my spouse has been in a short sale? Hope not.

Jenny Wenk October 7, 2012 at 08:57 pm

Agree!

Californicated1 October 7, 2012 at 09:02 pm

Maybe it's more like a "Muppet News" breaking story, where the anchor reads the news and something he is reading about is falling on him like in all those old "Muppet Show" re-runs.

LNg October 7, 2012 at 09:20 pm

I agree with Carly.

Cathy M. October 7, 2012 at 09:43 pm

This is NOT Breaking News. Breaking news is the stolen car that flipped in the Briones Parking lot next to Springhill School this afternoon after a high speed chase. Pleasant Hill Road southbound at Springhill/Quandt roads has been closed all afternoon. Have seen no mention of this in the Patch!

jessica rabbit October 7, 2012 at 09:46 pm

i agree this isnt breaking news this is like random news

Charles Burress (Editor) October 7, 2012 at 09:46 pm

George, thanks for the feedback. This alert, which was sent to multiple Patch sites served by BART, didn't originate from El Cerrito Patch. Please see the earlier comments by Patch editor Ari Soglin about the use of the "breaking news" alert.

Lisa Park October 7, 2012 at 10:59 pm

I used BART yesterday (Saturday). I walked to the stations and so can't comment on parking. The trains were very crowded.

David October 7, 2012 at 11:50 pm

Took BART from Walnut Creek to Fleet Week Saturday & Sunday. Left early came home late. Crowded yes, but I have riddden on BART since 1972. The Opening A's 1st game to the RAINNED OUT World Series. 7,000 leaving from the Ball Park station at one time. Now THAT was a problem. Maybe a transit alert notice. But, this weekend, no biggy.

Victor Li October 8, 2012 at 12:13 am

One more thing that I would suggest for the Patch -- hire more EXPERIENCED reporters.

MYC October 8, 2012 at 12:32 am

who are you, the patch police?

Surlene Grant October 8, 2012 at 01:24 am

On Sat. BART was great. Got on at San Leandro Station at 12:41 ...wanted to get the earlier train but all the "new" folks at the ticket machines were so slow (admittedly the machines are complicated for a new user and the non native speaker) that I missed the earlier train. Train going over to the City was extra long and crowded -- standing room only in many of the cars -- I moved through to a back car and got a seat. Also served to give others in the car directions as to what stops they wanted to get off on to get where they wanted to go. Was pleased to see that at the SF stations there were people in place to help folks navigate. Came back about 3 p.m. Smooth sailing. Almost empty train on the return Fremont line.

JClark927 October 8, 2012 at 01:46 pm

Hey Ari. This might be an educational opportunity for me. I received this story Monday morning at 8:00. I am a WCP subscriber and I have "liked" "Beyond the Creek" on fb. This one is no big deal, but I pouted for at least a few hours when I had no idea the shuttle was going to fly over my house. Is there some preference or other subscription option that will make emailed stories more timely? Perhaps those folks that see this sooner than the push-email are just visiting the website?

Ari Soglin (Editor) October 8, 2012 at 01:52 pm

@JClark927, are you subscribed to breaking news alerts or just to the daily newsletter? If you're not sure, go to the Newsletters link under your name in the upper right corner of this page. You can check your subscriptions there. If you're still having issues, please contact me offline or write to support@patch.com.

Crowley October 8, 2012 at 02:00 pm

I agree with Carly. Not breaking news.

Robert Smith October 8, 2012 at 03:27 pm

Agreed. The credibility of the 'Breaking News' banner was just diminished.

Vidya Jyothiprakash October 8, 2012 at 05:09 pm

my Husband and I took Bart on saturday, lucky we got seats since we boarded from Pleasanton, since by west Oakaland it got crowded.
taking bart back howe was a breeze at 6 pm from Market to Pleasanton/Dublin

Bryan October 8, 2012 at 07:13 pm

WOW, People chill out, you didn't have to read the damn article. For those of us that rode bart, was actually good to know. Get a life !! I have more of a issue that the news comes out a day late, but not like I'm paying for this service. Thank you Castro Valley Patch for trying to keep people informed, even if they are not appreciative !!

eagle eyes October 8, 2012 at 10:04 pm

fire out dude ..GROOVY !

Lucy loo October 8, 2012 at 11:37 pm

Decided to drive instead. Parking was open, traffic was clear. I didn't have to deal with belligerent drunk people. great decision, but happy all you people on here used public transportation on that busy sunny day. :)

Michaelangelo October 9, 2012 at 04:03 am

I didn't take Bart, Homer and Marge did.