Circling for Late Morning BART Parking Spots

Patch fanned a Facebook fracas Monday with an inquiry about late morning parking at Walnut Creek BART.

It seems that's a sore point with many readers. We asked Facebook readers this: "During the last week in August, Patch editor David Mills drove to Walnut Creek BART to catch an 11:20 a.m. train to San Francisco. However, the parking lots were all full and that 11:20 a.m. went whizzing by, so Dave ended up driving into The City. Has anyone else experienced this -- the BART lots filling up, even after 10 a.m.? Thoughts?"

The answer is clearly yes. A sampling of Facebook commenters: 

• Thomas Painter WC BART parking has been filling up every week day since 1982 that I know of
• Chuck Deckert It is an everyday occurrence at both Pleasanton stations as both fill usually by 8:45 AM during weekdays. I will always get online and pay $3 additional for a reserved spot the day before if I will be taking a train after that time.
• Raquel A. Gonzales Everyday occurrence - no parking on either side - Pleasanton/Dublin and Pleasanton side. My son commutes to AAU each day and can never find a space. I will share the tip! Thanks.
• Kerry Yvonne Burke What a shame.....they need more parking garages!!!

In a press release, BART says ridership is up in September.

Riders drawn by BART’s 95% or better on time performance standard are flocking to the transit system in September, pushing weekday ridership past  the 400,000-plus milestone for the third time this month, including more than 415,000 trips Monday, September 10 (please see accompanying chart).

“Record ridership is great for the Bay Area.  It helps improve the environment and mobility throughout the region and the increased revenue will help us re-invest in our system,” said BART General Manager Grace Crunican.  “At 40 years old, BART is carrying more people than ever.  We have 410 more trains on order and they can’t get here fast enough.  In the meantime, we’ve added four extra trains in each direction on our busy Millbrae to Richmond line each weeknight.”

BART has seen a remarkable boost in ridership. Nine of BART’s top 20 ridership days have been recorded in 2012. In the past, it took a Giants World Series parade or a Bay Bridge closure to spike ridership but ridership approaching or surpassing the 400,000 mark is becoming the new normal.
 
BART Increasing Capacity & Maximizing Its Fleet 

 BART is working to increase the interior capacity of its existing fleet of train cars to ease on-boarding and off-boarding and to create additional space for riders. 

BART is also maximizing the use of its existing fleet of 669 train cars without sacrificing its 95% or better on time performance. On a typical day BART operates more than 85 percent of its total fleet of train cars, among the highest percentage of any major U.S. transit agency. The cars that are not in service are instead undergoing repairs or being retrofitted with improvements like the easier-to-clean vinyl seats or non-carpeted floors.

How to Find More Room

BART offers the following advice to passengers to help find a little more room:
* Move beyond the center of the platform - the cars at either end of the train are generally less crowded;
* If you have the flexibility to travel outside the busiest commute hours (7:30 to 9 a.m., 4:30 to 7 p.m.), you're likely to find more room;
* After you enter the train car, move away from the door and move down the aisle to create additional room;
* If you're wearing a backpack, remove it and hold it or place it between your legs;
* If you are near the doors step out to the platform for a moment to free space for those trying to exit the train;
* Perhaps most important: be considerate of your fellow passengers.

So tell us in the comments below what your secret is for finding the elusive BART parking spot? Is the rising ridership creating even more of a parking issue?