Transit shatters records as Bay Bridge remains closed

  Rider Sheldon Routh called the ferry trip "Beautiful."  Thursday's view by the author.

Wednesday’s continuing closure of the Bay Bridge led to BART’s largest one-day ridership ever. Trains carried 437,200 riders easily stomping on the previous September 8, 2008 record of 405,400. System ridership was up 26% and Transbay showed a 53% gain over an average Wednesday.

While BART carried an extra 27,400 passengers on Wednesday morning, Thursday saw a further increase to 32,900 morning passengers, setting the stage for a new Thursday ridership record. As the Bridge remains closed despite speculation of Friday opening, tomorrow morning may see a further increase.

Driving remained a miserable alternative as many motorists found out on Wednesday. One found it was three hours from Concord to San Francisco in the early afternoon.  Clara Bellino found she had a "fairly" easy ride in from the East Bay via the Golden Gate on Thursday mid-morning, but the return was at a snail’s pace taking over two hours and forty minutes from downtown. She called it “difficult.”

The Ferries continued to experience ridership records, with the Alameda Oakland, Harbor Bay and Vallejo ferries experiencing 100% increases on Thursday. Midday riders increased dramatically, as both East Bay services offered expanded schedules, although Harbor Bay’s was difficult to find on its web site. It operated a two-boat, half hour schedule from 6:00 AM to 9:00 AM and also from 4:00 PM to 8:00 PM. Alameda Oakland offered half hour services all day and planned to operate the same service on Friday.

Many riders discovered the pleasure of riding the ferries, although the mysterious transfer policy confused a lot of people. Sheldon Routh made his way to an early afternoon ferry after using BART to his video camera job in Oakland. He expressed surprise at the crowds going to Oakland at 6:00 AM from San Francisco, but called the ferry trip home “beautiful.” He was surprised to find that the ferry offered a free-transfer to MUNI with a ten-trip book.

Another rider waiting at Alameda for a connecting bus admitted that she had tried to drive to the ferry in the morning but was unable to find parking, as all lots filled early and even random parking across the street from the terminal was plugged. She was unaware that her transfer to AC Transit was free, if she had retained a transfer stub.

Transfers are not adequately explained or reflected by 511.org, a web site used my many to look at transit options. Even worse, this web site does not reflect AC Transit connections to ferry services, directing patrons to BART instead. Ten-ticket books reduce the cost to $5.00 each way and 20-tickets are $4.50. Both include free transfers to AC Transit and MUNI.
 

While the Bridge is expected to remain closed Friday morning, Harbor Bay will reportedly revert to its regular schedule of three morning and four evening services. Alameda Oakland will continue its emergency schedules, operating approximately every half hour. Schedules and further information are found at eastbayferry.com.  BART will continue its expanded service.