Comments on: ok, i’ll say it: stay home on Labor Day weekend

By: Inside Bay Area > The Capricious Commuter > yeah. stay home. you got a problem with that?

Tue, 28 Aug 2007 04:20:44 +0000

[...] the area — Caltrans in particular — have been avoiding my favorite recommended response to Friday’s three-day closure of the Bay Bridge, she has brazenly included it on her [...]

By: Bart Ney

Bart Ney — Sun, 19 Aug 2007 12:10:58 +0000

Our Capricious Commuter has done his homework explaining the Labor Day Bay Bridge closure scenario. We at Caltrans, the Bay Area Toll Authority and the California Transportation Commission are conscerned that this year regional traffic will be affected because there are more regional events and the entire bridge will be completely closed. Last year Westbound traffic could use the bridge and busses like AC transit could cross eastbound hourly. Bay Area motorists are smart and do change their behavior to avoid regional gridlock when they know about changes to the system and what their options are. We have attempted to put that information out months in advance and in every possible location. Individual motorists taking action is the reason why we did not gridlock the system last year or during the Maze repairs this year. While staying at home and BBQing or visiting neighbors is a fun option that can help regional traffic, we have done everything we can to provide increased alternative options to driving so people can take part in great regional events like the Oakland Art & Soul festival and the Sausalito Art & Wine festival. I would urge people to explore public transit over Labor Day weekend. Who knows you may find it a better way to move around the bay. Have fun over Labor Day weekend and know that the Bay Bridge will be back in service by Tuesday at 5 AM.

By: Doug Faunt

Doug Faunt — Sat, 18 Aug 2007 20:06:51 +0000

Re: staying at home- I think many people will do that anyway (or go far away- Japan in my case). I see enough warnings about the closure so I think people will still be cautious.

As far as frequency of service, if it’s frequent enough, schedules are unnecessary.
Nobody even thinks about schedules for the tube in London, except for last and first trains. 15 minutes between service is about when I stop looking, I think, but that also depends on how likely I think the service is to be on schedule.
But service like CalTrain require checking the schedule.

I’ve now got BART, AC and CalTrain schedules on a PDA, and they are very useful.

By: Capricious Commuter

Capricious Commuter — Sat, 18 Aug 2007 15:16:54 +0000

I sincerely hope you guys are right, and that everything goes as well or better than it did last year. One of the other factors is that people who saw things going well last year may think it’s ok to venture out this year.

Also, do you think ignoring the option of staying home is appropriate as the official line?

By: Doug Faunt

Doug Faunt — Sat, 18 Aug 2007 15:08:04 +0000

“VS, the main difference between then and now is that the entire bridge will be closed, both ways. That will create problems on other bridges in both directions and thus more congestion radiating out in all directions”

Err, How many buses did AC run across the almost closed Bay Bridge last time? Not many. And yes, Greyhound and a few chartered buses also got across.

But in reality, the difference between the previous closing and this one is pretty trivial.

By: Capricious Commuter

Capricious Commuter — Sat, 18 Aug 2007 14:40:32 +0000

VS, the main difference between then and now is that the entire bridge will be closed, both ways. That will create problems on other bridges in both directions and thus more congestion radiating out in all directions.

You have a point about the festivals, although Caltrans and MTC people said there are more regional events this time.

I totally disagree about the scheduling thing. The reason that BART works so well is that many people ride it knowing that at some point soon, there will be a train, regardless of whether they check a schedule or not. I’m a transit junkie, so I obsess over schedules. On the other hand, I’ve often arrived at a BART station clueless and just looked up at the scrolling next train announcements.

Clearly, people who use transit need to consult schedules most of the time, but a rapid transit system like BART should have frequent enough service so that those who don’t can still get by without too much inconvenience. A system needs to cater to those people or we won’t get them out of their cars.

By: V Smoothe

V Smoothe — Sat, 18 Aug 2007 08:51:08 +0000

I don’t know about this. I took BART last Labor Day weekend from Oakland to SF on two days, and neither time was my train anywhere close to as crowded as your average weekday morning commute hour. And the Oakland Art & Soul Festival and the Sausalito Art & Wine Festival are long standing civic events. Both happened last year. So I’m having a hard time seeing what is so different.

Honestly, I also have a hard time finding sympathy for people who planned to take transit but didn’t bother to check the schedules beforehand. That’s pretty basic.