Facts & FAQs
Ashby Bart BikeStation at night.
Photo credit FMG Architects
Shopping area at Downtown Berkeley Bart BikeStation.
Monitors at Downtown Berkeley Bart BikeStation show estimated train departure times.
BART created the nation's first transit-linked bike station in 2000 at Downtown Berkeley station. It continues to add bike stations and bike lockers every year to keep pace with increased bike commuting. Below are a list of our community partners:
Most of your questions can be answered by our Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs):
How much will all this cost me?
Valet stations are free. Our 24-hour self-service stations cost only 3 cents an hour from 9am - 6pm and 1 cent an hour otherwise. If you parked five days a week, 50 weeks a year, from 9am - 6pm, you'll pay less than $70.
Who pays for the bike stations?
BART allocates funds from various transit authorities (such as MTC), federal funds to encourage transit (Safe Routes to Transit), and clean air agencies (BAAQM, CalTrans). BART also coordinates for other cities to help specific stations with rent (Berkeley helps with Downtown Berkeley Bike Station, Oakland via The Unity Council helps with Fruitvale bike station). As the operator, our job is to reduce funding needs each year through sales and repairs.
Why do you charge by the hour in your self-service facilities?
We want to accommodate as many users as possible, and having a parking-meter type mentality encourages users to self-regulate. This allows us to grow into a 4:1 users to parking space ratio, maximizing usage while charging less for membership.
Why does my $20 get me only $15 value?
The smart card itself costs more than five dollars. We also have administrative costs such as sticker printing, address verification, and postage.
Where do the parking meter fees go?
We use a third-party technology called BikeLink to administer the backbone of our parking model. They provide 24-hour membership support and handle all requests and technical support-related issues. They collect the meter fees.
Why do you discourage overnight parking at valet stations?
Security and usage. If bikes were parked overnight on a regular basis, it would encourage break-ins. And having a handful of space hogs seriously cuts away at maximizing usage. We do work with reverse commuters to ensure they do not pay overnight fees - please inquire at the stations.
Why do I need to sign-in each time I use a valet station?
We record each entry to craft reports showing usage and pollution reduction reports. We will soon provide you access with your own usage reports.
Where can I find a list of all BART rules for cyclists?
A complete list is available online, click here.