BART riders must wear face coverings on trains, inside stations

OAKLAND, Calif - Starting Wednesday, the Bay Area’s largest transit operator is enforcing mandatory masks inside stations and on board trains. BART said its following county health orders from Alameda, Contra Costa, San Francisco, and San Mateo counties that require masks in public.

BART police officers will be proactively telling people to cover up their faces. BART may not let those riders who refuse to wear a mask on the train, they may be escorted out or issued a misdemeanor citation.

“As long as your mouth and nose are covered and they remain covered you are allowed to ride BART,” said Bart Spokeswoman Alicia Trost.

Face coverings are required in the parking lot, inside the station and on board a train. The order follows guidelines set forth by several counties that BART operates in.

“The county health orders that were issued specifically mentioned not just BART but all transit, ridesharing and taxis,” said Trost. “Whether you are riding a bus, catching a cab or Uber or Lyft, you must now wear a face covering.”

Face coverings prevent the spread of respiratory droplets. It's how Covid-19 is transmitted between people.

Since the pandemic started, BART has been operating on a modified schedule with shorter hours and less trains. Ridership has gone from 405,000 riders a day now down to 22,000 riders which is a 94 percent drop.

“We are losing $9 million a week in fare revenue alone, we are also losing in parking revenue,” said Trost.

The vast majority who are riding BART are essential workers who are already wearing face masks. For those riders who do need a reminder, BART police will work with them first.

“Do you have a sweatshirt you can wrap around your face or a jacket or a scarf, is your shirt physically big enough you can bring it up our nose,” said Trost.

BART shifted police officers to station entrances and near fare gates to deter crime and now they will be enforcing the order.

Riders will see signs stating coverings are mandatory and the message will also be on platform digital signs and announcements will be heard over the PA system.

Michael Chellgren is a BART rider who did not have a mask on Tuesday.

“While I’m walking I don't like to wear it,” said Chellgren. “It's a little restrictive for breathing but as soon as I get on the BART trust me it goes on. I think they should have been doing it from day one.”

BART reminds riders not to confront each other about face coverings but to let police handle it.