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by dcolkitt 1886 days ago
I agree that kids in an urban environment can be very rewarding. I disagree that the urban environment found in the Bay Area is conducive to kids. Visiting the local park is great. Visiting the local park when the walk is littered with human excrement and discarded needles, not so much. No parent in their right mind would ever go on the BART with a child.
2 comments
rekoros 1886 days ago
I've taken my children on BART a few times, even dropped one of them (fell out of a stroller) down the stairs at Montgomery Station once.

It's fun for the kids - why not? - but I have no fond memories. I commuted via BART every day 2006-2012 (albeit just one stop - W Oakland to Embarcadero, and back), and the stuff I witnessed on a regular basis had me thinking "I'm so glad my children aren't here to see this."

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digikazi 1886 days ago
Why wouldn't you take your child on BART?

I'm not looking for an argument, I'm genuinely curious. I live in the UK but I've never visited the SF area.

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dcolkitt 1886 days ago
Even 5 years ago I would. But the level of mayhem, filth, and danger on San Francisco public transit is out of control. The BART makes the Tube look like Tokyo Metro.
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bobthechef 1886 days ago
You can thank Californian and SF officials.
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TMWNN 1886 days ago
One of many, many, many reasons: https://sanfrancisco.cbslocal.com/2017/07/09/bart-withholdin...
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aiisjustanif 1886 days ago
I’m not the poster, but personally I would. I go to London quite regularly and usually stop by San Fran once a year (not 2020). I personally find the BART similar to the MARTA (Atlanta) and DART (Dallas).

I don’t know if you live in London, but I would say they compare to the Northern Line it terms of quality. But at the end of the day the real difference is about riders. I would say you do notice more issues like littering (including dangerous litter like needles) and robbery in the US train lines though.

However, just like most public train lines, you have to learn to mind your business, be aware and don’t lallygag. Also, stick to using it during the day.

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lostlogin 1886 days ago
> lallygag.

Thanks for this, a new word for me.

Lallygag/lollygag: to loll about; idling lazily. There is an interesting article on it’s etymology in the NYT.

https://www.nytimes.com/2006/06/25/magazine/25wwln_safire.ht...

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