BART, or Bay Are Rapid Transit, the way I get to work on days I must go to San Francisco, has a problem. They've discovered that they have too many patrons. Or rather, too many patrons who use the BART system during peak hours resulting in overcrowded trains.

The solution? Well, first, hire consultants and do a study. This will cost money, but in order to come up with a smart solution, we need to ask smart people, and then get together and evaluate all the advice.

Peak, or high-demand, hours, as defined by BART are between 7am to 8:30am and 4:30pm to 6pm. No surprise here, this is when most people go to work. BART is thinking about charging people more to ride the system during these peak hours, in the hopes that people will alter their schedules and spread out the demand for the system.

How fucking stupid is that?

Who has the luxury to alter their own work hours? I don't.

BART is also considering higher fares at popular stations. Okay, so I'll go three exits further to save money on the fare increase, and I'll just walk the four miles to my office. Or take a taxi.

"It's taking people who want to do one thing and getting them to do something else," said Jeffrey Tumlin, a principal with Nelson\Nygaard, a transportation consulting firm working with BART.

All right, Jeffery.

This is working a cross-purpose. People who ride BART are not driving their cars, which is a good thing. But BART is thinking about charging people more money, in the hopes that they'll change their schedules. I think that's a little mean. And Jeffery's comment is condescending.

It may work, though. Maybe some people will ride at different times. I know people who already have changes, jsut to avoid the crowds, or to be able to park in spaces that don't open up until 10am. I've considered it, but I can't chnge my hours at work. I've asked.

Some people may just start driving again. I know people who have. I drive to SF some days, if I'm meeting friends for drinks and dinner after work. Driving costs a bit more ($18, approximately for bridge and parking and gas versus $11.50 for fare and parking). I have to get up a little earlier. But it's not so bad.

Still, I think most people will pay the increase and continue to endure the bad conditions. In the eight years I've been taking BART, the daily cost has increased from $8.50 to $11.50. Not unreasonable enough, at least for me, to make a change.

The increased fare may change some people's behavior. And more people will lose their jobs in these economic times. But I doubt the trains will get much less crowded because of a fare increase.

And consultants like Jeffery will go: "Hmmm."