Improving Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) district Connectivity and Access with the Segway Human Transporter and other Low Speed Mobility Devices

This report documents the results of the first phase of a two-part project: (1) research and feasibility analysis and (2) the field operational test and research of a shared-use Segway HT, electric bicycle, and bicycle rental model linked to a Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) District station and surrounding employment centers. The feasibility analysis identified the Pleasant Hill BART station and surrounding community, in the East San Francisco Bay Area, as a viable field test location for the introduction of low-speed modes. The location met all criteria established by Partners for Advanced Transit and Highways (PATH) researchers and project partners (i.e., BART, Segway LLC, Giant Bikes, and All Aboard), including: (1) favorable location physical attributes (i.e., employment density and distribution, available pedestrian/bicycle infrastructure, and the absence of significant transit feeder service); (2) community support, in particular, the ability of the field test design to address the safety concerns of the elderly, disabled, and pedestrian advocates; (3) evidence of a large pool of employers who could benefit from the service; (4) a transit station vendor to distribute the devices; and (5) a multijurisdictional location to enhance the transferability of the results.