Human waste shuts down Bay Area transit escalators

bleedlikeme · 07-29-12 at 12:58 AM

For months, a lot of people have been wondering why so many escalators going down to the BART's Civic Center station have been out of service.

It's a reasonable question. But now that we know the answer, we're not so happy we asked.

Poop. The answer is poop. Lots and lots of human poop.

BART officials told the San Francisco Chronicle on Wednesday that when a repair team opened up one broken escalator in June, they discovered such a large treasure trove of human feces they had to call in a hazardous materials team to handle the situation.

The area surrounding many San Francisco BART stations are popular camping spots for much of the city's homeless population. That group's lack of easy and regular access to restroom facilities is largely to blame for the excrement-clogged escalators.

Even though BART officials are aware of the problem, solving it may ultimately prove difficult.

"Nobody wants to be walking in urine and feces, I know that, [but] if we don't see it or the person doesn't admit to it, they can just say it was someone else," BART police spokesperson Era Jenkins explained to the Chronicle, noting that officers typically need to actually witness someone defecating in a station in order to issue a citation. "Certain crimes you don't see, you can't enforce."

Besides, as SFist notes, "bottom stairwell of the Civic Center station is a beat no cop would want."

Civic Center isn't the only BART station plagued by human waste. Last week, the Chronicle penned a scathing report about the 16th and Mission stop, which, according to many residents, has become an "easy-access urinal."

The escalators all around the transit agency's over 40 stations have been taking an especially hard beating lately. At the beginning of last month, 28 of the system's 179 escalators were out of service and officials embarked on a coordinated campaign to bring more of them back into working order.

"This is nothing less than a full court press to get these escalators back in service," BART Assistant General Manager of Operations Paul Oversier said in a statement to Bay City News. "We know the escalator outages are frustrating for many of our customers.

The majority of the broken escalators have since been repaired--for a price tag of about $200,000.

To quote Afro-beat pioneer Fela Kuti, that's some "Expensive Sh*t."

Code: Select All

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/07/26/broken-bart-escalators-poop_n_1706716.html

**Xanth1942** · 07-29-12 at 01:54 AM

That is both sad and gross mate.

Places to avoid on overseas trips:

Adding BART's Civic Center station - Check

FCBarca · 07-29-12 at 02:04 AM

Definitely disgusting...But part of the problem is definitely a lack of public washrooms in the first place but I suppose that's down to budgetary & maintenance concerns

Civic Center BART/MUNI is among the filthiest public transportation stops in the country

clownpuncher · 07-29-12 at 08:00 AM

Whoa.. that's pretty shitty.

**PhoenixBSD** · 07-29-12 at 08:33 AM

Worked in San Francisco way back in 1983 and road BART daily, commuting to Pittsburgh. It was a great service back then... and very clean!

**BlueDragonFire** · 07-29-12 at 01:41 PM

There are a few accessible facilities around the Civic Center area. Unfortunately they're mostly used by drug-users and they don't give a d@mn what condition they leave the place in. Nor do they care how many people are waiting to use it.

I almost got into a fight with one because all he was doing inside was sorting his belongings {which mostly looked like garbage anyway} inside while 3 people were waiting. A couple cops came by before I could start that part of the "discussion" unfortunately. But they did take him to a place he didn't have to worry about sorting his stuff.

This one:

------
But yeah, it wasn't as bad as the article when I was in SF but it was certainly building up. And I don't see any end to that problem because no matter what services are done for the homeless there are going to be those who just plain refuse to follow along. Not to mention that eventually some of the staff of those services are going to get tired of the constant struggle and abusive behavior.

Peace to you and yours,
Matthew "Dra'Gon" Stohler

**Gandolph13** · 07-29-12 at 04:13 PM

Quote:

noting that officers typically need to actually witness someone defecating in a station in order to issue a citation. "Certain crimes you don't see, you can't enforce."

But the homeless aren't going to be able to pay anyway are they?

Sad situation being homeless I guess, good people becoming demoralised and demoralising.

I was homeless for a stint as a teenager but I never gave up hope that my situation was going to change and as such, kept myself clean and sanitary (but insane).

**orgasminator** · 07-29-12 at 04:21 PM

That's escalating sh!t...

**tomandsusan** · 07-30-12 at 04:27 AM

There is an easy answer, round up all the homeless people and ship them to Britain. I heared tell that is the biggest toilet on the planet anyway!

( I kill me )

07-29-12 at 01:41 PM	#6
BlueDragonFire I plead INSANITY! Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Eville, Indiana, USA, Psychotic State Posts: 1,780	There are a few accessible facilities around the Civic Center area. Unfortunately they're mostly used by drug-users and they don't give a d@mn what condition they leave the place in. Nor do they care how many people are waiting to use it. I almost got into a fight with one because all he was doing inside was sorting his belongings {which mostly looked like garbage anyway} inside while 3 people were waiting. A couple cops came by before I could start that part of the "discussion" unfortunately. But they did take him to a place he didn't have to worry about sorting his stuff. This one: ------ But yeah, it wasn't as bad as the article when I was in SF but it was certainly building up. And I don't see any end to that problem because no matter what services are done for the homeless there are going to be those who just plain refuse to follow along. Not to mention that eventually some of the staff of those services are going to get tired of the constant struggle and abusive behavior. Peace to you and yours, Matthew "Dra'Gon" Stohler Last edited by BlueDragonFire; 07-29-12 at 01:48 PM.

07-29-12 at 01:54 AM	#2
Xanth1942 Expert Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Land of OZ Posts: 675	That is both sad and gross mate. Places to avoid on overseas trips: Adding BART's Civic Center station - Check

07-29-12 at 02:04 AM	#3
FCBarca Apprentice Join Date: Sep 2008 Posts: 250	Definitely disgusting...But part of the problem is definitely a lack of public washrooms in the first place but I suppose that's down to budgetary & maintenance concerns Civic Center BART/MUNI is among the filthiest public transportation stops in the country

07-29-12 at 08:00 AM	#4
clownpuncher Novice Join Date: Oct 2011 Posts: 184	Whoa.. that's pretty shitty.

07-29-12 at 08:33 AM	#5
PhoenixBSD Luminiferous Ether Sailor Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Thailand Posts: 1,701	Worked in San Francisco way back in 1983 and road BART daily, commuting to Pittsburgh. It was a great service back then... and very clean!

07-29-12 at 04:13 PM	#7
Gandolph13 Legendary Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Australia (GMT+10) Posts: 12,619	Quote: noting that officers typically need to actually witness someone defecating in a station in order to issue a citation. "Certain crimes you don't see, you can't enforce." But the homeless aren't going to be able to pay anyway are they? Sad situation being homeless I guess, good people becoming demoralised and demoralising. I was homeless for a stint as a teenager but I never gave up hope that my situation was going to change and as such, kept myself clean and sanitary (but insane).

07-29-12 at 04:21 PM	#8
orgasminator Master Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: island under the eye of the day Posts: 989	That's escalating sh!t...

07-30-12 at 04:27 AM	#9
tomandsusan Guru Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Never Never Land Posts: 5,815	There is an easy answer, round up all the homeless people and ship them to Britain. I heared tell that is the biggest toilet on the planet anyway! ( I kill me )