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The latest numbers from the BART Police Department show through the end of August overall crime in the system is down 15% compared with the same period in 2023. The trend includes a 10% drop in violent crime. The decline in the crime rate comes as BART has been experiencing an increase in ridership. All of BART’s top 10 post-pandemic ridership days were in September, driven by special events including the Dreamforce conference in San Francisco and the final Oakland A’s homestand. Read the full Chief’s Report with all the latest safety numbers.

“The drop in criminal activity on BART is happening as we have been going all out to implement our Safe and Clean Plan,” said BART General Manager Bob Powers. “Our riders have been loud and clear that they want us to step our game up when it comes to their safety and the cleanliness of our system. We have more work to do on behalf of our riders, but these numbers indicate our commitment to maximizing our visible safety presence is paying off.”

“Since I became BART Police Chief one year ago, it has been my top priority to maximize the number of officers walking trains and patrolling our stations,” said BART Police Chief Kevin Franklin. “Our officers are more visible than ever. Their efforts are containing relatively small concerns before they grow into big problems that harm service.”

Additional safety highlights from the latest numbers:

*Only 12 electronic thefts and robberies were reported across the entire system in August. That’s the lowest total for any month since 2021 when ridership was much lower than today.

*BART PD reported 13,016 total enforcement contacts through August, up from 7,791 for the same period in 2023.

*BART PD’s response time for Priority 1 emergencies averaged 4 minutes and 25 seconds in August, among the fastest for any law enforcement agency in the Bay Area.

BART’s Safe and Clean Plan is a commitment to riders to maximize resources to boost their safety and provide clean service. BART’s stepped up safety efforts include sworn officers, non-sworn Crisis Intervention Specialists and Transit Ambassadors, as well as the implementation of Next Generation Fare Gates, which have now been installed successfully at seven stations. All 50 of BART’s stations will have Next Generation Fare Gates by the end of 2025.

BART PD patrols a system that spans five counties and includes 50 stations with 131 route miles of track. You can keep up with all BART’s safety trends in the monthly Chief’s Reports.

There’s a lot to love about BARTy. 

BARTy is BART’s mascot, and if you live in the Bay Area, there’s a good chance you’ve seen the cartoon train out on the town (or on social media). It's got big dewy eyes, perpetually blushing cheeks, and a square head-slash-body. You can't miss the lil' guy and its smattering of accessories, be it binoculars, rainbow sweatbands, or a Ballers baseball cap. 

Since 2019, BARTy has been appearing on BART t-shirts, stickers, graphics, and signage. There are now more than 20 iterations of the anthropomorphized train – sugar skull BARTy, cricket player BARTy, Frankenstein’s monster BARTy, etcetera. 

But before all that, BARTy was a seven-year-old's sketch. 

It was winter break in 2019, and BART graphic designer Joe Lash brought his seven-year-old son to the office with him. There was much to be done in the office that day, and Lash needed something to entertain his kid while he got some work done.  

“That year, I was tasked with designing a t-shirt for employees to wear in the Chinese New Year Parade in San Francisco,” Lash remembered. “I was coming up with a bunch of concepts, and I said to my son, ‘Why don’t you draw some, too?’”  

His son got to work sketching. Every one of his designs featured a square train with a smiling face, and because it was the Year of the Rat, the seven-year-old added a rat and cat “dabbing” on top of the train. 

“That drawing didn’t make the final cut, but the square train design did,” Lash said. “That was the birth of BARTy.” 

People loved those Chinese New Year t-shirts, so the BART Creative Services team decided to try the concept again for St. Patrick’s Day. Things went totally off the rails from there. 

“At the time, we were thinking about designing a new BARTmobile, and I was working on various faces for it,” Lash said of the mini train that BART rolls out for parades and events. “I thought a kawaii-style face would be awesome for it.” Kawaii means “cute” in Japanese. It’s a popular aesthetic style that emphasizes adorableness and simplicity, often characterized by rounded shapes, big eyes, and soft colors.

BART graphic designer Joe Lash with three "BARTys on a stick."

A new BARTmobile never came to be, but the facial concepts Lash designed for the vehicle stuck with him. And got stuck on BARTy. 

In the years since its conception, every BART graphic designer has created many BARTys for many occasions. Part of the appeal of the character is its adaptability. Fourth of July? Add an Uncle Sam hat. Pride parade? Make BARTy dance on a disco ball. Halloween? BARTy becomes a pumpkin. 

The character has taken on a life of its own. Sometimes, you’ll see BARTy in social media videos wandering the system on a stick (unlike BART trains, BARTy doesn’t have functioning wheels and require some assistance). Other times, you might find the cartoon on BART valentines or even informational ads on trains.

“BARTy really taps into what BART means to the Bay Area,” said BART Marketing Manager Roderick McFarland. “BARTy isn’t just BART, it’s a part of the community, every holiday, every celebration—from Lunar New Year to Dia de los Muertos and 4th of July to Hanukkah. It’s about being seen, acknowledged, and valued. BART employees come from every possible Bay Area community, and BART serves every community. BARTy is a playful embodiment of that relationship.” 

People outside of BART have run with the concept, too, designing their own versions of BARTy. We invite you to do the same by downloading this printable template. Share your drawing with us by tagging us on social media! Find some inspiration below from the BARTy masterpieces created by riders at SweaterFest '25.