Comments on: Pranksters Install Swings on BART Public Transit System in San Francisco

By: Matt Moran

Matt Moran — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 08:14:38 +0000

How come the bars aren’t designed to take that much weight? They’re there as a safety feature for people to grab onto, and if they fall, thus needing to grab onto a bar, their full weight would hang off one bar. You’re telling us, Daniel, that 2 bars aren’t strong enough between them to take one person’s weight? What if it was rush hour, and the carriage was full of commuters holding onto the bar, and the train had to make an emergency stop? It strikes me that if the bars can’t each hold half a person’s weight, then they are woefully under-specced for the job for which they are intended, and give commuters a false sense of security.

By: kate

kate — Sat, 10 Oct 2009 18:14:33 +0000

i don’t want to throw out a lot of examples because i might get reemed for them not being exactly the same as swings on bart, but the mission is pretty chock full of cute whimsical pranks where people get hurt (badly, sometimes) and some poor shlub has to pay to clean up after our cuteness. i’m not hating on bart swings but those who do aren’t just total throwaway assholes.

By: Doc

Doc — Fri, 09 Oct 2009 07:02:58 +0000

sfzero.com has your explanation.

By: anya

anya — Sun, 27 Sep 2009 19:10:17 +0000

I wasn’t going to say this, but I’m glad to see someone else mention it. I’m in a wheelchair, and while I love a good prank as much as the next guy, the swing would block my already limited access in a public space.
I’d worry about getting hit by it as/if people held it out of my way.
Not trying to be a whiner, but it is an inconsiderate prank.

By: Amanda

Amanda — Fri, 21 Aug 2009 19:51:19 +0000

I think it’s a unique and fun twist on the mundane. It makes the boring commute on public transportation just a little better. And (I think) someone up there said that they would be that unsmiling person…
Well, I don’t know about you, but I’d prefer swinging people to weirdos and creepers any day!
As far as we know, no one got hurt, which makes it all the better.

These pictures and those pranksters make me smile. :)

By: Dan

Dan — Tue, 16 Jun 2009 22:09:21 +0000

Lighten up a little. This was just some hamless fun. I think it’s great that some people know how to live it up!

By: tizzielish

tizzielish — Sat, 06 Jun 2009 01:59:48 +0000

I love the swings on BART. I would have loved to have these joyful people enter my train and put the swings up in front of me. It would have been lovely, joyful, to see it.

I point out that they did it at 8:30 p.m., when the trains are not at all crowded. doing this during rush hour might be inappropriate but it is harmless at 8:30 p.m.

What are we coming to when our shared spaces can’t be thoughtfully, joyfully, platfully shared? Lighten up.

I ride BART all the time and I see people doing chin-lifts (or whatever they are called) on the ceiling railings all the time. Those steel bars can, obviously, hold many hundreds of pounds. One person on a swing, with the weight distributed on TWO bars, won’t break anything.

It doesn’t matter but I am a senior. I hope to see happy happenings on many BART rides. Keep up the good work.

By: JOSH

JOSH — Fri, 05 Jun 2009 17:23:33 +0000

Very interesting.
So much name calling. So much bashing, so many different opinions. I actually happen to agree with all of it!
I would chalk this one up as the epitome of WHY? people ride/ roll through life much less any public transit system without making eye contact or ’socializing’ with the people around them. Your either totally fucking cool for doing something FUN or your a total fucking idiot for doing something stupid/ mindless/ FUN. Everyone is so frigging opinionated, yet no one really seems to have much respect for how the next guy feels. I equate this to the assholes who think it’s soo cool to force themselves through the train doors as they are closing. NO REGARD WHATSO EVER TO THE PEOPLE AROUND THEM. I personally have had to off board a train during peak travel more than twice because they had to take the train out of service as a result of someone elses disregard for others. Judge this.
This situation is hardly worth comparing to my next scenario, however on the subject of ‘disregard for others…. certainly there are many people out there that think weaving in an out of traffic at high speeds, regardless of how bloody thick it is pretty god damned cool as well, I’m guessing these are the same people that never see the cars through out the bay area that are turned upside down in the middle of the freeway, interfering with everyones else travel plans. I see it all the time. One thing I never do see is these assholes ever actually getting pulled over for all the fun there having.
blah blah blah…… ??????????? Does anyone even really know what time it is?

By: Travis

Travis — Wed, 03 Jun 2009 18:55:11 +0000

Smile! As I see it, those bars that are on the ceiling have people hanging from them swinging quite often. Take a late night BART ride home from the city and you’ll see plenty of buzzed danglers. So, I doubt there be any risk of damaging the equiptment. The BART train can handle it.

By: Bright Shadow

Bright Shadow — Thu, 21 May 2009 06:04:39 +0000

Actually the guys in suits work for the IRS in the business district. I say we insult them after all.

By: Bright Shadow

Bright Shadow — Thu, 21 May 2009 06:02:35 +0000

Dangerous huh? Dangerous like driving, or even living in Oakland with it’s current crime rate? If you are afraid of danger I can understand why you left Chicago, but quite frankly your a fool for thinking the bay area is any safer. The people of the bay like to enjoy life, and this is a good example of that. If that kind of life is not for you, I invite you to leave.

By: skateboard bearings guy

skateboard bearings guy — Tue, 05 May 2009 22:50:14 +0000

nice try at trolling, but you come on a little strong. maybe you should look up the definition of avant garde–you seem to be very confused. the swing isn’t taking a jab at men in suits or some kind of political agenda. its making fun of the fact that public transit is a place where people crowd together but rarely talk to one another or even crack a smile. you know when you get in an elevator with 4-5 typically friendly people and yet its dead silent for the whole ride? that’s what the artist is poking fun at.

By: Retired Bus Operator

Retired Bus Operator — Tue, 05 May 2009 00:41:58 +0000

Sorry about the ada person. I’m one now and it would have crossed my mind to move the swing. Hey you up there leave Homer’s writing to the show writers.You’re right Psynyde– it’s a swing on a train.If someone fell –well the responsibility is theirs. And you piss ant, go check the bridges around the country becase they are dangerous and don’t go to the beach ’cause there might be a Tsunami. After many years in public transit all I can say is I dig it. Oh yeah what’s the fetish with twins with no pants on? huh?

By: atlin83

atlin83 — Mon, 04 May 2009 17:56:56 +0000

okay, while it is fun and a neat idea, Daniel has a point.

1) it’s a potential hazard to those on the swing as well as other BART riders. sorry, but hanging from things not designed to support your weight, especially on a moving vehicle and around other people, is dangerous.
2) it could damage BART equipment, requiring the train to be pulled from service and repaired. this costs public money to pay for the parts, cost of pulling the train from service and replacing it, plus labor for maintenance.

i also feel compelled to note that Banksy’s artwork doesn’t generally keep people in wheelchairs or on crutches from navigating public spaces. i saw a post about swings on bus shelters once. again, like here, a neat idea, but a bad one. in this case, any ADA-sensitive folks couldn’t get through the shelter door to get out of the rain because someone put a swing in it.

i’m not saying this isn’t novel, or a fun idea, but it’s certainly not a responsible one. people could get hurt. people could be inconvenienced. it could cost a lot more public money than most anyone realizes. it would be fun, but it’s a bad idea.

By: kbug

kbug — Sun, 03 May 2009 02:16:48 +0000

Daniel, you wet blanket you.

By: Emcee

Emcee — Sun, 03 May 2009 01:42:55 +0000

stick-in-the-mud

By: Psynyde

Psynyde — Sat, 02 May 2009 23:44:18 +0000

Wow… So much hostility. I wouldn’t call it reckless, dangerous, hip, or avant garde. People, it is a SWING on a TRAIN. Take it for what it is please

By: Jack

Jack — Sat, 02 May 2009 19:24:40 +0000

yes chris, i’m petrified of swings, avant garde hipster wannabe…. let me refill your latte

By: DM

DM — Sat, 02 May 2009 16:39:04 +0000

I love this kind of stuff. Utterly fantastic and kudos to the guys who did it. Lovely to have some form of expression and mindless immaturity amongst countless repressed and lifeless.

And aside from the obvious danger of some fat fuck sitting on the swing, I can’t see anything wrong with this. At the very worst, it’s a form of creative vandalism, like the mind-bending graffiti that people like Banksy do (although this is nowhere near as skilled). In conclusion; hush up, Daniel.

By: Chris

Chris — Sat, 02 May 2009 15:49:09 +0000

Jeez I never heard so much boring drivel in my life from one person. I bet you have a fun life, sat in front of your TV, because it’s just sooooooo dangerous outside.

You’re a loser.