I don't go into the city all that often. It's even rarely that I go in midweek. But I signed up for a marketing class with Berekeley Extension that started last night in downtown SF at 6:30. And when I have to go into the city, I don't want to fight traffic. I take BART. It's quick. It's convenient. It's cheap (cheaper than the toll, gas & pakring). But only when it's working. And it wasn't working last night.

I left work about 5:30. I wanted to have enough time to get into city, figure out where the buidling was and grab some dinner before class. I thought I had it all figured out. It get walk into the class until 7:30. Just an hour late for my first day of class.

I drove to the West Oakland BART. Parked. I had a ticket already, so I just went through the gate, up the escalator and onto the train, which was just sitting on the track. I thought, how lucky, there's a train here. I'll be in the city in the few minutes. I was kicking myself for not remembering to bring my ipod, but it was short ride. I'd be there in about 5 minutes.

Then the announcements started. First it was that there was a computer problem and the train was delayed 20 minutes. Then 25 mintues. Then 30 minutes. All the time, I'm thinking, fuck, I'm stuck here, but what am I going to do? I'm not going to drive into the city. I can still make it to class on time if the train leaves at 6:20, so I just stuck it out. Most people did. They didn't have any other choice.

Then another announcement, 40 minute delay. Then a few minutes someone came on the PA and said they had the problem fixed and that the train would be leaving in 5-10 minutes. A few minutes another announcement saying there was a 45 minute delay. Then they said the computer was fixed and the train would be leaving momentarily. Then it was 50 minute delay. Then an hour. We're they fucking with us? What a joke. I just couldn't take it anymore. At 6:30, the moment my class started, I left BART, got in my car and went over the bridge.

Traffic wasn't so bad, I was in the city in 20 minutes, but I had no idea where to park. I drove around for at least half an hour, first trying to locate the building and then trying to find a parking garage nearby. It was madening. FIghting traffic, not finding a place to park, having no dinner.I wanted to kill someone by the time I finally found a place to park and walked into class. The prof made a joke at my expense, which I clearly was not in the mood for, and then asked me if I was a BART victim. Clearly I wasn't the only one.

When public transportation works, it the greatest thing. But when it doesn't, it's absolutely infuriating.