BART – Glen Park Station

This station doesn’t open until about 7:45 ish on Sunday’s so don’t come earlier than that or you will freeze your behind off

BART is great! Bay Area public transit is functional, convenient and a pleasurable experience.
In comparing SF to NY and LA, major metropolitan /​urban cities, I notice a lot of similarities between SF and NY where a lot of people rely on public transit as a function of what makes sense and convenience to go from point A to get to point B quickly, as well as in part affordably too. You’ll notice the passengers are a mixture of different ethnicities and socio-​economics, with your minorities, your rich, your poor, your students, your elderly all shoulder to shoulder for the most part in a big melting pot.
That’s at least my experience going from SF and within SF as well as to the initial parts of the East Bay.
In comparing SF (and NY) to LA, I do notice that Los Angeles’ MTA system is more of a means of transportation by situation than desire. People take the public transit out of necessity and not choice. The majority are minorities (not a racist statement more so than a fact of matter, as you can ride it, observe and tally the head count by category to validate that as fact) and also there seems to be a lower socio-​economic tier that rides the public transit. It often smells like marijuana and there’s a lot more hustlers, young delinquents, and sketchy looking individuals as well as what seems to be folks with mental health issues who ride the MTA in the LA area, so it does in fact feel a bit less safe. You’d be wise not to sit on the inside seats or near doors nor whip out your $ 300+ cell phone to surf/​text while riding.
So, in looking at San Francisco’s BART, it’s for the most part a great transit system. Sure, I’ve read stories about shootings at stations, issues on the train and parking lots, but haven’t seen anything worst than what So Cal has to offer or historically has shown.
When I was riding from the East Bay to SF, there were a group of young urban youth who put on a dance performance then asked for money from a captive audience of passengers, but it didn’t feel intimidating nor extorting at the least bit.
The ride rates are a bit high, but so is the price of gasoline, car maintenance, parking and bridge tolls as well as the x-​factor of what «time» is worth and what you save by taking public transit.

i quite like this bart station since this is my preferred station to park & ride whenever i need to head into the city. from glen park, it’s only $ 1.85 for a one way ride into downtown and you can be there in 10 – 12 minutes. there is a dedicated bart parking lot just across the street from the station, which is something that none of the other sf-​based bart stations provide. or if you only need to park for a couple of hours, take advantage of the free 4-​hour and 2-​hour street parking along bosworth and neighboring side streets. this bart station also has restrooms, another unique feature that i’ve not seen at any of the other stations that i frequent, including the stations further down in the peninsula. escalators, stairs, and elevators are provided, making this station extremely accessible to all.

This is one of the safest and cleaner BART stations I’ve ever been to. It is located in a neighborhood with many friendly businesses. I feel like I’m in a little town in the middle of somewhere. However, the station is small as does the station’s parking lot.
There is only one set of escalator. One of the two times I’ve gone here the elevator was out of service. That’s basically out of service 50% I’m here. Good thing I enjoy walking the stairs.
Outside of the station is not the cleanest but compared to other stations in San Francisco… well, it is the nicest. At least I don’t smell urine every few yards. After you get down those escalators, the area is the one of the cleaner ones of all BART stations.

One of the safest BART stations and I can see why. Not a very busy station. Pleasant plaza at the entrance.
The station drops you right into a neighborhood where you can find some delightful businesses. This BART station has a totally different feel from the Mission or downtown stations.

Other Bart stations should mirror Glen Park station. :) The only negative would be sometimes escalators are not working and I have to help my 74 grandma walk up long staircase. :(

It’s unfortunate the state of disrepair many BART stations have allowed themselves to fall into. This is one of the few SF BART stations that provides a bathroom, but it’s quite worth holding it if you can because the bathroom their is deplorable.
Quite often the escalator is out of service, and I’ve got mobility issues, so it means braving the elevator, which is only a slight step up from the bathroom. This station in the midst of one of SF’s nicer neighborhoods, yet there’s little effort to maintain it to a standard that makes it presentable to the general public.
There is a nice little patio out front that is rather spacious, and there are plenty of bus lines to transfer to nearby, but overall, the cleanliness of this station is a much needed consideration. As well, the frequency with which their escalators go out of service is a nuisance.

If I only had a photo of all the people waiting for 12m to go. downtown on a Saturday.
BART needs to up its game. Long overdue.

Clean and safe — especially compared to the stop directly south (Balboa Park) and the two directly north (24^th & Mission and 16^th & Mission). The elevators are typically in service and the crowds are never too large. In fact, the largest crowds I have ever experienced were for the 2012 and 2014 World Series parades. People keep to themselves and you don’t need to worry bout scuzzy or mentally-​unstable types harassing you or encroaching on your space.
Bonus points for the cool architecture!

I’ve used this station several time and found it to be clean and generally well-​run.
There aren’t enough seats on the platform and the signage needs to be improved.

Top notch Bart Station. It is clean and there are no panhandlers, bums, or transients. The station itself is not huge like Powell or Civic Center so it is not confusing to navigate your way up or down or around the place.

Glen Park Bart station is a very clean, safe, and well connected Bart station. Compared to most of the Bart stations in SF, this is probably one of the better ones. I’ve traveled through Glen Park for years in the early hours and late hours of the night and never felt unsafe. Unlike at other Bart stations, there seems to be a lack of homeless/​panhandlers and crime is relatively low here.
In terms of transit options, there’s Bart (of course) and many Muni bus routes that can bring you to most of the surrounding areas such as the Sunset District and Silver Terrace area. Lastly there’s the Genentech public shuttle that runs through here, which brings you to the Genentech campuses in South SF. There’s also a Yahoo shuttle, but that one is private. Overall with Bart, Bus and Shuttle options, you can get to anywhere you need to in the Bay.
While I like Glen Park Bart Station, one of my gripes that I have about this station is that it wreaks of stagnant, stale urine in the morning by the Genentech shuttle wait area (by the stairs). Usually the smell is worse when a Bart train arrives or departs, the air is stirred up, allowing the smell to be concentrated and even more intense. But this is to be expected in any city, so it’s something I’ve grown accustomed (but not fond of) to. I just have made it a habit to not sit on the raised cement areas and to hold my breath when incoming or outgoing Bart trains come and go.
Overall, Glen Park Bart Station is a pleasant (for the most part, minus the urea/​uric acid smell!), clean, and well-​connected Bart station in SF. While it is far away from traditional SF tourist spots, it serves its purpose of being a convenient transportation hub for its local residents. Four stars!

I’ve been taking this BART station all my life and I’ve been relying on it since. Like other reviews you may have read, this station is very hard to get lost as there’s only one exit and entrance.
Outside, there’s the 44 which was take you all the way to the Sunset and Richmond and the 52 which takes you through the middle of San Francisco.
The best amenity to this station has to be the dedicated passenger loading zone. I’ve utilized this so much and with the sparse parking around the station, this can be a lift saver.

Definitely one of the cleaner Bart stations… and it has a bathroom, one that probably wouldn’t give you an infectious disease right away! Also conveniently located to a couple choice shops. Across the street is a Citibank, some great restaurants (Gialina, La Corneta, and Le P’tit Laurent to name a few), and Glen Park Library.

11-​Nov-​2012 @ 0800
Glen Park BART is your typical run of the mill BART station. Not much expectation there. My only gripe is the restroom smelled like wet dog 10X — it literally took my breath away. It’s almost like a homeless person had been using the restroom as their residence with a pillow in the corner under the sink — and yes there was a pillow in the corner.
A better surveillance of the restroom should be done. And a better cleaning and better ventilation. It was really bad. I still can’t get rid if the smell from my lungs.

Seriously, how are they always doing maintenence on one of the two escalators? I’ve lived in the Diamond Heights Area for over three years and at least once every two weeks, one of these damn escalators is out. Although I appreciate the free workout for my butt and calves, I’d prefer to not do it in my work clothes carrying all of my work stuff. Geeze.
I don’t like bart since public transportation has made me lose all the hope I had in humanity, but find it a quicker, more civilized (barely) alternative to taking MUNI. The service is hit or miss, like all BART stations, but I love the architecture of this one. It’s open but covered and when you get up the escalator (probably the stairs), if it’s sunny, you get a gust of fresh air which I love after being on the musty and improperly airconditioned trains.

This is one of the better Bart stations in SF (IMO). very difficult to get lost — there’s only one entrance and exit so giving people directions isn’t a challenge. There’s a bathroom (haven’t used it tho) and the staff have been pretty nice when I’ve needed them.
I think one of the issues that people not familiar to the area is the congestion — there’s lots of city. buses and company shuttles (the big grey-​hound-​like kind of shuttles) go through here in the morning and in the afternoon/​evening in addition to all the picking up and dropping off of car passengers as well as pedestrians galore! So beware if you’re a driver– there’s lots of activity here M-​F!
Also Will Smith has been here! It’s the one featured in Pursuit of Happyness movie.

Not really that bad of a BART station. It’s predominantly without too many panhandlers like Powell, or generally uncleanliness like Civic Center. But it does tend to have a few drawbacks.
Outside the station there’s generous amounts of seating, but most of it’s uncovered, the escalators go out about twice or more a month and they haven’t replaced the movie poster for Captain America since last year.
Not things that are a huge deal, but just show a lack of thought and upkeep of the space.
It’s not the best BART station of all the lines, but probably the best in San Francisco.

This BART Station is only one of 2 stations San Francisco with the convenience of being directly next to a freeway & MUNI, yet the only one in SF with it’s own parking lot (though it is small). This station is simple, as there’s only 1 entrance/​exit, 1 place to get train fare, and it is close enough to a small community of shops & ATMs. There’s nothing to special about the aesthetics of the building that houses this establishment, as you’re here to get on and get off BART.
Fairly clean, well-​lit, okay bathrooms, and being in an overall okay area, this BART station serves its purposes as a place to take the train, MUNI, or have someone pick you up or drop you off while driving here.

Sometimes the bathrooms are closed and sometimes the elevator is out of service, but it’s like that for all BART stations. The main reason why I like this place is because it’s where my company bus picks up. If for some reason I can’t or don’t want to drive to work, I can just hop on BART to Glen Park and then transfer onto the bus!
Bonus points for being across the street from Osha Thai — I’ve never been to that location, but it’s just something I noticed one day after work.