BART Connects: Three riders share how BART changed their lives

In late 2023, BART Communications debuted BART Connects to showcase the real people who ride and rely on BART.  

Each rider featured in BART Connects has a unique story to share: a college student able to attend their dream school thanks to BART; a couple who said BART showed them “life is out there”; a working mom whose only downtime in the day was her BART ride to and from work. Their stories will move and inspire you.  

Today, we debut a video featuring three riders: Howard Wong, Erica Mitchell, and Kevin DeAntoni. Hear their BART stories in the video or read them at bart.gov/bartconnects. 

Soon, you will see the BART Connects riders featured on trains across our system. They’re featured in a new BART marketing campaign that highlights their stories and relevant BART facts. You can view the campaign art in the slideshow below.  

BART Connects grew out of BART's Role in the Region Study, which demonstrates BART’s importance to the Bay Area’s mobility, cultural diversity, environmental and economic sustainability. We conducted a call for stories to hear from riders and understand what BART means to them. More than 300 people responded, and a selection of respondents were interviewed for the BART Connects series.