It's a battle of the press releases! Watch yourselves, or you might get cut.

Did anyone know about these free shuttles tomorrow night, over at the
16th Street/Mission station? We didn't. Not even the SFMTA site had info on it this morning, which we looked over for Halloween transportation info. Hmmm.

Also, while we understand that closing 16th Street station will help hinder people outside the city from coming to the Castro (yet problematic for many living inside SF), it's a little hard to get the word out about free (and convenient) shuttle service when it's done via a last-minute press release. Why are we learning about this just now? Behold:

10/30/2007, 01:52

Hello Supervisor Dufty.....We wanted you to be aware of the BART and MUNI - sponsored free bus service for transit riders on Halloween night. We don't want anyone to be left without transit options on Halloween night.

FREE RIDES DURING 16TH ST./MISSION STATION HALLOWEEN CLOSURE

Dear Passenger:

BART and MUNI are working together to provide free MUNI bus rides between the 16th St./Mission and 24th St./Mission stations following the 8 p.m. closure of the 16th St./Mission Station on Halloween, October 31, 2007. BART will also provide free paratransit rides for disabled and mobility impaired passengers between the two stations.

SHOW BART TICKET FOR FREE MUNI OR PARATRANSIT RIDES

All you need to do is to show your BART ticket to a MUNI bus driver to take advantage of the free rides between 16th St./Mission and 24th St./Mission stations.

PLEASE NOTE: The rides will be free just on MUNI’s #14 Mission bus and #49
Mission/Van Ness bus after 8 p.m. until approximately midnight and only between the two BART stations. Learn more by visiting www.sfmta.com/halloween.

Additionally, if you are disabled or mobility impaired, you can take a free paratransit shuttle that will be operating between the two stations after 8 p.m. until the last normally scheduled train would leave 16th St./Mission Station. You simply need to wait by the surface level elevators at each of the two stations where either signs or shuttle staff will direct you to the free paratransit shuttle.

WHY BART IS CLOSING 16TH ST./MISSION STATION

BART is closing the 16th St./Mission Station at the request of San Francisco city and law enforcement officials involved with the "Home for Halloween" organization. Those officials are trying to limit Halloween activities in the Castro neighborhood this year after last year’s celebration spiraled out of control. There were nine shootings during the 2006 Castro Halloween celebration. This year, Home for Halloween city and law enforcement officials are hoping to protect the public by canceling activities that draw huge crowds and asking area merchants to close their businesses early. That’s why they’ve asked BART to shut down the 16th St./Mission Station - the closest BART station to the Castro neighborhood.

There are 150 other non-Castro related Halloween events in and around San Francisco. Visit www.HomeForHalloween.com for more information on those
activities. We sincerely apologize for the inconvenience this closure may cause you. We kindly ask for your patience and understanding as we try to help to keep
Halloween night in your neighborhood fun and most importantly, safe!

Molly M. Burke
BART
Government & Community Relations