BART scolds Bing Maps over outdated COVID transit alert
Yesterday morning on Oct. 6, the chief communications officer for BART received a bizarre heads-up from a transit colleague over at the Capitol Corridor.
Alicia Trost was informed that if she visited Bing Maps and searched for directions using public transportation, a red alert appeared near the guide informing users that “public transit services may be impacted by COVID-19. Officials recommend limiting public transit use.”
Trost was flabbergasted.
“It is misleading, inaccurate and disappointing to see an online mapping tool so boldly discourage transit trips,” she told SFGATE. “Transit is key to solving our climate crisis and is a reliable, affordable and safe way to move around. There is no reason to limit public transit trips as it relates to COVID-19 as their alert implies.”
At 10:02 a.m., BART tweeted an open directive to the Microsoft-owned company:
“Hey @bingmaps and @bing, please remove this absurd alert telling people to ‘limit public transit use.’ Thanks in advance.”
COVID-19 restrictions on public transportation from government agencies have waned significantly this year. In April, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention lifted its requirement to wear masks on public transportation, and at the same time, the Transportation Security Administration withdrew its mask-related security directive. After letting the mask requirement expire and then reinstating it, BART’s mask mandate expired Oct. 2, though masks are still “strongly recommended.”
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The pandemic continues to negatively impact many people, and a particular industry that’s fought to ensure safe health measures is public transit. Trost explained that BART and other agencies have upgraded air filters, improved ventilation and continually restored service since the March 2020 shelter-in-place order.
“For example, BART has MERV 14 air filters in all cars, which are dense enough to trap viruses, and air is replaced every 70 seconds,” she said.
A Microsoft spokesperson told SFGATE that Bing Maps would update its website to remove the alert:
“Thanks for bringing this to our attention,” the spokesperson said. “In accordance with CDC guidelines, Microsoft is removing the alert across all public transit sites.”
As of publication, however, the warning still appeared to be live for some users.
