The definitive history of the BARTmobile
Original concept sketches of the BARTmobile by David Yee.
It has been said that its eyes can see through to your soul. Some have speculated it has the power to improve society. Those who cross its path are known to start acting joyfully and sometimes erratically. It’s even slowed traffic on the Bay Bridge.
“When the BARTmobile arrives anywhere, the attention it gets still astounds me. It's incredibly fun to see and be part of!” said Jill Buschini, Principal Marketing Representative and the official "BARTmobile wrangler". “Kids and adults alike are transfixed by the small BART train with a face.”
There are a handful of crafty, ingenious folks responsible for birthing the BARTmobile. But there is one man responsible for kicking things off. That would be Doug Bartlett, a now-retired BART Principal Marketing Representative.
Bartlett arranged for a series of BART appearances in local parades and happenings. At that time, the Buildings and Grounds department lent BART paradegoers a few logo-emblazoned trucks to walk beside.
“The vehicles were obviously gas-powered,” Bartlett said. “It didn’t seem right. BART is electric!”.
Then, Bartlett attended an Oakland Athletics game at the Coliseum. At the game, the team had golfcart-sized Chevron cars on display, as well as miniature cars to give to children. A switch flipped in Bartlett’s mind: “I said, ‘We should do this with a BARTmobile.’”
From that day forward, Bartlett set out to make the most fantastical, most adorable, most kid friendly BARTmobile possible.
Initial concept sketches for the face of the BARTmobile by David Yee.
After receiving a $75,000 donation to cover the cost needed to construct and house the BARTmobile, the design process began. First, playwright and carpenter Tony Pelligrino sculpted a model. Then, designer David Yee created initial sketches and concept art, trying to determine the right face for the roving mascot.
Bartlett eventually connected with Charlie Bailey of Industrial Light and Magic; the Marin-based visual effects company founded by George Lucas in the 1970s (according to Bartlett, the same Industrial Light and Magic team that worked on “Star Wars” designed and installed the BARTmobile’s electronics).
“At the time [Bailey] was building the BARTmobile, his crew was building a massive ship for the ‘Pirates of the Caribbean’ movie. It was like 40 feet long!” Bartlett remembered.
Bailey and his colleague Mark Anderson, of the freelance Bailey Design Services team, built the BARTmobile on nights and weekends out of Anderson’s garage. They purchased and eighter-seat golf cart, reinforcing it with steel. Finally, they built a steel chassis and secured the fiberglass body atop the cart. The last step: painting the BARTmobile with blue bumper strips and Chrysler silver.
The BARTmobile decorated for a 4th of July parade.
If you’ve ever witnessed the BARTmobile in a local parade, you will certainly have noticed its “outfits.” The mascot has a variety of specially constructed hats that it wears depending on the occasion: a top hat with rotating “skins”.
The hats, like all things BARTmobile, have a story of their own. They were made by a team of crafty, creative individuals at Scientific Art Studio, a design and fabrication studio in Richmond that creates everything from museum exhibits to playgrounds and sculptures.
“The BARTmobile was one of those things,” said Ron Holthuysen, the Creative Director and Owner of Scientific Art Studio. “We had a hard time saying no [to the project]. When somebody comes to us, we typically say, ‘Oh yeah, we can do that.’”
“We do basically everything [at Scientific Art Studio],” Holthuysen said. “That’s how we ended up doing BARTmobile hats.”
Initial concept sketch for the BARTmobile.
Since 2004 the BARTmobile has appeared at a multitude of events, driven over 250 miles, and seen by millions of people. To use Bartlett’s phrasing, the mobile has indelibly “put a face on BART.”
But the BARTmobile would never be seen in public were it not for its army of “handlers” – the BART workers who prepare and transport it to its multitude of engagements.
To prepare the BARTmobile for an event, one team of BART workers clean and decorate the BARTmobile (including the special hat!) and another is responsible for securing the BARTmobile to its special trailer and driving it to its scheduled appearance.
The BARTmobile's handlers preparing for St. Patrick's Day 2023.
“Whenever we drive from the Oakland shops to the city, people will wave at us and ask us to pull over to take pictures,” said Tomasz Radzikowski, a Buildings Worker on the BARTmobile team. “Sometimes, people on the Bay Bridge will slow down because they’re so excited to see it.”
Radzikowski often hangs around the parade until it’s time to pack the BARTmobile back up. He said the joy and energy from the crowd when they see the mobile rolling down the street is palpable.
“You can see the good vibes and happiness,” he said. “It’s a beautiful feeling to experience.”
