BART last weekend had its highest ridership day for a Saturday since before the COVID-19 pandemic thanks to crowds coming into San Francisco for NBA All-Star Weekend events and the Chinese New Year Parade, among other activities in the region.

There were 139,475 riders Saturday, eclipsing the record set last February on the day of the 2024 Chinese New Year Parade and an unofficial fan fest for the final season of the Oakland A’s baseball team playing in the Bay Area before moving to Sacramento.

BART officials said there were additional and longer trains running Saturday during the busiest periods to carry crowds coming to and going from events related to the NBA All-Star Weekend, the Chinese New Year Parade, and other attractions like plays at local theaters.

“We’re grateful so many people chose BART for their travel Saturday,” BART board president Mark Foley said in a statement. “I think it’s proof the Bay Area relies on BART for more than getting to work or school — it’s the go-to when people want to get out and have fun without the hassle of driving.”

Dan McMenamin is the managing editor at Bay City News, directing daily news coverage of the 12-county greater Bay Area. He has worked for BCN since 2008 and has been managing editor since 2014 after previously serving as BCN’s San Francisco bureau reporter. A UC Davis graduate, he came to BCN after working for a newspaper and nonprofit in the Davis area. He handles staffing, including coaching of our interns, day-to-day coverage decisions and management of the newswire.