Bicyclists on BART can now look forward to a less bumpy, unbalanced ride.

After a successful trial run, BART officials announced Monday that new bike straps would be attached to the rails of all train cars. The nylon, flame-retardant strap is similar to the ones already dangling above the heads of travelers every day. The new implementation also means cyclists won't have to hold onto their bikes, freeing their hands to steady themselves during their ride.

Each strap, attached to the rail with a simple buckle and rivet, will secure two bikes. This is one small component of the overarching 2012 BART Bicycle Plan, which aimed to double the amount of passengers getting to BART by bicycle from 4% (14,000 riders) to 8% by 2022.

"An increase in this method of transport means less traffic congestion, increased ridership, and a better BART experience for everyone," a statement from BART read. The 2012 plan also said it would transform BART from a system that merely allows bikes to one that depends on them.

But a survey issued by the agency last year revealed the number of riders carrying bikes on board decreased to 3%, which advocates say is due to lack of space for bikes.

In hopes of making improvements, Manager of Access Programs Steve Beroldo spearheaded a pilot project for the straps. His goal was to provide a safer – and steadier – solution so commuters wouldn't resort to makeshift alternatives like bungee cords. Some riders were even rigging up DIY straps using their bike helmets.

"We wanted to offer a more formal method for people to hold their bikes," Beroldo said.

The trial run began in 2016. Sixty of BART's 700 cars were tested with different strap prototypes. Beroldo, who also serves as the liaison to the BART Bicycle Task Force, collaborated with Jaelen Loche, a civil engineering student at UC Berkeley.

After reviewing feedback from commuters, they learned only 36 percent of people who bike said it was easy to use the bike rack.

It also brought them to the conclusion that the nylon strap option proved to be much more sturdy than its opposing Velcro mock-up.

The straps will eventually pop up in BART's new Fleet of the Future cars – a good thing, too, since they've had their fair share of technical challenges. But — not unlike the 2012 BART Bicycle Plan — it looks like that'll take some time. While the cars originally had built-in bike racks, cyclists like Curtis Howell pointed out they weren't compatible with mountain bikes and bikes with larger tires.

"I love the idea and appreciate you thinking of us, but (the) execution doesn't work with many bikes in the real world," another anonymous survey respondent told BART.

As a result, Beroldo said, they decided to go with straps on all trains.

BART's potential future strategies, as initially divided into five objectives by their 2012 plan, included improved station circulation, building plentiful, secure bicycle parking facilities, implementing bicycle-sharing systems for greater access, and other support programs like maps with recommended bike routes.

Amanda Bartlett is an SFGate editorial assistant. Email: amanda.bartlett@sfchronicle.com