San Francisco BART Information
BART is a rapid transit system serving the San Francisco Bay Area. The system began operations on 11 September 1972 and currently has 6 lines serving 45 stations. Of the 6 lines, 5 are rapid transit lines and 1 is an AGT line. The system has a total track length of about 172 km. According to data collected in 2015, the system has a daily ridership of 423,120 on weekdays, 207,539 on Saturdays and 151,562 on Sundays. The system is operated by the San Francisco Bay Area Rapid Transit District and is considered the fifth busiest commuter rail system in the US. The San Francisco Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) connects some of the surrounding areas and major cities around the San Francisco East Bay. Some of the cities that the metro connects to are: Oakland, Berkeley, Dublin, Walnut Creek and Fremont.
San Francisco BART Map
Map of San Francisco BART showing different lines and stations. Click on the map to enlarge it or download the San Francisco BART map in PDF format.
San Francisco BART Hours / BART Schedule
The BART system begins service at 4:00 a.m. and runs until midnight on weekdays. On Saturdays, service begins at 6:00 a.m. and runs until midnight. On Sundays, service begins at 8:00 a.m. and runs until midnight. The interval between trains on weekdays is 15 minutes. At night and all day on weekends, the frequency is 20 minutes. Service is extended past midnight on special occasions and holidays. After BART closes, the system is supported by the All Nighter bus service. Use the official BART website to use the BART Trip Planner; you can also check the BART schedule by station or by line.
San Francisco BART Fares, Tickets and Cards
The BART system charges a minimum fare of $1.95 for trips under 6 miles, except for trips in San Mateo County. The maximum one-way fare is $15.70.
BART tickets can be purchased from vending machines at all stations. These tickets are smart cards that store credit. These cards are inserted at fare gates where the correct amount is deducted. The same ticket must be used to exit the station.
BART fares are based on mileage, so passes based on time, such as weekly or monthly passes, are not available.
Seniors 65 and older can use the BART Green Ticket. This card offers a 62.5% discount. Middle and high school students can use the BART Orange Ticket, which offers a 50% discount off the full fare. These are only sold by participating schools. Persons with qualifying disabilities can use the BART Red Ticket, which provides a 62.5% discount on fares. BART also offers tickets / cards for parking at stations. These are called BART EZ Rider Cards.
San Francisco BART Parking
All BART stations don’t have parking. You will be required to pay a daily fee to park your vehicle at a BART station. Daily parking fees vary from station to station. Disabled persons must also pay a parking fee. To park your vehicle in the permit area, you must purchase a daily, monthly or long-term permit in advance. Purchase a BART EZ Rider Card to pay for parking at the station.
San Francisco BART Rules and Tips
Mobile phone service is available throughout the network. Wi-Fi service is available at a few stations. BART allows bicycles on all trains at all times, with some specific restrictions. Small pets are also allowed, provided they are in pet carriers. The BART system also offers park-and-ride facilities for a fee. The daily parking fee varies from station to station. The fee is charged for parking between 4:00 am and 3:00 pm. Parking is free between 3:00 pm and 4:00 am. Parking can be paid with cash, BARD EZ Rider Card and BART Blue Ticket.
If you have lost any of your belongings, you can contact the BART Lost and Found Department at 510 464-7090. If you are in serious trouble, you can contact the BART Police Department at 911 (emergency) or 877 679-7000 (non-emergency). For complaints, call BART at 510 464-7134.
San Francisco BART Routes / BART Lines
All trains run through Oakland, but the Richmond, Fremont line runs through the Transbay Tube towards San Francisco. Most segments have more than one line, and most trains run on five lines. The five BART lines and their signage are shown below:
- Orange Line – the train runs daily from Richmond to Fremont.
- Yellow Line – the train runs daily from Pittsburg to San Francisco International Airport. On weeknights and weekends, the longest point-to-point BART system runs from the airport to Millbrae.
- Green Line – The train runs Monday through Saturday from Fremont to Daly City.
- Red Line – The train runs from Richmond to Millbrae. Runs Monday through Saturday.
- Blue Line – Train runs daily from Dublin to Daly City.
- AGT Line – The train runs daily from Oakland International Airport to the Coliseum Station.
San Francisco BART Services
The BART metro system provides a number of services to assist the elderly and disabled. These services include:
- Special services for people who are blind or have low vision.
- Special services for people who are deaf or hard of hearing.
- Services for wheelchair users and other persons with reduced mobility.