Riding BART

Reading the BART schedule

• BART station locations
• Use the BART Trip Planner to determine your schedule and possible transfer point.
• Plan to arrive at a BART station about 5 minutes ahead of the train departure to purchase and process your ticket.
  

Buying a ticket

• On BART, before boarding the trains, you must pass through a fare gate with a ticket.
• BART tickets can be purchased at ticket vending machines located at all BART stations. Each person must have their own ticket.
• BART fares are based on how far you travel. Use the BART fare calculator to determine your one way fare. If the fare for your trip is $1.25, buy a ticket with $1.25 value. If you plan to take BART multiple times, you can buy a ticket with a higher value. The proper fare will be deducted from your ticket for each trip on BART.
• BART ticket machines accept bills and coins. Some ticket machines give change. Change machines are also available at each station.
• After purchasing a ticket, insert the ticket into a fare gate and enter the paid area. Make sure to pick up your ticket from the fare gate and keep it with you.
  

Boarding a BART train

• After passing through the fare gate, proceed onto the platform. Follow signs indicating your destination.
• When you see an approaching train, wait on the platform behind the yellow strip until the train has come to a complete stop.
• Because trains heading to different destinations may use the same platform, be sure to read the overhead electronic platform displays or listen to the announcement for the destination of the arriving train.
• The train operator will open the doors automatically. Allow other passengers to exit first and then carefully enter the train.

Getting off a BART train and exiting a station

• On BART, the operator will announce the name of the next station before arriving. Be ready to get off the train.
• After getting off, proceed to the concourse area to exit the system. Again, insert your ticket into a fare gate.
• If the value of your ticket is exactly the same as the fare for the trip, you will exit the BART system without any ticket.
• If the value exceeds the fare, your ticket will be returned (with the fare deducted off the ticket) and you will exit the system.
• If the value is less than the fare, your ticket will be returned but you will not be allowed to exit the system. You will have to go to an add-fare machine to increase your ticket's value.