Wi-Fi on Transit

ACE, the Capitols, Caltrain and AC Transit either currently offer or are in the process of offering free wireless internet access on their vehicles using Wi-Fi or Wi-Max technology. In Caltrain's case, it's high-speed (49 Mbps) broadband access. Check the agencies' websites for details on current offerings.

Did You Know?

You may drink alcoholic beverages on Caltrain, on ACE (in lidded containers) and on the Capitols -- except not after 9 PM on Caltrain following a special event (like a Giants' game). Caltrain  tightened its alcohol policy after drunk and rowdy ballgame fans got into a fight on the train. Don't drink anything (alcoholic or not) on BART -- you could get arrested, as some people have, because no eating or drinking is allowed on BART.

Line 55 Monterey - San Jose Express

An express bus service makes 3 round trips daily from Monterey and Salinas to San Jose, with stops at the Gilroy and Morgan Hill Caltrain stations. Caltrain passengers with a three-zone or greater monthly pass ride free. MST customers with day passes or monthly all-zone passes are allowed free transfers to VTA local buses and light rail lines. For more information on Line 55, see the Monterey-Salinas Transit website or call toll free 1-888-MST-BUS1

Plan Your Transit Trip

It can be hard to figure out how to get from here to there on public transit in the Bay Area. Some three dozen separate transit providers have evolved to serve specific and sometimes overlapping geographic areas in the San Francisco Bay Area.


This page is here to help you save you lots of time, money, and headache.

 
On this page you'll find tools and tips for planning your trip and obtaining schedules. You'll also learn how to save time and money (see right sidebar) and travel with comfort on transit.




Schedules and Getting Started



1) Use MTC's SF Bay Area Transit Trip Planner

While at times frustrating to use, this web tool can help you find your most efficient public transit options.  Unfortunately it sometimes has trouble recognizing locations or place names that it should, and will occasionally produce sub-optimal itineraries that can take an hour or more longer than the best option.

The trip planner can help when your trip will cross agency boundaries. This is important because many agencies' customer assistance departments aren't very knowledgeable about connecting transit outside of their territory. If the tool is producing results that seem wrong or outrageous, or you need more information, call the transit agencies mentioned in the results for help planning your trip.

A handy list of transit agencies and connecting transit for each county

MTC is working on developing a new and improved trip planner; meanwhile use this -- it works most of the time.


2) Call 5-1-1

You can also get transit and travel information by dialing 511, even from cell phones within the Bay Area. The voice menu will let you connect to customer service for any transit agency in the Bay Area  --follow the voice prompts, or just say the name of the transit agency you want to reach if you already know it.


Transit Unlimited Wiki  guide to transit in the Bay Area and Beyond. See Caltrain for station information and local transit connections.


Popular Destinations Link  how to get to popular destinations via transit.

Getting between Mineta San Jose Airport (SJC) and San Francisco International Airport (SFO)

How to get to Silicon Valley sporting, shopping and cultural/ entertainment destinations such as the HP Pavilion  how-to guides prepared by the VTA Riders Union

 

More resources:

BART has compiled a handy list of transit agencies and connecting transit for each county (scroll down to "Public Transit Services by County"). Other than that they left out the Capitol Corridor service, it's a pretty comprehensive list. All nine Bay Area counties except Napa have two listings: first a list of agencies that provide service solely within that county ("Local Service"), and second, a list of agencies that provide service across county borders into that county ("Connecting Services").  Incidentally, there IS a connecting Amtrak bus that goes to Napa.


MTC’s Getting There on Transit Guide This portable booklet provides an overview of transit agencies and routes throughout the SF Bay Area. The publication can be viewed on-line, but we suggest you order a printed copy as indicated to view the maps more easily. Contact individual transit agencies to get full-sized transit maps for the territories you travel most frequently.


Bay Area Transit Basics  covers a few topics not mentioned here


 

Trip Planning Tips that Only Transit Experts Know
Read these, and you'll know too!


1. Consider taking the Greyhound bus.  They’ve closed a bunch of local stations in recent years, so this is not nearly as useful an option as it used to be, but if you're traveling 30 miles or more, Greyhound's comfortable seats may be a good choice for certain corridors at certain times of the day.  For example, it goes from San Jose to Oakland in an hour, with some runs stopping in Hayward. Greyhound even offers a monthly commuter pass in some areas of the country.


2. You can specify how far you're willing to walk in part 5 of MTC’s Bay Area Trip Planner.  The default is ½ mile. You can decrease or increase that distance depending on your health and ability to walk.  Specifying longer distances can provide you with more transit options.


3. Bicycles: You gain a lot of extra flexibility and access by using bicycles in combination with public transit. All public buses have bike racks that can accommodate two or three bicycles, and many trains will accommodate your bike also. See the 511.org Bikes on Transit page for information on each agency’s policies.

Two things to worry about when using a bike with transit is that

  • on BART, the rules change depending on when, where and in what direction you’re traveling (i.e. how crowded the train is or is likely to be);
  • on buses and Caltrain there can be capacity issues during rush hour, where you may be denied boarding if all of the available bike spaces are already taken by other patrons.

Hint: Get a folding bike, one that you can fold in ten seconds if you encounter any capacity issues. You'll be able to board at any time and stash the folded bike in areas reserved for luggage.

 

4. There are many free shuttle buses between rail stations and major companies or employment areas. Most employer shuttles are publicly subsidized and free and open to the public -- not just employees of private companies directly served.


5. A number of cities also provide free or subsidized shuttle services. See the list at transit.511.org (scroll down to "Other Shuttle Systems"). On the Peninsula, the cities of Burlingame, Foster City, Redwood City, Menlo Park, Palo Alto, and Stanford offer free city-sponsored shuttles.


 Six Things to Carry or Do -- BEFORE You Go


1. Prepare a stash of quarters and dollar bills to take with you. Buses do not provide change, and more than one hapless soul has been stuck begging strangers for change to avoid paying $5, $10 or $20 in order to ride the bus.


2. Memorize or write down the endpoints of the transit lines that you’ll be riding. This will help you verify you’re boarding a vehicle going in the right direction instead of the opposite one.


3. Plan ahead for your comfort. Buses other than Greyhound do not have bathrooms, and there is a shameful shortage of public bathrooms at some bus and rail transit centers. After the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks BART decided to permanently close public bathrooms at many urban stations to reduce the possibility of bombs being placed there. Caltrain, ACE, and the Amtrak Capitol trains do provide handicapped-accessible bathrooms on the train.

4. Be prepared for changing weather and temperatures, for example carry a light sweater or jacket so that you don't freeze if you happen to stay out later than you planned. Dress in layers.

5. Bring a water bottle and carry an energy bar or snack. However, don't eat or drink on buses (except for Greyhound and the Amtrak bus), and remember you can get a citation for eating or drinking on BART (it's happened to a number of people). You may eat and drink on Caltrain, ACE, the Capitols and the ferries --just be considerate of your fellow passengers (e.g. don't eat really smelly food, please clean up any trash and dispose of it off the train using the receptacles by the platforms, since the on-board receptacles are meant for smaller quantities of trash).

6. Bring earplugs to protect your hearing and improve your comfort -- BART riders can experience ear-splitting decibels in the Transbay tube and other tunnels when the tracks are in need of maintenance.


This sounds like a lot to think about, and it can be, for newbies.  The above list is optional -- we're just sharing what our experience has taught us makes longer trips go more smoothly.  Taking transit does require an adjustment in habits -- but once you get into the habit, you'll feel good about knowing how to take care of yourself, be more relaxed from not having to deal with road rage and crazy drivers, will start noticing more things about your community, and will help prevent catastrophic climate change.

What to Do While Riding
  • Pay attention to the destination sign on the train or bus before boarding at stops that serve more than one bus or train line. Don’t just mindlessly board the next vehicle that comes by -- you may find yourself headed in an unexpected direction, or on an express bus when you wanted a local one if you don't check.

  • A few minutes before the vehicle arrives at your destination, start getting ready to deboard. Don't wait until your vehicle has arrived at your stop to do this or you may miss your stop. Gather your belongings, start heading for the door and take a few seconds to look back around the area where you were sitting to make sure you haven't accidentally dropped or left something. This habit will help you to avoid losing sunglasses, umbrellas or something more valuable.

  • Most buses have a front door and a back door. You should generally exit using the back door, unless you have a bike on the front rack (as you exit, inform the driver that you'll be removing your bike), or need to use the passenger lift (i.e. wheelchair users and other people who have difficulty walking).  On some bus models, the back door  opens automatically when you step down; on others, you need to push a button or touch a marked area on the door to get it to open. When bus agencies switch vehicle models, this can confuse even regular riders. Sometimes people who don't read and haven't figured this out yell, "back door!" to get the driver to  open it, annoying everyone. Look for instructions by the door. By exiting out the back door whenever possible, you help speed up the bus for everyone else by allowing other passengers to board right away through the front door, instead of making them wait for you to exit first.


If, after all this, you conclude that our public transit could be improved, you’re not alone. Check out our frequently asked questions; and support our work and that of other advocacy groups to improve the integration of public transit into our communities.