Things to Love About the Bay Area Transit System

Bay Area transit helps to get you where you need to go! There are more than 550 bus routes, 20 train lines and 7 ferry routes staffed by hardworking operators whose mission is to get you to your destination safely. Here are our top five favorite things about Bay Area transit.

The View

People travel from across the world travel to the Bay Area to take in the calming and iconic views from the San Francisco Bay, and we can take advantage any time by riding the San Francisco Bay Ferry and Golden Gate Transit ferries. The San Francisco Chronicle has even called out that “The bay’s best deal is a $19 two-hour cruise.” Some people are lucky enough to have these rides as part of their daily commute!

New Trains

If you’ve ridden Caltrain, BART or Muni in the last few years, you’ll notice the shiny of new train cars. And they’re not just new, they have incorporated design features based on public feedback, which includes more comfortable standing room (BART), free wifi (Caltrain) and lower seats (Muni). And the Caltrain routes are newly electrified, which means the rides are quieter and better for the environment.

Community

If you’ve ever been on a packed train or bus traveling to the ball park, on your way to a Taylor Swift concert or on the way home from a winning Warriors game, you know there’s nothing better than bonding with other superfans!

Culture

When you take transit, you open doors to the opportunity for all kinds of cultural experiences. Have you ever noticed the art in Muni’s Rose Pak station? Enjoyed the music from a busker as you pass through the turnstile? Been treated to an impromptu dance show on a BART train? If you keep your eyes and ears open, there’s a chance for art at every turn.

Affordability

Most Bay Area transit trips are less than $10. If you take transit twice a day every day, you’re likely to spend around $700 a month. Compare that to the average cost of owning a car in the Bay Area, which will run you approximately $1,000 a month. Public transit is likely to save you several thousand dollars per year! And Clipper® Start offers even more savings for qualifying riders with low incomes.