BART Review Posted On Virtual Tourist.com
If your interested in what a tourist thinks of BART, check out this recent post (7/28/07) on Virtual Tourist.com.
There are a number of BART hassles in terms of ticketing which can't be figured out looking at the machine... 1) Only one credit card transaction permitted per day on BART ticket machines. So, buy all your tickets at once or risk the need to dig for cash for the next ticket purchase. 2) Extra fare required if a stop is made along the route. We took a friend to the airport, and on the return decided to stop at the Powell street station for a quick walk to Union Square and back. When we reached our destination at the Dublin-Pleasanton station we couldn't get past the gate. The ticket direct from SFO to Dublin-Pleasanton station was cheaper than if we stop off along the way. We had to add $2.55 in value to our ticket for the luxury of stopping along the way. I consider that an expensive stop in terms of ride value. 3) BART help kiosk will vary in terms of flexibility and friendliness. We've been let through the gate for lack of fare, and have also been given sacreligious remarks, "Jez Christ, man, it's obvious" for our confusion on this system. If you have a complaint, they can be filed on-line or by comment cards distributed at the kiosk. 4) In addition to all of the above, the machines often fail to do what they are supposed to, so approaching the kiosk for help is common. Bathroom lines are often long, and can't be accessed until you are a ticketed passenger inside the gate. The facilities are solo occupancy type bathrooms, so expect to wait in line. If you come to a BART station on a bicycle, locate the bicycle parking racks INSIDE the ticketed area for increased security. The bicycle must be securely locked, or expect to find it gone when you return.
What were they expecting?
disneyland
jbap21
This isn't Kansas, Toto.
This isn't Kansas, Toto.
1) Credit / ATM 2
1) Credit / ATM 2 transactions per day (or 2 attempts) and you can purchase 5 tickets per transaction with a maximum of somewhere around $60.. I've done it.. And I was stuck when our office wanted to go on a business trip (ball game) , but most normal situations you would not run into a problem. Unless you need more than 10 tickets.
The agent told me it's to prevent stolen credit cards from being used over and over again.
2) 2 rides cost less than 3.. I would expect the fare to be more if I stop off at other stations along the way to shop.
3) ok i agree here.. Some agents have let me out without paying, others let me know if I don't have a ticket I pay $4.65 and point to the sign.
4) when the ticket machines were new, i figured them out fairly quickly, the old machines were exact fare with no change in sight...
Bathrooms are a toxic waste dump, and some should just be closed down..
And the Bike racks at my station are on the Outside, not inside, and looks like a graveyard of stripped parts.
But overall, sounds like that person doesn't take public transportation much.. Cash is king, and read the instructions..
The credit card this is just
The credit card this is just so ass clowns who steal credit cards can't run up $500 in bart tickets ...(then turn around and sell them ).
Yep, dealing with station agents is 50/50 .
You may get a good one .
You may get a bad one.
Just like EVERY other place in the states.
It doesn't make it right ...it just should not be a shock.
You can use the ticket booths or outside vendors (safeway , longs etc) to get multi tickets for your biz ...the next ballgame you go to.
I agree...they sound like they don't ride public transit much .
Most of this stuff seems
Most of this stuff seems reasonable and fairly on target for someone who doesn't use BART much. I guess it can be confusing to those poor people.
All the stations I've observed had bike parking outside the paid area. Even Downtown Berkeley with the bicycle parking and attendant have it inside the station, but outside the paid area (far as I could tell, I've never parked my bike at any stations). I mean, I think it's actually a good idea to put it inside the station in some ways to keep the bikes secure and to reserve bicycle spots for BART patrons. What stations have it inside instead of outside the paid area? It seems like most are the other way around from what I've seen.
As far as using BART restrooms, it's dumb to expect to use them since the underground station restrooms are closed and the restrooms that are open are probably just nasty even if there isn't a line. It's like trying to use those disgusting MUNI pay restroom kiosks, not a good idea, either. Those places are strictly for major emergencies, since you can avoid them pretty easily by planning ahead.
Eating out? Use the restroom before leaving and making your trip home. At a ball game? Use the restroom before leaving the stadium. Out and about in San Francisco? Most tourist trap . . . er, destinations have them. It's really not that hard to plan a bit before leaving and getting on transit, but most people (especially newbies) don't seem to. Especially parents with kids, and then the kids are doing the pee pee dance cause the parents didn't make them go before leaving.