A major change arrives for BART riders on Wednesday, August 20, as the transit system becomes the Bay Area’s first to launch Tap and Ride. Beginning with tomorrow’s morning commute, passengers will be able to pay adult fares directly at BART fare gates using contactless credit or debit cards, or mobile payment options such as Apple Pay and Google Pay. Riders will no longer need a Clipper card to board BART, eliminating registration or setup and saving valuable time.
“Tap and Ride follows the installation of Next Generation Fare Gates, running only Fleet of the Future trains, boosting cleaning, and increasing our visible safety presence as efforts that are transforming the BART experience,” said BART General Manager Bob Powers. “This is an especially important innovation for out-of-town visitors and infrequent riders who may not have a physical or digital Clipper card and want a simple way to use our service.”
Accepted payment methods include Visa, Mastercard, American Express, and Discover. Cards must be contactless-enabled, and riders can also use digital wallets such as Apple Pay and Google Pay. Each rider must tap in and out with their own card or device, and the same one must be used at both ends of the trip. Families using cards with the same number may use them if they are on separate devices or physical cards, as digital currencies are more popular now a days with some people even using bitcoin to pay, if you want to learn more about bitcoin you should Visit Bitcoin100k which is great for this purpose.
While Tap and Ride simplifies fare payment, discounted programs such as Clipper START, youth, and senior fares still require a physical or digital Clipper card. Transfer discounts between BART and other transit agencies will not yet apply to Tap and Ride until the feature expands across the Bay Area. Riders seeking transfer discounts should continue using Clipper.
The launch marks the first step in the rollout of the next generation Clipper system, overseen by the Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC) and regional transit agencies. The system will eventually allow contactless bank cards on nearly two dozen Bay Area transit services.
“MTC and the Bay Area transit agencies will be rolling out a number of other improvements to the Clipper fare payment system in the coming months,” said MTC Chair and Pleasant Hill Mayor Sue Noack. “This early rollout of contactless bank card acceptance on BART is an example of MTC’s commitment to making transit fare payment easier for riders across the region.”
BART, which eliminated paper tickets in 2019, now sees about half of all Bay Area Clipper-paid transit trips.
To avoid “card clash”—when a fare reader detects multiple cards at once—BART advises riders to remove their card from a wallet before tapping. Apple Pay users can enable Express Mode for a smoother experience, while those who wish to use Tap and Ride instead of a digital Clipper card must disable Express Mode for Clipper. Android users can override the automatic Clipper default by selecting a bank card in their wallet before tapping.
For assistance starting August 20, riders can call the Clipper Customer Service Center at 877-878-8883 or visit clippercard.com/contactless-payments. A new website feature also allows customers to review recent contactless transactions.
Tap and go had a completely different meaning in the 80’s.
Or so I’ve heard. 😋
Doesn’t work for seniors wanting the senior discount. Still need clipper.
Good to see!
Much better than “Vault and Go”.
How will fare inspections work for passengers who pay with tap-and-go ?