Public Transport

Caltrain, BART, Light Rail, VTA, AC Transit, MUNI, SamTrans, Golden Gate Transit are some of the terms that you may hear when talking about public transport in the San Francisco/Bay Area. This area has a number of public transit organizations. There are separate organizations for bus services and for train services. Bus services usually cover counties. Then there are agencies that are a co-operative effort by the various transit authorities to run the various train services across many counties.

An interesting feature of all public transport is that an effort is made to ensure that it is convenient for people to use them. You can easily take public transport from arrival points like airports (just check with information booths in the airport). There are free shuttles between train stations and important hubs. Many employers in the Silicon Valley sponsor shuttles from the company offices to and from train stations. Buses are infrequent, but still reasonably present. And of course, you get monthly bus and train passes at discounted prices.

The only web-site you need to find out all about public transport in the San Francisco/Bay Area is at the Bay Area Transit Information Project. Buses, trains, shuttles, bicycles, schedules, phone numbers, maps...this site HAS IT ALL (or has links to the right places)!

An interesting site that describes the various transport authorities and their services and has nice photographs is Transit Rider - Bay Area.

If you want a single number that connects you to any of the public transit agencies, then dial 817-1717 (if you are in 510, 415, 408 or 707 area codes; if you are in 650, prefix 1-408 or 1-415, toll charges may apply). This call is free. Check the TravInfo web-site for this and other information including current travel conditions in the San Francisco/Bay Area.

The Smart Traveler is a web-site maintained by CalTrans that acts as a single source of information about buses, trains, highways, ride-sharing, airports, bicycling, taking the ferry and other public transit information for the San Francisco/Bay Area and other areas.

If you want to travel long distance by train, the you should check out Amtrak, California.