Monthly Pass Now Available on the Senior Clipper Card
News Articles
10/25/2012
Great news for senior passengers! Starting with the November pass (on sale as of October 22), AC Transit’s Senior/Disabled monthly pass is available for most seniors on the Senior Clipper card. In the past, AC Transit required seniors to have the Regional Transit Connection (RTC) Discount card in order to use the Senior/Disabled monthly pass. No more! The Senior Clipper card is all that seniors need, and unlike the RTC card, it’s free and never expires.
If you are 65 or older, it’s easy to get a Senior Clipper card. In Oakland, you can apply for a card at the AC Transit & Clipper Customer Service Center (8:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m., Mon-Fri) or at the Lake Merritt BART station Customer Service Center (7:30 a.m.-5:00 p.m., Mon-Fri). Click here for a list of other locations where you can apply for the card. You’ll need to apply in person, with a document proving your age, but no photo is required and you’ll get your card right away.
Note that there are a couple of important exceptions. Some seniors will still need to have an RTC card:
- If you are a senior who qualifies for an attendant to travel with you on transit, you and your attendant must both have personalized RTC cards in order for the attendant to pay the reduced fare.
- If you use other transit agencies that do not accept Clipper, you may need an RTC card to be eligible for those agencies discount fares. Click here to see which agencies accept Clipper.
What about seniors who currently have a valid RTC card?
You don’t need to do anything! That’s right. The transition for seniors from RTC to Senior Clipper is not happening all at once, so if you currently have a card and it’s not expiring right away, keep using it exactly as you have been. Shortly before the expiration date, you will receive a letter from the RTC program letting you know that your card is expiring and explaining how to get a Senior Clipper card. You’ll be given plenty of time to get a Senior Clipper card and load your next calendar month’s Senior/Disabled pass and/or cash onto it.
Can the Senior/Disabled monthly sticker be affixed to a Senior Clipper card?
No. The monthly sticker cannot be placed on a Senior Clipper card. You’ll need to have the pass electronically loaded onto your card where Clipper value is sold. Note that not all vendors who sell AC Transit’s Senior/Disabled monthly stickers also sell value on Clipper. Click here to see if your preferred vendor sells Clipper or to find other Clipper vendors near you. You can also add value online at www.clippercard.com, or by calling Clipper at (877) 878-8883.
Will disabled passengers still need an RTC card?
Yes. There is no change to the RTC program for passengers with disabilities. They still need a personalized RTC card in order to use the monthly pass. Click here for more information about the RTC program for disabled passengers.