Frequently Asked Questions
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Top 10 Most Popular FAQ's
Q. Can I bring my pet on the bus?
A. You must carry pets brought on AC Transit buses in a container secure and small enough to fit on the owners lap. The animal must not be a danger or annoyance to other passengers.
Service animals, leashed, on a lead or otherwise under the physical control and supervision of the owner at all times, and accompanying people with disabilities, are always allowed on AC Transit buses. A service animal is any animal that is individually trained to provide assistance to a person with a disability.
The passenger is responsible for any damage or injuries caused by their animal while on the bus. If any animal misbehaves, the passenger will be instructed to remove the animal from the bus. This is solely operator discretion.
Q. Does AC Transit provide service to Treasure Island?
A. AC Transit does not provide service to Treasure Island. Bus service is provided by San Francisco Muni from the Transbay Terminal in San Francisco. From the East Bay, you can take any of AC Transit’s Transbay lines to the Transbay Terminal and then catch a San Francisco Muni bus to Treasure Island.
Q. What do I do if I receive a citation for parking in an AC Transit bus zone?
A. Please follow the directions below to pay or protest the parking citation. These instructions are also on the back of the citation.
Procedure To Request A Review Of Citation Or To Pay An Alameda County Transit Citation:
Citations must be paid or a review requested within 21 days of being issued, but no later than 14 days if a delinquent parking violation notice was issued. If payment is not received by final due date late penalties will be added and a hold will be placed on your D.M.V. registration.
No request for Review will be accepted after the due date. NO EXCEPTIONS.
TO PAY A CITATION
To pay by mail: Make check or money order payable to Alameda County A.C. Transit. Include the citation number and vehicle license plate number on the check or money order. Mail payment to:
A.C. Transit Parking Enforcement Center P. O. Box 4726 Irvine, CA 92616-4726
To pay online: www.ezpaycorp.com
To pay by phone: Call 1-800-654-7275 (Visa and MasterCard Only)
At greeting select option #1. Select option #1 for credit card payment. You will then be given three options to choose from:
Option #1 If you received a courtesy notice, you will be asked to enter a four digit code. (Code # 2017.) Voice system will then ask that you enter your citation number followed by the # key.
The voice system will confirm the information you entered. You must verbally answer “Yes” or “No” if the information is correct or incorrect.
Continue to follow prompts to enter your credit card information. YOU MUST STAY ON THE LINE UNTIL YOU RECEIVE A CONFIRMATION NUMBER.
Option #2 If you have your citation, the voice system will ask you to say the city or university that issued you the citation. You must say ALAMEDA COUNTY TRANSIT. The voice system does not recognize any other city for citations that were issued by the A.C. Transit Police.
You will then be prompted to enter your citation number followed by the # key.
The voice system will confirm the information you entered. You must verbally answer “Yes” or “No” if the information is correct or incorrect.
Continue to follow prompt to enter your credit card information. YOU MUST STAY ON THE LINE UNTIL YOU RECEIVE A CONFIRMATION NUMBER.
Option #3 If you have neither a courtesy notice nor your citation, the voice system will ask you to say the city or university that issued you the citation. You must say ALAMEDA COUNTY TRANSIT. The voice system does not recognize any other city for citations that were issued by the A.C. Transit Police. The voice system will ask you to say your license plate number or vehicle I.D. number. The voice system will confirm license plate or vehicle I.D. number. Voice system will ask you to press (1) for correct or (2) for incorrect. Voice system will then ask you to say what state your vehicle is registered in. Voice system will confirm information, and then will give you the citation number. Continue to follow the prompt to enter your credit card information.
YOU MUST STAY ON THE LINE UNTIL YOU RECEIVE A CONFIRMATION NUMBER.
TO REQUEST THAT A CITATION BE REVIEWED
INITIAL ADMINISTRATIVE REVIEW
Write a letter stating why you think the citation should be reviewed. Include in your letter your citation number, vehicle license plate number and your complete mailing address. You may submit any supporting documents or photos (documents and photos will not be returned.) Mail to:
A.C. Transit Parking Enforcement Center P.O. Box 4726 Irvine, CA 92616-4726
Your letter must be received by the final due date. NO EXCEPTIONS. Once your letter is received, you will receive a response in the mail within 6-8 weeks.
TO REQUEST AN ADMINISTRATIVE HEARING
If you are not satisfied with the results of the initial review you can request and file for an administrative hearing. You must file your administrative hearing request within 21 days of receiving the results of your initial review. You must submit the full payment for the citation at the time you submit your request for a hearing. A hearing can be conducted either in person or in writing. If you choose to have a hearing decided on a written statement, you must include all relevant information in your statement. If you request a hearing in front of a Hearing Examiner, you will be notified of your hearing date by mail. You should be prepared to explain or provide supporting documents, records, or witnesses describing why dismissal of the citation is warranted. If you fail to appear for your scheduled hearing your citation will be upheld and your fine amount will be forfeited. Mail your request for administrative hearing, including a check or money order to above address. Include your citation number on your payment. If the Hearing Examiner determines your citation is dismissed, your fine amount will be refunded be mail.
If you are not satisfied with the Hearing Examiner decision, you may file for a hearing in Small Claims Court. The Court’s decision is final.
TO SPEAK WITH A REPRESENTATIVE AT PARKING ENFORCEMENT CENTER
Call 1-800-654-7275, Monday thru Friday 9AM – 4:30PM. At greeting press the 0 key. Continue to press the 0 key until the voice system tells you to hold for a representative. You must have your citation number or vehicle license plate number in order for the representative to assist you.
D.M.V. HOLDS
Once a D.M.V. hold has been placed on your vehicle registration for failure to pay the citation, the hold will not be removed until the citation is paid in full.
Q. What cities does AC Transit serve in the East Bay?
A. AC Transit provides service to the cities of Alameda, Albany, Berkeley, El Cerrito, Emeryville, Fremont, Hayward, Newark, Oakland, Piedmont, Richmond, San Leandro, San Pablo and to the Transbay Terminal in San Francisco. AC Transit also provides service to the unincorporated areas of Ashland, Castro Valley, Cherryland, El Sobrante, Fairview, Kensington, North Richmond, and San Lorenzo.
AC Transit maps and schedules
Fares
Q. How does the BART-to-Bus transfer work?
A. If you’re getting off of BART and taking an AC Transit bus, you can save money on your bus fare by obtaining a BART-to-Bus transfer before exiting BART. Transfers are good for 25 cents off of the local bus fare. The transfers are good for buses at BART stations, downtown Berkeley or downtown Oakland and are valid for up to 72 hours from the time issued. Just present the intact transfer to the bus operator when paying.
BART-to-Bus transfers are not valid for a discount on transbay fares.
Q. How do I load and unload my bike on the bike rack?
A. When the bus approaches, stay on the sidewalk with your bicycle back from the curb. Be ready to load your bike by removing any items, such as bags or pumps that may fall off or interfere with another bike.
First allow other cyclists to remove their bikes. Signal to the driver that you want to load your bike. Make sure the driver sees you before stepping in front of the bus. Load from the curb side of the bus—do not step into traffic. Squeeze and pull up on the bike rack handle to release the folded rack. Lower the rack until it clicks into place. If there is no other bike on the rack, use the inside slot with your front wheel facing the curb. Lift your bike onto the rack, fitting the wheels into the slots labeled “front” and “rear.” (Two bicycles will face in opposite directions on the rack.) Pull out and raise the support arm over the top of the front tire, positioning it as high up on the tire as possible. Do not lock your bike to the rack. Get on board, pay your fare, and sit near the front* so you can keep an eye on your bike.
*Please yield front seats to seniors and persons with disabilities.
To unload your bicycle, pull the “Stop Requested” cord or push the button for your stop. Tell the driver you will be unloading your bike and exit through the front door. Raise the support arm up and off the bike’s front tire. Lift and remove the bike from the rack. If no other bike is on the rack, fold and secure the rack into the upright position. Return to the curb with your bike as quickly as possible so the bus can proceed.
A. 31-day passes are good for unlimited rides for 31 consecutive days. The 31-day pass can start any day of the month and expires 31 calendar days after the first use. 31-day paper passes are no longer for sale to the general public and must be purchased with a Clipper (formerly TransLink) card.
31-day passes can be purchased in three different formats on a Clipper card:
Adult 31-day Local – Good for unlimited local rides for 31 consecutive days
Youth 31-day – Available only on a personalized Clipper card. Good for unlimited local rides for 31 consecutive days for youths 5-18
Adult 31-day Transbay – Available only on a Clipper (formerly TransLink) card. Good for unlimited Transbay rides for 31 consecutive days. Visit www.clippercard.com to get a Clipper card.
Click here for fare information.
Q. How much is a transfer on a transbay bus?
A. If you are taking a local bus to or from a transbay bus and paying the transbay fare, you may receive a transfer good for 120 minutes for no additional fee. Be sure to request a transfer from the bus operator when paying the transbay fare.
A. For your convenience, bus fares can be paid in cash or with a Clipper card (formerly TransLink). Visit www.clippercard.com for locations where you can obtain a Clipper card. 10-ride and 31-day tickets are no longer for sale to the general public.
You can use our ticket order form to order paratransit tickets or senior/disabled stickers by mail.
Cash fares may be paid with any denomination of U.S. coins. No change is made onboard buses. To save time, have your money, ticket or TransLink card ready before boarding the bus.
Click here for fares.
Q. Do you provide bus service to Dublin or Pleasanton?
A. AC transit does not provide service to Dublin, Pleasanton or Walnut Creek. Please check BART, County Connection and/or WHEELS for transportation services in those communities.