Frequently Asked Questions
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Top 10 Most Popular FAQ's
Q. What is the UC Berkeley Bear Pass?
A. A UC Berkeley Bear Pass allows employees of the university who live in AC Transit’s service area unlimited use of AC Transit local and transbay buses for $25 per month. The discounted pass is made possible by the University. The Bear Pass is not valid on the Dumbarton Express. For more information on the program and how to obtain a Bear pass, please contact the UC Berkeley Parking and Transportation Department.
Q. Can I get a reduced fare if I’m transferring from a Capitol Corridor train?
A. Passengers getting off of a Capitol Corridor or San Joaquin Amtrak train in Richmond, Berkeley, Emeryville, Oakland, Hayward and Fremont/Centerville can be issued up to two transit transfers. Each one is worth a local fare and can be used on any AC Transit local route. Be sure to ask the conductor on the train for the transfer(s). Present the transfer to the bus operator upon boarding the AC Transit bus. An additional fee is required for transbay buses.
Q. How can I save on bus fare if I’m also taking the ferry?
A. Every Alameda/Oakland Ferry and Harbor Bay Ferry ticket comes with an attached AC Transit transfer allowing ferry riders to ride free on AC Transit buses to and from Jack London Square, the Alameda Main Street terminal or Bay Farm Island. These tickets cannot be upgraded for transbay buses.
Q. Where do I go to obtain a replacement sticker for my Class Pass?
A. If your Class Pass has been lost, damaged or stolen, please contact the UC Berkeley Parking and Transportation Department for information on replacement procedures and any costs associated with getting a new sticker.
Q. How do I insert the magnetic ticket?
A. Please note that magnetic strip tickets are no longer available for sale to the general public. However, if you still have a valid ticket, you pay by inserting the ticket into the fare box with the magnetic strip facing the bus operator and the arrow pointing down. The ticket will pop back up and you’ll hear one beep if the ticket is good. If it is expired or damaged, you will hear multiple beeps. Do not insert the ticket into the dollar bill slot.
Q. Is there an expiration date for AC Transit tickets?
A. Yes. AC Transit tickets expire 90 days after a fare change.
AC Transit will post notices of fare changes and expiration of old tickets prior to that happening. If passengers have tickets that they will not be able to use within the 90 day period, they will be given an opportunity to upgrade their old tickets to new tickets by paying any additional fare during a specified timeframe that will also be posted.
Q. How do I get more information about the promotion?
A. Call 511 or visit http://www.511.org
Q. Where can I find information on Clipper?
A. Clipper (formerly TransLink) is a reloadable smart card that Bay Area transit customers can use to pay their fares. For information on using Clipper on AC Transit, check here.
Also, visit www.clippercard.com for an entire list of frequently asked questions regarding Clipper.
Q. What should I do if I lose something on an AC Transit bus?
A. If you leave personal belongings on the bus, call Customer Relations at (510) 891-4706 to ask if they have been turned in. Please be prepared to give the route, date and description of item(s). Items may be claimed at the Oakland Customer Service office. Lost items are kept for 30 days. Please note that lost and found does NOT have the ability to check for items lost on the current day. Please call after 2:00 p.m. the day after it has been lost. There are no guarantees that the item that was left on the bus will have been turned in. Hours of Operation: Monday through Friday 8:00am to 4:30pm (closed holidays) Location: 1600 Franklin Oakland, CA
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.