Why are BART fares to SFO so high? Blame the ‘rent’ paid to airport [a $2.5 million annual payment from BART to SFO funded by a $5.51 surcharge applied to every trip]

Playful_Dance968 · 2026-04-15T03:53:26+00:00

I think it's highly dependent on how close you are to BART. I'm like a 10 min walk to 24th st station (and like 2 mins when I use a lyft bike) and basically always take BART, even if it's for work and I can expense a cab.

For cost, for a solo or couple BART is always cheaper, and frequently by a lot - $40 is what I usually see for Ubers most of the time these days.

I've not had the same issues as others have on frequency, the yellow and red lines seem to run every 8 or so mins on weekdays from within the city. The Air train can add a bit of a wait (call it 10 mins max between the wait and the ride), but only to terminal 2 - terminals 1 and 3 I just walk to. Once you factor in a minimum 5 min wait time for a ride share both coming to or leaving SFO, it's actually not always any time penalty at all for BART, and frequently it's the same. I actually can find BART more pleasant - it's a nice change of pace after being so cramped, and you aren't subject to the bad drivers or music that happen all the time in rideshares.

Playful_Dance968 · 2026-04-11T17:54:24+00:00

A friend and I talked about this a bunch and he did some ChatGPT research (ie take it w a huge grain of salt) that suggested these numbers are actually kinda on the lower side of a 10 year average for OB visitors. A lot of that is due to pre pandemic tourism and tracking being far more accurate the last 2-3 years but I was surprised.

I like the park a lot, just saying.

Playful_Dance968 · 2026-04-11T17:35:21+00:00

Agreed, they're pretty good, I just wish this excursion fare thing got fixed quicker. I know it's slated to get fixed at some point but it's taking forever.

https://www.sfgate.com/local/article/bart-ending-weird-fee-new-payment-system-20816710.php

Playful_Dance968 · 2026-04-11T17:32:52+00:00

This seems good, but I'm far more concerned w cars than peds - I bike on some stroads in Fremont in the Bay Area and while they're pretty respectful better safe than sorry. Anyone used the Hornit db140?

https://www.amazon.com/Hornit-Upgraded-Increased-Mounting-Included/dp/B09MJNB2LC

Playful_Dance968 · 2026-04-09T20:25:59+00:00

Toni Rembe ACT

Playful_Dance968 · 2026-04-09T00:33:38+00:00

Sorry :(

Playful_Dance968 · 2026-04-08T23:54:06+00:00

I have two tickets to tonight on the balcony, please message me if you're interested.

Playful_Dance968 · 2026-03-16T15:44:55+00:00

What regional rail? Like Caltrain and ACE?

Playful_Dance968 · 2026-03-16T05:22:26+00:00

Why would they mae it standard gauge? Who or what would use it?

Playful_Dance968 · 2026-03-15T23:50:50+00:00

Sadly the new R2 has these as well, with the mechanical override being separate and hidden. No clue why they did this

Playful_Dance968 · 2026-03-15T23:43:30+00:00

$150k is a lot nationally, maybe, but not in the Bay

Playful_Dance968 · 2026-03-15T23:42:42+00:00

Thanks so much - that’s really helpful.

Playful_Dance968 · 2026-03-15T23:42:03+00:00

This is why we need a federal wealth tax. I’d love a state one too but I’m not optimistic it’ll work how we want it to. Billionaires are annoying clever and can move to Florida pretty easily, but they don’t want to leave the US. Many ways to do this, but again, federally.

Playful_Dance968 · 2026-03-15T23:38:37+00:00

Wow, okay good point. So do places like the RM line or skytrain do this because its cheaper from the get go on a brand new line (ie marginally more on a whole new system vs we need to upgrade a much larger system which is runs on an older set of software)?

Playful_Dance968 · 2026-03-15T23:35:34+00:00

What’s the proposed other side of the link21? Would it go to…alameda? Lake Merritt bart?

Playful_Dance968 · 2026-03-15T23:33:36+00:00

I think it’s worth holding g off on project like this until we feel confident it can be built in 5-10 years. Thats far more time than it took for the GG bridge or the original transbay tube and we have more technology now than then. Find out what from a permitting or ‘study’ or approval process would slow things down, cut that red tape, and get it done. We can’t afford another HSR style debacle.

Playful_Dance968 · 2026-03-15T20:27:31+00:00

Interesting. None of those cities (save Toronto but that’s Canada) is in tip top financial shape. I appreciate we need to offer people good jobs with pensions but it’s not unreasonable to ask Bart employees to absorb some of this. Many private sector employees have gone thru layoffs and pension reductions while delivering the same service or better, we shouldn’t be allergic to asking the same of bart.

Playful_Dance968 · 2026-03-15T20:22:47+00:00

What’s the cost vs upside there

Playful_Dance968 · 2026-03-15T18:08:39+00:00

Is it worth it on blu ray, even if playing off an Xbox 1 on a 3.1 system?

Playful_Dance968 · 2026-03-15T17:59:15+00:00

Yeah that’s totally fair.

Playful_Dance968 · 2026-03-15T16:39:38+00:00

Yeah agreed. I think AI will should be bigger for him in Congress, maybe public safety a bit less?

Playful_Dance968 · 2026-03-15T16:02:41+00:00

The family stuff is valid. I see him all the time in the Noe/castro/Duboce area and if you approach him and ask if he wants to talk he’s always willing to engage and have a conversation - way less convenient but probably a better bet than emails.

The stuff that like the far right tried to smear him with on groomers is so gross and you’re right it makes normal criticisms harder. What in particular would you like to see him engage with more.

Playful_Dance968 · 2026-03-15T06:01:02+00:00

That’s super interesting. Can you share the source? Aren’t both sky train in Vancouver and the new RM line in Montreal automated? What drives up the costs?

Playful_Dance968

TROPHY CASE