BART riders can 'Tap and Ride,' pay for fares using credit or debit card starting Wednesday
Something to keep in mind when you tap to pay? Make sure you pull your card out of your wallet.
SAN FRANCISCO (KGO) -- A change coming to BART Wednesday could make it a lot easier to get on board.
It's called "Tap and Ride." Commuters will be able to pay at the fare gates by tapping a credit or debit card, or by using Apple or Google Pay. It's a big change for riders used to only using a clipper card.
Maybe you've seen it in cities in like New York or London, people using their credit cards to pay for public transportation. Transit officials hope the change will make it easier for people to use BART more often.
"I think it's a great idea. It's long overdue. It really makes transit more accessible," said Daly City resident Brandon Lim.
"I've seen it in New York City, New Jersey. Most major cities," said Kurt Staufenberg. "Nice to see it finally here."
RELATED: BART to roll out contactless payment: Here's what to know
That means riders like Kurt Stauffenberg can leave his Clipper Card at home and riders like Kim Morrow won't have to worry about reloading her card.
"That's fantastic. I have three different Clipper Cards; I don't know how much is on which, so, I think it's great," said Morrow.
City leaders hope "Tap and Ride" will it make easier for visitors to get to the airport and around the city, maybe to a San Francisco Giants game or a Golden State Warriors game.
"I see how often people struggle, loading their clipper cards or getting it for the first time, so I think its nice," said Carly Sandry, a San Francisco resident.
"When I have friends visiting from out of town. It always adds an extra five minutes. Oh, we have to get a Clipper Card. We got to load it up. It's going to be convenient. It's long overdue," said Lim.
You won't need to register or download an app.
"This is going to be an immense time savings," said Bob Powers, General Manager.
City leaders say the new system, along with new fare gates and improved security, are all meant to make it a better experience for BART riders.
"Tap and Ride is just one more tool. I hope everyone comes back and experiences the new BART," Powers said.
"A clean safe and efficient public transit system is essential to continue our economic recovery. We want to present residents a reliable to visitors get to the heart of the city," said Mayor Daniel Lurie.
Something to keep in mind when you tap to pay? Make sure you pull your card out of your wallet.
"You have to remove it because you don't know which card will be charged or it might charge you the wrong amount," said Alicia Trost, a spokesperson for BART.
If you plan on transferring to another transit agency, such as Muni, you will still need to use your Clipper Card.
"Because a lot of (transit) systems offer a small discount. You want to keep getting those discounts," said Trost.
And, if you're a youth or senior, or disabled, or you're low income and you're counting on a discount, you'll still need to use your Clipper card.
Learn more on BART's "Tap and Ride" program here.
