BART Fare Gates Accepting Credit and Debit Cards: Key Facts You Need to Know
BART Passengers to Use Credit Cards at Fare Gates Starting August 18, but Watch Out for "Card Clash"
Starting the week of August 18, BART passengers will be able to use credit or debit cards at the fare gates, as announced by the Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC). However, there is a potential issue known as "card clash" that riders should be aware of.
During a July 28 meeting, the issue of card clash and avoidance methods was discussed. To avoid card clash at BART fare gates, riders should ensure that only a single card or device is presented to the contactless reader at a time. This means:
- Remove your contactless credit or debit card from your wallet before tapping.
- If using your phone or watch, set a default card in your mobile wallet app (Google Pay or Apple Pay) so only that card is used for the transaction.
- Avoid having multiple cards or digital payment methods close together that the reader might detect simultaneously, which causes errors.
Regarding the "express transit card" option in Google Pay or Apple Pay, this feature lets you designate a specific card to be used for transit payments without needing to unlock your phone or open an app. When you set a card as your express transit card:
- The fare gate reads that default card instantly when you tap your phone or wear your watch.
- This streamlines the process and helps prevent card clash by ensuring the reader only interacts with the selected transit payment card, even if you have multiple cards added to your wallet.
- You do not need to manually select the payment method each time you tap, reducing the chance of errors caused by multiple cards being detected.
BART passengers who transfer to a bus or other systems will still require a Clipper card, and credit card users won't receive their normal discount, such as for transfers, Mulligan said. The new feature does not apply to advertisements.
For Android phone users, the fare gate reader will charge the Clipper card first. To use a credit or debit card instead on iPhone, the express transit card option for Clipper should be turned off.
Jose Fabian, a web producer for a Bay Area news outlet, reported on the new payment feature. Fabian studied political science and journalism at Sacramento State and was born and raised in Northern California. He expressed concerns over tap-to-pay only being allowed on BART during the meeting.
The director of Clipper at MTC is Jason Weinstein. The new payment feature is primarily designed for BART riders connecting from an airport or for infrequent riders. The tap-to-pay feature will accept Visa, Mastercard, American Express, and Discover, as well as Apple Pay or Google Pay. Plans exist for the credit card payment feature to be extended to other Bay Area public transit systems.
Denis Mulligan, the general manager of the Golden Gate Bridge, Highway and Transportation District, also expressed concerns over the new payment feature during the meeting. The new payment feature is primarily designed for BART riders connecting from an airport or for infrequent riders. Card clash occurs when a Clipper reader detects more than one card.
Read also:
- Zigbee and LoRa Low-Power Internet of Things (IoT) Network Protocols: The Revolution in Data Transmission and Networking
- Elon Musk Criticizes Apple's App Store: 'Are You Involved in Political Manipulation?'
- Operating solar panels during winter and efficiency assessment
- Breakthrough in green ammonia synthesis as a significant advancement toward decarbonization is reported.
