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Rider Guide >> Disabled Access >> Overview
Seniors and People with Disabilities Using BART
If you are blind or vision-impaired:
- Textured rubber tiles along the length of BART train platforms warn passengers that they are close to the platform edge. These tiles can be detected with a cane or foot.
- Train Operators announce the name of the next station as well as instructions for transfers.
- Service animals are permitted in BART stations and on trains.
If you are deaf or hearing-impaired:
- Changeable message signs on the platform announce the destination of each arriving train.
- There is at least one Telecommunications Device for the Deaf (TDD) in each BART station.
If you use a wheelchair or have limited mobility:
- All BART stations have accessible elevator service to all levels.
- There is level boarding from the platform to all trains.
- All BART cars have space to accommodate wheelchair users.
For all passengers:
- All BART stations have public and white courtesy telephones at all levels that connect directly to the Station Agent.
- All BART cars have designated priority seating near the doors for seniors and persons with disabilities.
Discount Tickets
Seniors age 65 and older, disabled persons with a Regional Transit Connection (RTC) Discount Card, and people with other valid identification listed below are eligible for discount tickets. You may purchase discount tickets at the Lake Merritt BART Station and some San Francisco stations, from selected retail vendors, by mail and online.
- Green tickets entitle seniors to a 62.5% discount.
- Red tickets entitle disabled persons or Medicare cardholders to a 62.5% discount.
Personal care attendants (PCAs) who accompany disabled passengers on BART are eligible for the discount fare if the use of a PCA is indicated on the RTC Discount Card.
People entering or exiting a station using a discount ticket may be asked to verify their eligibility by showing valid identification. Valid ID includes:
For seniors using a green ticket:
- Photo ID with proof of age.
For people using a red ticket:
- RTC Discount Card;
- Medicare card (not Medi-Cal) plus photo ID;
- Disabled person placard or license plate from California DMV plus photo ID; or
- Valid transit discount card from another California transit agency plus photo ID.
HOW TICKETS WORK
Each person must have his or her own ticket. Insert your ticket into the fare gate with the small hole positioned in the front left corner. The fare gate will code your ticket, open for entry, and return your ticket. Save your ticket; you will need it to pass through the fare gate again when you exit.
RTC DISCOUNT CARD
BART and several other public transit agencies have joined together to make it easy for persons with disabilities to enjoy discount fares throughout the region. For more information, visit the RTC Discount Card page.
At the Station
USING ELEVATORS
All BART stations have accessible elevators. In some stations you may need to use two different elevators to get from the street to the train platform level. To find the location of station elevators, call the BART Transit Information Center or visit the Station Overview section for accessible path information by station. If you need help using the elevator, contact the Station Agent.
If you arrive at a BART station and are unable to enter or exit the station because the elevator is not working, contact the Station Agent. They will help you enter or exit in another way if possible, or refer you to an alternate means of transportation such as a bus or paratransit. If you find out in advance that an elevator is not working at the station you want to go to, call the BART Transit Information Center to find out what transit alternatives are available to you. To check the status of elevator operation at any station, call (510) 834-LIFT or (888) 2-ELEVAT. In case of fire, do not use the elevators.
USING ESCALATORS
All BART stations have escalators. Generally, the escalators operate in the direction of main passenger flow, which varies depending on the time of day and location. Where possible, escalator service is provided in both directions. To ensure your safety and the safety of others, be sure to hold on to the handrail while using the escalators. Wheelchairs are not allowed on the escalators. To check the status of escalator operation at any station, call the BART Transit Information Center.
AT THE PLATFORM
Stand behind the wide yellow strip of textured rubber tiles that runs along the length of all BART platforms. These tiles can be detected with a cane or foot. Black rubber tiles are used to mark the approximate location of train doors when the train pulls into the station. In some stations, an extra row of black tiles marks the entrance to the two middle cars of the train. Exact door locations may vary. Do not approach the train until it comes to a complete stop.
Riding The Train
Trains are identified by the name of the station at the end of the line. Determine which train to ride by locating your starting point and destination on the BART System Map and noting the name of the last station in your direction of travel. Message signs on the platform level flash the destination of arriving trains. If you are unable to read the train destination signs, be sure to listen for audio announcements.
BOARDING THE TRAIN
Do not approach the train until it comes to a complete stop; the train may adjust its position at the platform before the doors open. Allow passengers to exit before you enter. Pay attention to the narrow gap between the platform edge and the train.
Seats near the train doors are designated as priority seating for seniors and persons with disabilities. Hold on to the vertical handrails, overhead handrails or seat-back handholds to steady your ride when the train is moving.
The Train Operator’s booth is in the first car of the train. Bicycles are not allowed in this car. For these reasons, passengers with disabilities may wish to board the first car of the train.
INSTRUCTIONS FOR WHEELCHAIR USERS
Pay special attention to the gap between the platform edge and the train. This gap may vary, so don’t hesitate to move to another car if the gap at a particular door is too great. The Train Operator will wait for you to enter. It is generally preferable for passengers in wheelchairs to enter and exit the train with the rear wheels first or at a slight angle. If possible, position the wheelchair at a right angle to the direction of train travel in the clear area near the door. Lock the wheelchair’s brakes. In some BART cars, a space to the right of the door is reserved for passengers in wheelchairs. The international access symbol marks the outside of these cars.
SERVICE ANIMALS
Passengers with disabilities may ride with their trained service animal. Service animals must be leashed and kept on the floor and out of the aisles as much as possible, and must be under the control of their owners at all times.
EXITING THE TRAIN
Train Operators announce the name of each station as the train approaches. Signs indicating the station name are also visible from inside the train. When leaving the train, move to the doors just prior to arrival. The train may adjust its position at the platform before the doors open.
Paratransit Service
BART provides ADA paratransit service to eligible individuals whose disability prevents them from accessing, boarding or riding BART trains. Service is provided by lift vans and sedans and is generally by reservation only. For more information, visit the Paratransit page.
Help and Information Along the Way
STATION AGENTS
Station Agents are available to help seniors and persons with disabilities with elevator and escalator access, tickets, schedules, and other needs. Go to the Station Agent booth or use the white courtesy telephone.
ELEVATOR COMMUNICATIONS
If you need to communicate with the Station Agent while inside the elevator, use the emergency telephone. If the Station Agent does not answer within 90 seconds, your call will be directed to BART Central Dispatch. If the emergency telephone is picked up for at least two minutes but there is no voice communication, BART will treat this as a call for assistance. This ensures that help is available to elevator passengers even if they are unable to speak.
BART POLICE
Uniformed and plainclothes police officers ride trains, patrol stations and parking lots, and have police cars for emergency response. Please notify the Station Agents or BART Police if you observe any unusual activities or situations on BART property. Blue telephones in BART parking lots connect directly to BART Police. In an emergency, call 911. For non-emergency situations, call (877) 679-7000.
Emergency and Evacuation Procedures
EMERGENCY PROCEDURES
If there is an emergency while riding the BART train, passengers may need to do one or more of the following:
- To talk to the Train Operator, press the “Attendant Call” intercom at the end of the car.
- Listen for announcements from the Train Operator, and, if necessary, evacuation instructions.
- To activate the emergency door releases, located above the seats next to the door, pull the cover panel away and move the lever in the direction of the arrow, away from the door.
- To reach the fire extinguishers located at the end of each car, break the plastic to remove the extinguishers.
- Emergency phones located in the Transbay Tube, Berkeley Hills Tunnel, and subway areas are marked by a blue light. Lift the receiver to be connected to BART Central Dispatch.
EVACUATION PROCEDURES
Evacuation procedures vary for ground level, elevated areas, subway areas, the Transbay Tube, and the Berkeley Hills Tunnel. In general:
- Read and follow the instructions on the “Emergency Procedures” poster in each car and listen for announcements from the Train Operator or rescue personnel.
- In most emergency situations, rescue personnel will be present to assist seniors and passengers with disabilities. If rescue personnel are not present during evacuation and a life-threatening emergency exists, blind passengers and persons using mobility aids (including wheelchairs) should seek assistance from other passengers. Deaf passengers should use other passengers as a guide.
- Leave wheelchairs on the train; they will be returned to owners after the evacuation. Evacuation of wheelchairs is not possible because the walkways and ramps are too narrow to accommodate a wheelchair.
- When evacuating the train, be very careful not to touch the third rail or the high-voltage paddle units that extend from the underside of the train.